The Settle in Estonia programme will help you to better understand life in Estonia and create opportunities for you to become independent in our country. The adaptation programme offers participants free A1, A2, and B1 Estonian language courses, as well as adaptation training on Estonian society and life in Estonia.
There are a number of Estonian language courses at levels A1, A2, and B1, as well as adaptation training currently open for registration in the Settle in Estonia portal. The training and courses you can take part in under the adaptation programme depend on your legal status in Estonia. When you log in to the Settle in Estonia platform, you will see only those language courses and training courses on your profile where there are places available and are open for registration.
Participation in Estonian language courses and adaptation training is either recommended or compulsory, depending on your legal status:
- newly arrived migrants who have come to live in Estonia on the basis of a temporary residence permit are recommended to learn Estonian at level A1, A2, or B1;
- newly arrived migrants living in Estonia as beneficiaries of temporary protection are obliged to complete an Estonian language course at level A1 and recommended to continue learning at levels A2 and B1; it is compulsory to complete adaptation training.
- a newly arrived migrant living in Estonia as a beneficiary of international protection (subsidiary protection, refugee status) is obliged to complete Estonian language courses at A1, A2, and B1 level; it is compulsory to complete adaptation training.
Which trainings and courses are currently open for registration?
Regular migration*:
- Estonian language courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 – registration is open as long as spots are available;
- adaptation training – registration is open as long as spots are available.
Beneficiaries of temporary protection:
- Estonian language courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 – the next courses will be open for registration in August;
- adaptation training – registration is open as long as spots are available.
Beneficiaries of international protection (except beneficiaries of temporary protection):
- Estonian language courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 – registration is open as long as spots are available;
- adaptation training – registration is open as long as spots are available.
*Regular migration: aliens who have been granted a residence permit in Estonia e.g. for work, study, business, or to live with a family member, as well as citizens of the EU and their family members staying in Estonia on the basis of a right of residence.
Courses are available both online as well as on-site in major cities.
How to register for the courses and trainings of the adaptation programme?
- You can register for adaptation trainings and Estonian language courses once you have received a notification letter from the Police and Border Guard Board about the possibility to participate in the adaptation programme and once you have obtained an identity document.
- For more information on the training courses of the adaptation programme, visit settleinestonia.ee/login. To use the self-service environment, you need to create an account using an ID card, Smart-ID, or Mobile ID.
- On your personal account, you can see all the courses suitable for you that are open for registration and have available spots. You can choose the course that suits you best and register by clicking on the ‘Register’ button next to the course.
- When you log in, you will see a list on your personal page of the Estonian language courses and trainings you can participate in. You can choose the course that suits you best and sign up for it. Once you have registered, you will receive a confirmation and other details from the provider of the course a few days before the start of the course.
Have you already completed an Estonian language course?
If you have previously completed an Estonian language course at A1, A2, or B1 level outside the adaptation programme (e.g. through your employer, the Unemployment Insurance Fund or elsewhere) or passed the national language proficiency examination, please send your certificate to info@settleinestonia.ee – this will enable you to prove that you have fulfilled your obligations and/or to continue your language studies within the adaptation programme (registration for the next level language course will open).
If you have any questions, please contact us by email: info@settleinestonia.ee
The adaptation programme is intended for adults who have stayed in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit or right of residence for less than five years from the moment of obtaining the initial residence permit or right of residence. The courses of the adaptation programme are co-funded by the European Union and the state budget.
