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COVID-19 Information
Last updated: 12/09/20
Country-Specific Information:
- The Department of State has issued a Level 3 Advisory advising U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Estonia due to the global impact of COVID-19.
- Availability of services in Estonia is good, with grocery stores, shopping centers, restaurants, and leisure/athletic facilities open. Restrictions are in place limiting occupancy and opening hours of entertainment venues, public event venues, and catering establishments across Estonia. Additional closures of entertainment and recreational facilities apply in the region of Ida-Virumaa.
- Schools, universities, hobby education, and group sport activities are closed from December 14, 2020 to January 4, 2021. Kindergartens and childcare institutions may remain open.
- The government has reinstated the 2+2 rule, requiring no more than two individuals within 2 meters of others when in public.
- Masks or mouth/nose coverings are mandatory in all public indoor places. Children up to age 12 and those with medical conditions are exempt as long as the 2+2 rule is observed. Failure to comply with restrictions can result in fines up to 9,600 euros.
- Regular flights are available out of Estonia, however flight schedules remain limited and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Quarantine-free entry is available to travelers arriving from a list of countries which is evaluated weekly.
- Vaccine Information for U.S. Citizens in Estonia: The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? No.
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- Exceptions include:
- Holders of an Estonian residency permit or right of residence, as well as foreign citizens whose family member lives in Estonia, are allowed entry. For more information on excepted categories see the Police and Border Guard and the Riigi Teataja.
- The Government of Estonia reopened borders to citizens, residents, and long-term visa holders arriving from other countries of the European Union, the Schengen Zone, the United Kingdom, and several non-EU countries. Travelers must be symptom free and must have been present in one of the approved countries for the previous 14 days. The list of approved countries can be found here.
- Symptom free citizens of other foreign states arriving in Estonia for work or studies may be allowed entry subject to restrictions upon arrival. More information can be found here.
- Border controls continue to apply to travelers coming from the United States who may be transiting other European countries. These travelers will be subject to quarantine and will only be admitted into Estonia if they are in one of the excepted categories allowing them entry into Estonia, including immediate relatives of an Estonian citizen or resident, for example.
- At this time, foreigners are allowed to transit Estonia on the way to their home country if they do not show symptoms of COVID-19. This includes entering at the southern border with Latvia and driving to Tallinn Airport.
- Restricted border crossings remain at the Estonian-Russian border.
- There are no legal restrictions on exiting Estonia.
- Additional information on travel restrictions can be found here: https://vm.ee/en/coronavirus-2019-ncov and https://www.kriis.ee/en/travelling-estonia-foreigners
- Exceptions include:
- Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? No.
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? No.
- The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board has issued this guidance on the legal basis for the temporary stay in Estonia for foreigners who are unable to return home due to the COVID-19 emergency situation; exceptions apply. You may also contact us at acstallinn@state.gov if you have any questions on your residency status in Estonia.
Travel from Estonia to the U.S.:
- Entry restrictions under Presidential Proclamation 9984 do not apply to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and most immediate family members of U.S. citizens (see proclamation for details).
- The Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak pauses the issuance of several forms of immigrant visas. U.S. Embassy Tallinn has suspended all routine immigrant and non-immigrant visa processing.
- U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents returning to the United States from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the European Schengen area are required to travel through select U.S. airports with enhanced screening procedures. See our FAQs on the Presidential Proclamation on travel from Europe and the Department of Homeland Security website for further details.
- U. S. citizens who have been in the Schengen zone in the last 14 days, please visit www.CDC.gov for more information on reentry to the United States. Please be advised that self-quarantine regulations also apply to U.S. citizens who transit Schengen zone countries on their return to the United States. More information here.
- Estonian travelers currently in the United States on the Visa Waiver Program who find themselves unable to depart the United States for reasons related to COVID-19 (including travel restrictions, flight cancellations, and illness) may request an additional 30-day extension to their stay. To request an extension, travelers should contact any Local Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port of Entry, Deferred Inspection Site, or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Contact Center. More information can be found here.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? No.
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.
- Effective November 16, the Estonian government has reinstated the 2+2 rule, requiring no more than 2 individuals from different households within 2 meters of others when indoors in public spaces. This applies to public transportation, larger shops, checkout lines, shopping centers, and government offices. Groups of up to 10 may dine together, however tables must be distanced by at least 2 meters. More information can be found on the Estonian Government and Police and Border Guard sites.
