Europe

Estonia

Still current at: 25 July 2008

Updated: 19 June 2008

Terrorism
 
There is a low threat from terrorism.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.

 

For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.  

 
Crime
 
With the growth of tourism, there has been an increase in tourist-targeted crime, particularly petty theft.  You should be aware of the risks of pick pocketing and muggings, especially in bars, pubs, nightclubs and hotels in Tallinn’s Old Town.  Remain vigilant, take sensible precautions and avoid unlit side streets and parks at night.  It is safer to phone for a taxi rather than hail one from the street, whether official looking or not.
 
Theft of property should be reported in person to Tallinn Central Police Station, Parnu maantee 11, tel 6124200.

 

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
 
Political Situation
 
Estonia Country Profile
 
There are a number of demonstrations planned in Tallinn between 23-27 April 2008.  You should be aware that similar demonstrations in 2007 became violent and on 26 April 2008 there will be a large demonstration at Mere Puistee 5 (next to the Russian Cultural Centre) to mark the anniversary the April 2007 riots against the proposed removal of the controversial "Bronze Soldier" Soviet War Memorial.  

You should exercise caution if you are in Tallinn at this time, monitor local media for developments, follow the advice of the local authorities and avoid any area in which large crowds are gathering.

Local Travel
 
Tickets and travel cards from 2-72 hours or 10-30 days for trams, trolley buses and buses are sold at kiosks.  You can also buy books of 10 tickets from there also.  Tickets can be bought from drivers it is advisable to have the correct change as the drivers may not be able to accept higher denomination notes.  For the ticket to be valid, you must stamp it yourself in a machine in the vehicle.   If a ticket inspector finds you do not have a valid ticket, you will be fined.
 
Taxis are widely available and are reasonably priced.  However, do make sure there is a visible meter and that it is being used.  It is better to phone a major taxi company such as Tulika Takso (tel 120000), Linnatakso (tel 6442442), Klubi Takso (tel 6380638) and Krooni Takso (tel 6381111) rather than hail one from the street.  These companies are usually able to tell you the type, number and colour of the car in advance.  Do not use taxis that are unmarked; they are illegal and usually cost a lot more than registered taxis, and they might also be unsafe.
 
Road Travel
 
You can drive in Estonia on a UK driving licence.  If you intend to drive your own vehicle in Estonia you must also have the original V5 C (Vehicle Registration Document).  The Estonian Border Guards will impound your vehicle if you do not have this.
 
Road traffic accidents are common.  Extra care must be taken at all times when driving, particularly after dark and on major highways There were 167 road deaths in Estonia in the first 10 months of 2007 (Source: DfT).  This equates to 12.6 road deaths per 100,000 of population and compares to the UK average of 5.5 road deaths per 100,000 of population in 2005.

 
By law, headlights of vehicles must be on at all times, including daylight hours.  Winter tyres are a legal requirement from 1 December to 1 March every year, but if there are severe weather conditions outside these dates (likely in most years) the dates will change accordingly.  You should therefore check local conditions if driving in Estonia between October and April.
 
Do not drink and drive.  The legal limit is zero. Those found over the limit face a fine and possible imprisonment.

 

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

 

Air Travel

 

EU Aviation Regulations

 

The revised EU-wide security measures that came into effect for all passengers departing from UK airports in November 2006 are also being implemented in Estonia.  For more details about this see Airline Security.

You should not use, buy or possess drugs : sale and distribution is illegal and the possession of even the smallest quantities can lead to 1-10 years imprisonment.

 

From 1 August 2007 until further notice there will be an alcohol sales ban in Tallinn (capital) and Harju county from 20:00 until 08:00 in shops and street cafés. This does not include bars and restaurants.

 

Identification

 

Leave passports and valuables in hotel safes, and carry a photocopy of your passport as identification.

 

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Visas

 

Visas are not required to enter Estonia. As a British passport holder you can remain in Estonia for up to 90 days without a residence permit so long as you have a valid passport.  If you intend to live and work in Estonia you will need to obtain a residence permit from the Estonian Citizenship and Migration Board.

 

Passport validity

 

Passports should have at least three months validity remaining on entry.

 

Travelling with children

 

The entry requirements for children between ages 7-15 entering into Estonia are as follows:

 

a. The child must have his/her own passport.

 

or

 

b. The name, date of birth, and photograph of the child must be entered in the passport held by the accompanying parent (a photograph is not needed if the child is under seven years of age).

The healthcare facilities in Estonia are very good.  There are two main hospitals in the city, Mustamae hospital and East Tallinn Central Hospital.  There will be staff in both hospitals that speak English.

The Form E111 is no longer valid.  You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.  The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Estonian nationals.  It also does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.  For more general information see EHIC.

In the 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 10,000 adults aged 15 or over in Estonia were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.3% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Estonia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.
 

Insurance

 

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You must have valid health insurance to the value of 400,000 Estonian Kroons (approximately £17,500 at the current exchange rate) for the duration of their stay.  You are advised to re-check the exchange rate before travelling to ensure you have adequate cover.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

 

Registering with the British Embassy

If you are planning to be in Estonia for longer than six months, you should visit the Embassy website:  http://www.britishembassy.ee/ and view the advice on 'informationfor longer stayers' in the Consular section.

 

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

European Union

Information on the EU can be found at: Travelling and Living in the EU (pdf) and Britain and the European Union.

  

Money

 

New legislation on the controls of cash entering or leaving the EU will apply in all Member States from 15 June 2007.  Any person entering or leaving the EU will have to declare the cash that they are carrying if this amounts to 10,000 euros or more; this includes cheques, travellers' cheques, money orders, etc.  This will not apply to anyone travelling via the EU to a non-EU country, as long as the original journey started outside of the EU nor to those travelling within the EU.