Estonia

Main ministry

Ministry of the Interior

The Ministry of the Interior is responsible for developing and coordinating the state policy on migration.

Other Ministries

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for developing and implementing visa policy.

Ministry of Social Affairs

The Ministry of Social Affairs is responsible for drafting and implementing state policy related to social issues, protection of public health, employment, labour market and working environment, social security, social insurance, social welfare, equal treatment and promotion of equality between men and women. The Ministry is also in charge of organising the reception of asylum seekers.

Ministry of Education and Research

The Ministry of Education and Research is responsible for the development of education, research, youth and language policies and the competitiveness of research and development activities.

Ministry of Culture

The Ministry of Culture is responsible for developing and coordinating state integration policy. It supports the cultural life of ethnic minorities and contributes to the preservation and development of their languages and cultural identity.

Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for coordinating actions combatting trafficking in human beings.

implementing agencies

Police and Border Guard Board

The Police and Border Guard Board is the main agency responsible for implementing the state migration policy. It processes applications for naturalisation and for residence permits of non-EU citizens. The Police and Border Guard Board also processes applications for international protection. It has competences for issuing return decisions and adopting readmission decisions.

The Police and Border Guard Board is also responsible for border checks and border surveillance.

general immigration policy papers

Cohesive Estonia Development Plan 2021–2030

Impact assessments, studies and reports

Report on the implementation of the ‘Estonian Integration Strategy 2008-2013’ in 2012

Final report on Integrating Estonia 2020

key legislation

Aliens Act - regulates the bases for the entry, temporary stay, residence and employment of non-EU nationals in Estonia.

Citizen of European Union Act - regulates the bases for the entry and residence in Estonia of EU citizens and their family members in Estonia.

Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens - regulates the bases for granting international protection to third-country nationals, the legal status of a third-country national who is applying for international protection and of a third-country national who has been granted international protection and the legal bases for his or her temporary stay, residence and employment in Estonia on the basis of treaties and the legislation of the European Union.

Obligation to Leave and Prohibition on Entry Act - provides the basis and procedure for the application to third-country nationals of the obligation to leave Estonia and the prohibition to entry into Estonia and the regime for the passage of a third-country national through Estonia.