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Before you travel

No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:聽

• 蝉别别听general advice for women travellers
• read our guide on disability and travel abroad
• 蝉别别听general advice for LGBT+ travellers
• read about聽safety for solo and independent travel
• see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad

Travel insurance

If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.

About FCDO travel advice

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to get email notifications when this advice is updated.

Follow FCDO:鈥�

This information is for people travelling on a full 鈥楤ritish citizen鈥� passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government鈥檚 understanding of the current rules for the most common types of travel.

The authorities in Estonia set and enforce entry rules. If you鈥檙e not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the聽.

Passport validity requirements

Estonia follows . Your passport must:

• a 鈥榙ate of issue鈥� less than 10 years before the date you arrive 鈥� if you renewed your passport before 1 October 2018, it may have a date of issue that is more than 10 years ago
• have an 鈥榚xpiry date鈥� at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave the Schengen area

Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements.听Renew your passport聽if you need to.

You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.

Visa requirements聽

You can travel without a visa to the聽Schengen area, which includes Estonia, for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel:

• as a tourist
• to visit family or friends
• to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events
• for short-term studies or training

The requirements for working in Estonia are different. 聽

If you鈥檙e travelling to other Schengen countries as well, make sure your whole visit is within the 90-day visa-free limit. Visits to Schengen countries within the previous 180 days before you travel count towards your 90 days. If you overstay the 90-day visa-free limit, you may be banned from entering Schengen countries for up to 3 years.

If you鈥檙e a visitor, border guards will look at your entry and exit stamps to check you have not overstayed the 90-day visa-free limit for the Schengen area.

If your passport is missing a stamp, show evidence of when and where you entered or left the Schengen area (for example, boarding passes or tickets) and ask the border guards to add the date and location in your passport.

At Estonian border control, you may also need to:

• show a return or onward ticket
• prove that you have enough money for your stay 鈥� the amount varies depending on your accommodation

Staying longer than 90 days in a 180-day period

To stay longer聽than 90 days, check the .

If you鈥檙e in Estonia with a residence permit or long-stay visa, this does not count towards your 90-day visa-free limit.

Read about聽passport stamping if you live in Estonia.

Travel from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus

If you are arriving in Estonia from Ukraine, Russia or Belarus, check the聽.听听听听听听听听

Travel from Russia

You can reserve crossings and check the real-time on Estonia鈥檚 鈥楪o Swift鈥� website.

Vaccine requirements

For details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see .听

Customs rules

There are strict rules about . You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.

Taking food and drink into Estonia

You cannot take . There are some exceptions such as powdered baby milk, baby food and special foods or pet feed required for medical reasons.听

Restrictions on Russian vehicles

There are restrictions on vehicles with Russian licence plates in Estonia. See the聽.

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There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.听聽聽聽聽

UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.

Terrorism in Estonia

Although there鈥檚 no recent history of terrorism in Estonia, attacks cannot be ruled out. 聽聽聽

Attacks could be indiscriminate including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities.

Crime

Pickpockets can be a problem in bars and nightclubs in Tallinn鈥檚 Old Town.听聽聽聽聽

Drink spiking, alcohol and sexual assault

Attacks or assault, including sexual assaults, are rare but do occur. The risk is highest late at night around popular nightlife locations. To reduce your personal risk:

• save the location of your accommodation on your maps app, so it鈥檚 easier to find at the end of the night
• set up a WhatsApp group to keep in touch with others in your group
• keep an eye on each other鈥檚 drinks to make sure they do not get spiked
• do not let a friend walk back to their hotel alone
• do not give a drunk person more alcohol

Alcohol and drugs can reduce your vigilance, making you less in control. If you drink, know your limit. Drinks served in bars in Estonia are often stronger than those in the UK.

Report anything that does not feel right to local authorities or hotel or club management.

Taxi safety

Always use pre-arranged taxis or official taxis with 鈥楾AKSO鈥� signage. Do not accept lifts from unmarked vehicles or with strangers.

If you use an app, check that the car details match the car assigned to you. See 鈥�transport risks鈥� for more details.

