On 12 March, the Government of Estonia declared an emergency situation in response to the pandemic spread of the coronavirus in the world. Estonia’s borders are open, however, in order to stop the spread of the virus, there are certain recommendations and measures in place.
Out of consideration for the health of international visitors as well as residents of Estonia, we recommend postponing your trips.
People coming from a risk area or who have contracted the virus/been in close contact with those affected are recommended to postpone any plans to travel to Estonia.
Anyone whose travel to Estonia from risk areas is unavoidable must remain in self-isolation for 14 days, effective from Monday, 16 March.
The risk areas as determined by the government committee on 13 March, based on recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and risk evaluation, are: China, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Egypt. This list is subject to change.
Estonian residents are advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Estonia not to plan holiday travel for the coming months. We also ask to seriously consider the necessity of other travel (business trips, visits to family and friends, etc.). The risk of being quarantined or finding yourself in areas affected by restricted movement may arise very suddenly while travelling.
The exact details of self-isolation are being worked out by the Ministry of the Interior in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by 16 March. Further details will be clarified in due course.
More information on the virus and prevention is available on the website of the Health Board
FAQ
I am planning to visit Estonia. What should I do?
Estonia’s borders are open, however, in order to stop the spread of the virus, we recommend avoiding travel if possible. Out of consideration for the health of international visitors as well as residents of Estonia, we recommend postponing your trips. The introduction of the emergency situation in Estonia has led to various restrictions in the country, including the closure of museums, theatres and cinemas. More information is available here: https://www.valitsus.ee/en/news/government-declared-emergency-situation-…
I am planning to travel Estonia from a risk area. What should I do?
If you are coming from a risk area or who have contracted the virus / been in close contact with those affected, you are advised to postpone any plans to travel to Estonia. The risk areas as determined by the government committee on 13 March, based on recommendations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and risk evaluation, are: China, South Korea, Singapore, Iran, Italy, France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Egypt. This list is subject to change.
If travel to Estonia from a risk area is unavoidable, you must remain in self-isolation for 14 days.
What happens if I arrive at a border crossing point in Estonia?
Health checks will be employed at border crossing points to detect the symptoms of the coronavirus in people.
People will also need to start filling in forms upon entering the country in order to identify their place of departure.
Health will also be monitored at airports and ports. The requirement to fill in forms will be introduced similarly to the land border crossing points.
Are the ferries still operating?
Currently, package cruises on the Tallinn-Stockholm route are suspended. Regular ferry traffic continues but measures to limit the spread of the virus will be developed and implemented in cooperation with the shipping companies.
I am a permanent resident of Estonia but I was planning to travel abroad soon. What should I do?
Estonian residents are advised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs not to plan holiday travel for the coming months. We also ask to seriously reconsider the necessity of other travel (business trips, visiting family and friends, etc.). The risk of being quarantined or finding yourself in areas subject to restrictions on movement may arise very suddenly while travelling.
I am currently abroad and I am planning to return to Estonia in 2-3 months. Should I return to Estonia immediately?
In order to keep yourself and others safe, we recommend avoiding travelling if possible. You should return to Estonia earlier than planned only if it is essential (illness of a loved one).
I have already paid for a trip and plane tickets to go abroad. The company is reluctant to reimburse them, where can I find further help to resolve the issue?
You should contact the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority. The authority has published official information regarding the coronavirus outbreak on its website (in Estonian): https://www.ttja.ee/et/uudised/ttja-seisukoht-reisija-oiguste-ja-koroona…
The countries the Health Board considers risk areas are different from the ones named by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Which list should I keep in mind?
The Health Board is classifying countries according to the likelihood of contracting the virus. Travel advice issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is also considering other circumstances related to travel: the possibility of entering a country, conditions for remaining in quarantine, restrictions on movement, whether or not public events are taking place etc. You should keep both recommendations in mind.
What will happen if I wish to travel regardless of the travel advice? Whom should I contact for help if I need it?
We are stressing that if you do decide to travel to a danger or risk area, you should have contingency plans for how to avoid contracting the virus and which steps to take in case your flights are cancelled or other restrictions are introduced. It is difficult for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure the provision of consular assistance in a danger or risk area. You need to be flexible and resourceful, which means that you should have additional means for buying new tickets if necessary, or extending your hotel stay beyond your initial reservation.
