National movement restrictions: Free
Restrictive measures mandatory between 18 May 2020 to TBD
The main movement restrictions are between the mainland and the islands. It is not possible to go back and forth, unless employers work for critical industries.
No national movement restrictions with some exceptions to protect people living on the islands of Hiiumaa, Saaremaa, Muhumaa, Vormsi, Kihnu and Ruhnu. Only people with a permanent residence on the islands are allowed to travel there. An exception is made for those needing to travel in order to help resolve the crisis caused by the outbreak of COVID-19 virus. Travel is also permitted for those transporting goods and raw materials and providing public transport services, so that the economy may continue to function. Those who live within the affected area are also permitted to travel home.
Update (29.04.2020)
As of May 4, the people residing on the islands can travel between the mainland Estonia and the island.
People can travel between the islands of Saaremaa, Muhumaa, Hiiumaa, Vormsi, Kihnu, Ruhnu and Manija and the mainland Estonia, if they have their permanent place of residence, or registered second address, such as a summer house, or they have an address for a place of stay (e.g. care home, nursing home) on the island according to the Population Register. Their family members can travel with them (a spouse, partner, siblings, children, parents, or grandparents).
As of May 18, people are allowed to move freely between the islands and the mainland Estonia.
Traffic between the islands and the mainland will be resumed gradually in order to avoid a new outbreak of the virus. If the virus returns, the government may change its decision.
Update 04.05.2020
As of May 4, people living on the islands are allowed to travel unrestricted to mainland Estonia and back. The movement between the islands and the mainland Estonia will be resumed gradually in order to avoid a new virus outbreak.
Unrestricted movement between Saaremaa, Muhumaa, Hiiumaa, Vormsi, Kihnu, Ruhnu and Manija islands, and the mainland Estonian is permitted for persons:
whose permanent place of residence or registered additional address, e.g. a summerhouse is on an island according to the Population Register. Their close relatives may also travel to the islands (primarily a spouse, life partner, brothers and sisters, children, parents, and grandparents.)
As of May 18, the movement between the islands and the mainland is unrestricted.
Update 07.05
As of tomorrow, the restriction on freedom of movement will be lifted, people can travel feely between the islands and the mainland Estonia, and from one island to another, regardless of their place of residence. Since the risk of spreading the coronavirus due to movement between the islands and the mainland has decreased considerably, lifting the movement restriction is a proportional response.
International movement restrictions: Partially banned
Restrictive measures mandatory between 01 June 2020 to TBD
Update of the 23rd of March: sanitary inspections introduced at border crossing points; package cruises on the Tallin-Stockholm route are prohibited.
Restrictions: crossing of the Schengen internal and external border temporarily and reintroducing border controls in order to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Only citizens of Estonia and holders of Estonian residency permit or right of residence, among them the so-called grey passport holders can enter Estonia, as well as foreign citizens whose family member lives in Estonia. Foreigners are only allowed to transit Estonia on their way home if they do not show symptoms of COVID-19.
Foreign citizens coming from a risk area or with virus symptoms are asked to postpone plans to travel to Estonia. People who live in Estonia according to the Population Register but work in Finland may enter Estonia without the 14-day quarantine requirement if they do not have symptoms of illness. The order was supplemented with a restriction pursuant to which cross-border commuters can travel between Estonia and Finland without a quarantine requirement once every seven days. This means that they cannot return to Estonia more than once a week.
The reintroduction of border controls means that the current Estonian-Latvian border with free movement must not be crossed outside the temporary border crossing points.
The departures of the Tallinn-St.Peterburg-Moscow train have been temporarily suspended as of March 20, and tickets already purchased can be returned. The decision to stop the train traffic was taken by the Russian Railways to prevent the spread of the virus and to ensure the safety of passengers.
Update 30.03.2020
Restrictions on entering the state entered into force on 17 March and their necessity is being reevaluated every two week
Update 06.05.2020
the Prime Ministers of the Baltic states, Jüri Ratas, Krišjānis Kariņš and Saulius Skvernelis, have agreed during a video meeting held today to work towards opening the Estonian-Latvian and Latvian-Lithuanian borders on 15 May.
Update: 18.05.20
The restrictions to crossing the state border will remain in force (excluding the exceptions in force for Latvia, Lithuania and Finland).
Estonia is only letting in Estonian citizens or residents of Estonia with a residence permit or right of residence, including holders of the so-called grey passport (stateless persons).