- Effective December 5, restrictions are in place limiting occupancy and opening hours of entertainment venues, public event venues, and catering establishments.
- Current guidelines on public events and restrictions, and an extensive list of questions and answers related to the emergency situation, can be found here. Up to date information on COVID-related restrictions in Estonia can be found on the Estonian Health Board’s English-language page.
- The Estonian Health Board and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have issued similar recommendations encouraging the use of face masks in public places, particularly in areas where it is difficult to follow social distancing guidelines such as grocery stores and public transportation. The full CDC announcement can be found here. The Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority has issued these instructions on how to make a homemade cloth mask.
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? Yes.
- Travelers arriving from the countries where the current COVID-19 infection rate is above 16 per 100,000 individuals over the previous 14 days will be required to self-isolate for 14 days. These lists of countries and quarantine requirements will be reevaluated every week and can be found here.
- Starting September 1, quarantine requirements may be shortened for travelers arriving from additional countries. Travelers must have a negative COVID test result immediately upon arrival in Estonia and agree to be tested again seven days later. More information can be found on the Estonian Health Board Website.
- The Estonian Government has established a mandatory quarantine for all individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and those living with and in close contact with the infected individuals.
- If a case is identified, the infected individual will be put in isolation. The Health Board will reach out to those who were possibly in close contact with an affected individual and advise them to limit their social engagements. People who were potentially exposed to the virus are encouraged to voluntarily quarantine themselves at home and continuously monitor their own health.
- Individuals not complying with a quarantine requirement may be subject to a fine up to €2,000.
- For more information on quarantine requirements, please see the Riigi Teataja website.
COVID-19 Testing:
- Individuals feeling sick or showing any symptoms should contact their family doctor or the family doctor help line at 1220. If necessary, your doctor will forward a testing order to a local laboratory. There is no charge for testing through the public testing centers if ordered by your family doctor. Full details can be found on the Estonian Health Board’s website.
- Individuals wishing to request a COVID test, antibody testing, or are in need of a certificate for travel may contact a private laboratory, such as Synlab, Confido, or Qvalitas, directly for an appointment. Costs at private facilities are approximately €78 to €81 for nasopharyngeal/PCR testing, €18 to €23.50 for anti-body testing, and €13 for a medical certificate.
- Individuals arriving in Estonia from high COVID-19 risk countries may undergo testing at the port of entry to shorten the 14-day restriction of movement requirement. More details can be found here.
- The Estonian Health Board has created an online questionnaire to assist individuals in determining their risk of COVID-19 infection and provide personalized recommendations. Data collected will also aid the Health Board in assessing and predicting further disease spread within Estonia. The questionnaire can be completed at https://coronatest.ee.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
- Passenger flights from Tallinn Airport continue to remain limited. However, airlines have begun to resume many previous flight paths. See the Tallinn Airport website for the current list of available destinations.
- Americans interested in departing Estonia for the United States are encouraged to look at the contact information for airlines at Tallinn Airport here.
- Is public transportation operating? Yes.
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- Masks are required on public transportation.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
- Failure to comply with restrictions can result in fines up to 9,600 Euros.
Consular Operations:
- All visitors to the Consular Section are required to wear masks.
- The U.S. Embassy Tallinn has resumed scheduling limited in-person passport application, CRBA appointments, and other services as needed. American citizens should contact us at acstallinn@state.gov if assistance is needed.
- U.S. Embassy Tallinn is able to process C1/D, F, some J, and some E-1 and E-2 visas. More information can be found here.
- U.S. Citizens seeking information on the CARES Act, including stimulus checks for individuals and assistance for small business owners, are encouraged to visit the IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payment site for more information.
Local Resources:
- The Estonian Health Board (in English): https://www.terviseamet.ee/en/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-previously-known-2019-ncov.
- The Estonian Alarm Center has established a helpline aimed at addressing key questions regarding COVID-19 by simply dialing 1247 from Estonia. The helpline operates 24/7, is free to call, and information is available in English, Estonian, and Russian. However, for medical consultations and advice, please call the family physician advisory line at 1220.
- Estonian Police and Border Guard Board’s General order on granting legal basis for the temporary stay in Estonia.
- The Rescue Board has set up an interactive website to handle crisis-related questions in English.
Other links: