Parliamentary contacts play an important role in bilateral relations between Estonia and Canada. The chairman of the Riigikogu’s Canada parliamentary group is Peeter Tali. In the Parliament of Canada, the Nordic-Baltic-Polish friendship group is active, chaired by Kurt Holman. Mutual visa-free travel has an important place in relations between Estonia and Canada and has been in effect since 27 September 2006. Also important is the Estonia–Canada youth mobility agreement, which entered into force in August 2010 and allows young people aged 18–35 to stay and work in the other country for up to one year.
Canada is home to a large Estonian diaspora, which is socially active and has made significant contributions to preserving Estonian identity and restoring independence. The main centres of the Estonian community in Canada are Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, and in addition to the Estonian Central Council in Canada, Estonian societies operate in several cities. A new international Estonian centre, KESKUS, is being completed in Toronto.
Estonia’s representation in Canada, given the country’s vast geographical scale, relies largely on a network of honorary consuls. Currently, Estonia has six honorary consuls in Canada: Honorary Consul Thomas Heinsoo (Province of Ontario, Toronto); Honorary Consul Evaleen Jaager Roy and Honorary Vice-Consul Evi Olga Mustel (Province of British Columbia, Vancouver); Honorary Consul Connor O’Brien (Province of Quebec, Montreal); Honorary Consul Francois-Xavier Simard (Province of Quebec, Quebec City); and Honorary Consul Külliva Kangur (Province of Alberta, Edmonton). The contact details of the honorary consuls can be found below.
History of diplomatic relations
Canada is an ally and partner of Estonia both in bilateral relations and on the multilateral level.
Canada first recognised the independence of the Republic of Estonia in 1922 and never recognised Estonia’s annexation by the Soviet Union. On 26 August 1991, Canada recognised the restoration of Estonia’s independence. Democracy, the rule of law and the strengthening of a rules-based international order form the foundation of both Estonia and Canada. We share similar views on issues concerning Euro-Atlantic and broader international security and consider close transatlantic cooperation to be important. Estonia and Canada are allies in NATO, and Canada contributes to the security of the Baltic states as the framework nation of the NATO battlegroup in Latvia. Canada also participates as a partner in Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) exercises; during one such exercise, Canadian fighter jets landed on a public road in Estonia in October 2025.
After the Second World War, Canada welcomed and became home to thousands of Estonian refugees. Today, Canada hosts the second-largest Estonian diaspora in the world, which adds an important dimension to relations between our countries.
The Ambassador of the Republic of Estonia to Canada is Margus Rava, who presented his credentials to the Governor General of Canada, Mary J. May Simon, on 22 September 2022.
Estonian Ambassadors to Canada
- Margus Rava (2022 –)
- Toomas Lukk (2018–2022)
- Gita Kalmet (2013–2018) was the first ambassador to reside in Ottawa; previously, Canada was covered from Washington.
- Marina Kaljurand (2011–2013)
- Väino Reinart (2008–2011)
- Jüri Luik (2003–2008)
- Sven Jürgenson (2000–2003)
- G.K. Stoicescu (1997–2000)
- Toomas Hendrik Ilves (1994–1997)
The first Estonian diplomat to reside in Ottawa was Sulev Roostar, who established the mission in 2000–2003.
Canadian Ambassadors to Estonia
- Kevin Rex (2018–2022)
- Alain Hausser (2015–2018)
- John Morrison (2012–2014)
- Scott Heatherington (2009–2012)
- Claire A. Poulin (2006–2008)
- Robert Andrigo (2002–2005)
- Peter P.L. McKellar (1999–2002)
- Mary Vandenhoff (1991–1992)
Bilateral relations
Visits to Estonia
- March 2024 – Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada G. Fergus on a visit to Estonia
- August 2023 – visit to Estonia by the House of Commons Standing Committee on National Defence, led by J. McKay
- November 2019 – Governor General of Canada J. Payette on a working visit to Estonia
Visits to Canada
- October 2025 – Minister of Defence H. Pevkur at the Halifax International Security Forum
- May 2025 – Riigikogu Nuclear Energy Support Group on a visit to Toronto and Ottawa, led by M. Kadastik
- January 2024 – President of the Riigikogu L. Hussar on a visit to Ottawa and Toronto
- October 2023 – Minister of Foreign Affairs M. Tsahkna on a working visit to Toronto and Ottawa
- November 2022 – President A. Karis at the Halifax International Security Forum and on a working visit to Ottawa and Toronto
- November 2022 – Commander of the Defence Forces General M. Herem at the Halifax International Security Forum and on a working visit to Ottawa
- June 2022 – Minister of Foreign Affairs E.-M. Liimets on a working visit to Canada
- November 2020 – President K. Kaljulaid participated in the Halifax International Security Forum
- November 2019 – Minister of Defence J. Luik participated in the Halifax International Security Forum
- May 2018 – Prime Minister J. Ratas on an official visit to Canada
- November 2017 – Minister of Defence J. Luik participated in the Halifax International Security Forum
Bilateral treaties between Estonia and Canada can be found in the Riigi Teataja.
The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada has been provisionally applied since 21 September 2017. Estonian companies can find detailed information on tariffs (or their absence) and other requirements for accessing the Canadian market in the European Commission’s database Access2Markets.
Companies operating in both markets should note that Estonia and Canada have concluded an agreement on the avoidance of double taxation.
Estonia has a positive trade balance with Canada. The Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between the European Union and Canada has been provisionally applied since 21 September 2017, providing a basis for more active bilateral trade.
In 2025, Estonia:
- exported to Canada
- goods worth €62 million
- services worth €101 million
- imported from Canada
- goods worth €34 million
- services worth €50 million
- goods worth €62 million
Canadian investments in Estonia play an important role in supply chains related to critical minerals and permanent magnets. Neo Performance Materials owns Silmet, where rare earth metals are produced, as well as a new magnet factory opened in Narva in 2025, producing permanent magnets for the automotive and energy sectors.
Estonian companies operating in Canada include Nortal, Bolt and Hepsor.
Both Canada and Estonia are members of the Digital Nations initiative, which brings together advanced digital countries. Companies from both countries also participate in the Tallinn Mechanism, which supports Ukraine’s cybersecurity.
The Estonian Parliament has decided to begin developing nuclear energy. Due to Canada’s experience in this field, the two countries cooperate in developing regulatory frameworks for nuclear energy in Estonia.
More detailed trade data with Italy can be found in the Statistics Estonia application.
Cultural exchange between Estonia and Canada is diverse and of a high standard. Estonian film and music have gained the widest recognition in Canada, including participation in the European Union Film Festival and the Ottawa International Animation Festival (OIAF). Canadian films have been featured at the Black Nights Film Festival (PÖFF), and Canadian musicians and leading performers have appeared at Jazzkaar, the Birgitta Festival and under the Song Festival Grounds arch. Each Tallinn Music Week includes a “Made in Canada” music evening. Canada has also been represented at a high level at the HeadRead literary festival.
The Estonian diaspora plays an important role in promoting Estonian culture in Canada, particularly through the VEMU – Museum of Estonians Abroad.
Canada is an important partner in the development of Estonia’s national defence and in Estonia’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Canada serves as the framework nation for the NATO battlegroup stationed in Latvia, which together with the battlegroups in Estonia, Lithuania and Poland forms an important component of NATO’s deterrence in the Baltic region. In 2022, Canada joined the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, further strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of cybersecurity. Canada’s financial contributions have also played an important role in the development of the Centre.
Both countries are members of the IT Coalition supporting Ukraine.
Canada’s contribution to the development of the Baltic Defence College has also been significant.