Update 04/06
The government approved a decision allowing people arriving from a member state of the European Union, the Schengen Area, or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to cross the Estonian state border from 1 June. A person may enter the Republic of Estonia if they have no symptoms of illness and have stayed in those countries for the last 14 days, which is the incubation period of COVID-19.
Upon arrival in Estonia, a person must be in quarantine for 14 days if they have arrived from a country where the number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants has been more than 15 in the last 14 days. Persons coming from a country with a smaller number of infected persons are not required to be in quarantine.
Update 11/06/20
As of June 1, the Estonian borders were re-opened for people arriving from European countries. People can enter the country, and do not have the obligation to stay at home, if:
they are arriving from the European Union Member State, a Schengen area country, or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
they have no symptoms of the disease.
they have stayed in the European Union Member State or a Schengen Area country, or in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland where in the past 14 days the coronavirus infection rate is no more than 15 persons per 100,000 inhabitants.
Statistical information on the infection rate of the previous 14 days per 100 000 inhabitants are published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on its website every Friday and is valid for the next seven days as of the following Monday.
Restrictions still apply to foreign nationals wishing to enter Estonia from outside the European Union, the Schengen area, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
People are allowed to enter Estonia and do not have to remain in quarantine if they have no symptoms of the disease and if they enjoyed this right previously, such as:
persons directly involved with transporting goods or raw materials, including loading of goods or raw materials.
employees at a foreign diplomatic representation or a consular office, or their family members, or foreign nationals arriving to Estonia in the framework of international military cooperation.
persons providing health care services or other services necessary for solving the emergency situation.
persons directly involved in the international carriage of goods or passengers, including crew members serving on an international means of transport and persons performing repairs, warranty, or maintenance services on a means of transport.
serving groups of passengers, and directly involved in the provision of passenger transport services.
persons providing services to groups of passengers, and directly involved in passenger service provision.
persons whose purpose of arrival in Estonia is to ensure the performance of an essential service.
persons whose arrival in Estonia is related to the maintenance, repair, warranty or information and communication technology of equipment of an enterprise operating in Estonia, where this is necessary to ensure the operation of the enterprise.
persons who have been granted special authorisation to enter.
As regards to persons who do not fall within the exceptions mentioned in the Order by the Government of the Republic, it is still possible to allow crossing the border on the basis of a specific request to be submitted to the Police and Border Guard Board at e-mail: ppa@politsei.ee.
Additional update 11.06
Tallinn, Stenbock House, 11 June 2020 – The government clarified its previous order and provided that a person arriving in Estonia from a country with a higher COVID-19 infection rate would be subject to a 14-day restriction on freedom of movement. Quarantine was previously required, but for the sake of legal clarity, the wording of the order was clarified by adding a restriction on freedom of movement.
Similarly to the current regulation, the specified order stipulates that the restriction of freedom of movement is applied during the latent period of infection, or 14 days. This means a prohibition on leaving the place of residence or permanent residence, except on the instructions of a healthcare professional or a police officer or in the event of an emergency endangering a person’s life or health. People can also leave home to receive healthcare services or if it is not possible to obtain food, basic necessities, or medicine in any other way.
The decision of the government does not change the established list of people who are allowed to enter Estonia when crossing the state border. The established exceptions, which are not subject to the requirement of restriction of freedom of movement upon entry, will also not be changed.
The order will enter into force upon signature.
Update August 18
From 1 September, in the event of a negative COVID-19 test result, it will be possible to go to work after coming from countries at risk if this is absolutely necessary and a negative virus test is given immediately upon arrival in the country. Until the result of the test is known, the person must be in complete self-isolation. In case of a negative test result, the person must stay in self-isolation for the first seven days, i.e. they can go to work and, for example, a shop, but must avoid unnecessary contacts. A second test must be performed no earlier than 7 days after the result of the first test, and if it is negative, normal life can be resumed. This means that a person will not be subjected to 14-day self-isolation after two negative tests, which applies to all those coming from high-risk countries who do not take the test.
This does not apply to people who have come to work and study from a third country on the EU’s single list.
The 14-day restriction on travel-related freedom of movement still does not apply to existing exemptions, such as for foreign diplomats, vital service providers, staff involved in passenger and freight transport, and so on. Foreigners whose arrival in Estonia is related to maintenance of equipment of a company operating here or to other essential work necessary to ensure the operation of the company must now take the test to work when crossing the state border.