Bank card skimming

Keep cards in sight when paying in shops and restaurants. Read more about .

Laws and cultural differences

Illegal drugs and prison sentences

Do not use, buy or carry drugs 鈥� possessing even a very small quantity can lead to a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

LGBT+ travellers

Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Estonia, and same-sex marriages have been recognised since 1 January 2024.听聽聽

Read more聽advice for LGBT+ travellers.

Transport risks

Road travel

If you are planning to drive in Estonia, 蝉别别听information on driving abroad聽and check the聽. The guide lists driving regulations and other legal requirements you need to be aware of.

You can drive in Estonia with a UK driving licence. You must have the original V5C vehicle registration document with you. Check for more details on the聽.

Check if you need a UK sticker to drive your car outside the UK.听

Hire car companies often have stricter requirements for their customers, such as a year of driving experience or a higher minimum age.听聽

Do not drink and drive. If you are tested and found to have more than a quarter of England鈥檚 legal limit of alcohol in your body, you may get a fine and possible imprisonment.

Taxis

Do not hail unmarked taxis 鈥� they鈥檙e illegal. Make sure the taxi has:

• a price list on the back window
• the driver鈥檚 licence in a visible place
• a working meter
• 鈥楾AKSO鈥� signage (for taxis at taxi ranks)

You can also use taxi apps like Bolt, Forus and Uber.

Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have聽appropriate travel insurance聽for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Dial 112 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company quickly if you鈥檙e referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccine recommendations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip:

• check the latest
• see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the

聽See what , including biting insects and ticks.

Medication

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries. If you need advice about what you can take into Estonia, contact the .

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Healthcare in Estonia

FCDO聽has a list of聽medical providers in Estonia where some staff will speak English.

Health insurance cards

To get medically necessary state healthcare in Estonia, you need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).听

The NHS鈥檚 has details about:

• how to apply for a GHIC
• how to get temporary cover if you lose your card or it does not arrive in time
• who qualifies for a new EHIC instead of a GHIC
• what treatment counts as medically necessary

A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. You may have costs your GHIC or EHIC does not cover, including:

• changes to travel and accommodation bookings
• additional standard costs for treatment
• medical repatriation to the UK
• treatment that is ruled non-urgent
• private healthcare
• private clinics

There is also聽guidance on healthcare if you鈥檙e living in Estonia.

Travel and mental health

搁别补诲听FCDO聽guidance on travel and mental health. There is also聽.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) cannot provide tailored advice for individual trips. Read this travel advice and carry out your own research before deciding whether to travel.

Emergency services in Estonia

Telephone: 112 (ambulance, fire, police)

Contact your travel provider and insurer

Contact your travel provider and your insurer if you are involved in a serious incident or emergency abroad. They will tell you if they can help and what you need to do.

Refunds and changes to travel

For refunds or changes to travel, contact your travel provider. You may also be able to make a claim through insurance. However, insurers usually require you to talk to your travel provider first.

Find out more about聽changing or cancelling travel plans, including:

• where to get advice if you are in a dispute with a provider
• how to access previous versions of travel advice to support a claim

Support from聽FCDO

FCDO聽has guidance on staying safe and what to do if you need help or support abroad, including:

• finding English-speaking聽,听听补苍诲听聽in Estonia
• dealing with a聽death in Estonia
• 产别颈苍驳听arrested in Estonia
• getting help if you鈥檙e a聽victim of crime
• what to do if you鈥檙e聽in hospital
• if you鈥檙e聽affected by a crisis,听such as a terrorist attack

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Help abroad

See including in an emergency.

Help in the UK

You can call聽FCDO聽in London if you need urgent help because something has happened to a friend or relative abroad.

Telephone: 020 7008 5000 (24 hours)

Find out about call charges

Get travel advice updates

Sign up to聽get email notifications聽when this travel advice is updated.

Follow FCDO:鈥�

Risk information for British companies

The聽Overseas Business Risk service聽offers information and advice for British companies operating in Estonia on how to manage political, economic, and business security-related risks.