Acquisition of citizenship
Conditions
In cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, we offer free courses to help you learn Estonian in order to reach B1 level, which is required for applying for citizenship. To offer this opportunity, we conclude a language learning agreement with residents interested in acquiring Estonian citizenship, allowing them to study Estonian free of charge up to B1 level (covering levels A1, A2, and B1).
To join a citizenship programme and to conclude a language learning agreement can be done after completing the relevant consultation. During the counselling, we will provide you with detailed information on the language learning agreement, Estonian language learning, and other issues related to acquiring Estonian citizenship. We recommend that you consult the following information before the consultation:
Residents interested in acquiring Estonian citizenship are welcome to conclude a language learning agreement if they:
- are at least 15 years old (for those aged 15–18, parental or guardian consent is required to sign the agreement);
- have lived in Estonia for at least five years on the basis of a residence permit or right of residence;
- have no circumstances that would preclude them from obtaining Estonian citizenship (as specified in subsection 21 (1) of the Citizenship Act);
- have not participated in Estonian language courses (co-)funded by the state budget within the last two years (prior to signing the agreement).
The first step is to complete a consultation. Consultations are held by prior arrangement – by phone, in person at the Estonian language house or online.
To arrange a time and place, please contact our consultants:
info@integratsiooniinfo.ee
659 9025 - phone call in Estonia (MON–THU 9–17, FRI 9–16)
+372 6599025 - phone call from abroad (MON–THU 9–17, FRI 9–16)
To introduce the service, we also organize info-sessions where we provide detailed guidance on the citizenship application process, explain the terms of the language training agreement, and answer participants questions.
After the consultation/info-session, we provide the necessary materials for concluding the agreement, including the application form and the participant’s memo.
The information provided in the application for concluding a language training agreement is forwarded to the Police and Border Guard Board for verification. This is done to ensure that the applicant meets the requirements established by the Citizenship Act (legal residence in Estonia for at least five years and the absence of any disqualifying circumstance, such as criminal offences).
If the verification confirms compliance, the language learning agreement will be sent to applicant for digital signing (see the relevant digital signing instructions). After both parties have signed the agreement, a place in an Estonian language course will be offered as soon as possible.
If the verification process identifies that the requirements are not met, a relevant information email along with our recommendations for next steps will be sent.
There are several aspects of the citizenship programme and the conditions for applying for citizenship that we recommend considering before signing the agreement:
- Before signing the agreement, we will send the data of residents who have completed the consultation to the Police and Border Guard Board for verification. The verification process may take several months. We can conclude the agreement once the verification confirms that the resident meets the necessary requirements.
- By signing the agreement, the applicant commits to completing language studies up to B1 level in Estonian, fulfilling the conditions for applying for citizenship, and submitting an application for Estonian citizenship within one year after passing the B1-level exam.
- To acquire Estonian citizenship through naturalization, you must renounce your current citizenship. To this end, after receiving an application for Estonian citizenship, the Police and Border Guard Board issues a certificate on the basis of which you can contact the consulate of the country that issued your existing citizenship to be released from it.
- By the time of applying for Estonian citizenship, you must hold either a long-term residence permit or permanent right of residence.
As a participant in the citizenship programme, a person who has signed a language training agreement undertakes the obligation, upon completion of the language courses, to apply for Estonian citizenship within one year after successfully passing the B1-language examination.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances beyond the participant’s control (for example, sudden illness), the learner has the right to terminate the agreement for a valid reason. To do so, the participant must submit a written application describing the reason, attach supporting documents, and send them to keeleleping@integratsioon.ee
Based on the submitted information, the Foundation will make a decision.
If the reason is not valid or is not considered justified, or if breaches of the agreement by the participant are identified, the Foundation has the right to terminate the agreement immediately and claim reimbursementof the training cost (for all language levels), as well as compensation paid for the use of study leave.
The language learning agreement is considered succesfully fulfilled if the participant has completed the language training, passed the B1-level language examinations and, within one year of succesfully passing the exam, submitted an application for Estonian citizenship to the Police and Border Guard Board as well as provided the Foundation with the relevant confirmation.
Upon fulfilment of these conditions, both the participant’s involvement in the citizenship programme and the language training agreement are concluded.