COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Estonia (10 December Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Citizens are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• No with exceptions

• Most foreign nationals are not allowed to enter Estonia.

• Residents and citizens of the European Union (EU), the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom of Great Britain Andorra, Monaco, Northern Ireland, San Marino, the Vatican, and individuals with a long-stay visa and their family members if they show no COVID-19 symptoms may enter.

• Residents of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, and Uruguay, if they show no COVID-19 symptoms, may enter.

• Foreign nationals from a country not listed may enter for work or school purposes, if they show no symptoms.

• Travellers can find further detailed information about specific countries here.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes with exceptions

• Foreign nationals transiting through Estonia to reach their home country can do so provided they have no COVID-19 symptoms.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No

• No test is required on arrival. Tests are available to travellers to reduce their quarantine period where visitors are required to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and to remain in auto-isolation until the test result is ready. In case of a negative test result, a 7-days limited self-isolation applies. A second test must be performed not earlier than 7 days after the result of the first test.

Test certificate required?

• No

• No negative COVID-19 test certificate is required for entry.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• Yes

• Visitors from Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Uruguay are subject to a 10-day restriction on the freedom of movement.

• Visitors from the Vatican City through Italy are also subject to the 10-day restriction on the freedom of movement.

• Arrivals from Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland are exempted from freedom of movement if they have been in the respected countries in the last 14 days and arrived directly to Estonia from their countries. Visitors must have a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours before arrival. Those who arrive in Estonia for working, studying, health service, family reasons, and transit purposes are exempted from COVID-19 test before arrival.

• Visitor from countries where the COVID-19 infection rate is between 25 and 50 are required to self-isolate depends on whether the infection rate is below or above the rate of Estonia. If the infection rate is below that of Estonia, arrivals are not required to self-isolate and the rate is higher than the infection rate of Estonia, arrivals will have to abide by a 10-day mandatory self-isolation.

• From 7 December, visitors from the EU, the European Economic Area, and the Schengen area with an infection rate less than 50 people per 100 000 inhabitants will not be required to quarantine. An updated list is available here.

Recommended Border App

• Yes

• HOIA is the recommended contact tracing app available in Estonia, however, using the app is optional.

Airline restrictions

• Minimal

• Airports are open in Estonia, and some airlines have resumed flight operations and bookings. However, travellers should be aware that flight cancellations and rescheduling may occur with little notice.

• Belavia, the Belarusian national air carrier, has suspended air operations to Tallinn until 31 December.

Border restrictions

• Minimal

• Border crossing restrictions remain at the Estonian-Russian border.

• Cruise ships and leisure travel are banned between Tallinn and Stockholm, Sweden.

Curfew restrictions

• Minimal

• No curfew restrictions are in place.

Social distancing restrictions

• Minimal

• Social distancing is required in all public places.

• Gatherings are allowed up to 2000 people (outdoors) and 750 people (indoors).

• The 2+2 rule will be in place in service halls, commercial enterprises including shopping malls. This means no more than two people from different households can be within 2 meters of others when indoors in public spaces.

Internal travel restrictions

• Minimal

• No restrictions are in place.

• Public transportation is operating.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are open with limited capacity and must close by 22:00 (local time). Groups of up to 10 may dine together, however, tables must be distanced by at least 2 meters.

Museums and heritage sites open?

• Yes

• Museums and sites are open.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Personal care services are open. There may be capacity limits.

Places of worship open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Worship places are open with two meters of physical distancing and limited capacity.

Events allowed?

• Yes with exceptions

• Public events are allowed with limited capacity and must conclude by 22:00 (local time).

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Face coverings are mandatory in public transport and enclosed spaces.

Other Restrictions

• Schools are gradually reopening with restricted numbers of students.

• The opening hours of catering and entertainment facilities will be limited from 00:00 until 06:00 (local time).

Advice

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Some countries are beginning to remove some restrictions gradually. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country’s embassy for information on your specific travel plans.