How to register?
The service is based on the Consular Act and Regulation No. 7 of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of 17 June 2009 ‘Procedure for registration of data of Estonian citizens or aliens temporarily staying or permanently residing abroad and registration application forms’.
For the purposes of the Consular Act, an alien is a person who holds a valid residence permit or has permanent right of residence in Estonia and to whom an Estonian alien’s passport has been issued pursuant to the Identity Documents Act.
Registration of permanent residence abroad makes it possible to guarantee the rights of citizens and aliens, which the Estonian state organises on the basis of the data of the population register.
Address data of residence have legal significance in Riigikogu, European Parliament, and local government council elections, referendums and opinion polls, payment of taxes to local government budgets on the basis provided by tax laws and in the performance of a public task if the performance of the task is related to residence.
Under certain conditions, the insurance of the Estonian Health Insurance Fund is maintained for students studying abroad, and this right is related to residency. Therefore, we recommend that students contact the Estonian Health Insurance Fund before changing their place of residence to find out more detailed conditions for obtaining insurance.
If an Estonian citizen or alien resides in a country where there is an Estonian foreign mission or honorary consul, the application for registration of residence can be submitted to the Estonian foreign mission or honorary consul.
A citizen or alien who lives in a foreign country where there is no Estonian foreign mission may register his or her foreign residence through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The application can be submitted:
- personally to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Lauteri 2, Tallinn) on working days from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or to an Estonian foreign mission;
- by post to an Estonian foreign mission or an Estonian honorary consul. In this case, a copy of the biodata page of the identity document must be attached to the application;
- by post to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Islandi väljak 1, Tallinn 15049). In this case, a copy of the biodata page of the identity document must be attached to the application;
- by fax to (+372) 6 377 454 or to the number of the foreign mission or honorary consul’s office. In this case, a copy of the biodata page of the identity document must be attached to the application;
- digitally signed and sent by e-mail to an Estonian foreign mission.
A consular officer or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall transfer the data on the residence of an Estonian citizen or alien permanently residing abroad to the Estonian Population Register.
Processing the application
The application shall be processed on the day the application is submitted. An application submitted by post, fax, or e-mail will be processed no later than the next working day after its receipt. An application submitted to an honorary consul shall be forwarded immediately to the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which shall enter the information contained in the application in the register of official acts of a consular officer. The data on the residence of an Estonian citizen or alien permanently residing abroad shall then be transferred to the Estonian Population Register.
Residence data can be checked independently in the self-service environment of the e-population register.
An inquiry regarding the registration of residence data can be submitted in writing to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the address Islandi väljak 1, 15049 Tallinn, to fax 6377 454, or to the e-mail address: [email protected], or to the relevant foreign mission where the application was submitted. The inquiry shall be answered within 5 working days at the latest.
Residence data can be registered independently in the self-service environment of the e-population register.
Additional information
The purpose of registering a short-term stay abroad is to ensure consular protection and assistance to an Estonian citizen or holder of an alien’s passport (so-called grey passport) who is staying abroad as a tourist or on a business trip. The information provided during registration shall be used in the event of a crisis situation in the area or if something has happened to the registered person which makes it necessary to provide consular assistance.
You can register on the travel portal Reisi Targalt (Travel Wisely) of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs.
Last updated: 11.02.2026
