Citizenship by Descent in Estonia

To obtain citizenship by descent in Estonia, applicants need to be able to show definitive proof of their lineage. Our lawyers in Estonia can help evaluate your situation if you believe you are eligible, and we can assist you during your application for citizenship by descent.

Who can apply for Estonian citizenship by descent?

The situations in which an individual can acquire citizenship by descent are presented below by our lawyers in Estonia:

• The child has at least one parent who is an Estonian citizen at the time of his or her birth;
• The child is born after the death of the father who, at the time of death, was an Estonian citizen;
• The child is found in Estonia, and his or her parents are unknown; unless it can be shown that such a child is a citizen of another state, he or she can receive citizenship in Estonia by court order, following an application made by the guardian or the guardianship authority;
• The child is adopted, and a request for citizenship by descent in Estonia is submitted by the adoptive parent who is an Estonian citizen. Estonian citizenship can be awarded to the adopted child on the same date on which the adoptive parent receives this status, subject to conditions.

What steps must I follow to apply for Estonian citizenship by descent?

The following steps are relevant, and our Estonian lawyers can assist you:

1. The individual who wishes to make an application for citizenship encloses in his or her file the application form, the documents proving his or her identity, citizenship, and the documents relevant to his or her parents, as well as other supporting documents, as may be required.
2. The documents are submitted in Estonia to the relevant government authorities or the Estonian foreign representation;
3. If the documents are accepted, the Estonian authorities issue a registration certificate;
4. The decision period is usually one year from the document’s date of registration.

Applicants should know that Estonia does not allow dual citizenship. However, according to the Estonian citizenship laws, a person cannot be deprived of his or her Estonian citizenship by birth.

What are the minimum residency conditions for eligible candidates?

A person who applies for Estonian citizenship by naturalisation must:

• Be at least 15 years of age;
• Have a valid long-term residence permit or the right of permanent residence in Estonia.

Before they can submit their application for citizenship by naturalisation in Estonia, applicants must have loved in the country for:

• At least 8 years with a residence permit (according to a specific right of residence);
• 5 years out of the eight must have been on a permanent basis.

Must I have advanced Estonian language knowledge to obtain citizenship?

Yes, requirements are in place for the assessment of the applicant’s level of proficiency in Estonian. One must prove their language and communication competences (at least a language level knowledge of B1). Minimum knowledge generally focuses on the following:

• The ability to handle everyday communication situations in Estonian;
• The ability to describe experiences or goals and to explain their intentions;
• A complete ability to fully comprehend topics related to school or work;
• The ability to compose a simple text on a familiar topic.

Applicants take an Estonian language knowledge test, with the rules for this evaluation being established by the Government.

Individuals who finished secondary or higher education in Estonian are exempted from the language examination.

Must I have a permanent income source when I apply for citizenship?

Yes. You are required by law to provide proof of regular and sufficient income. Your legal permanent income can include:

• Remuneration as derived from an employment agreement or a contract of service;
• Income obtained from doing business in Estonia;
• Income derived from lawfully owning property in Estonia;
• Pension;
• Income from grants or maintenance payments, as well as other benefits payable under law.

Must I have knowledge of Estonian laws when applying for citizenship?

Yes. Applicants are required to have basic knowledge of Estonian law, namely:

• The general constitutional principles of the country (most notably, Chapters I and III of the Constitution);
• Knowledge of the rights, freedoms, and duties of citizens (as named in the relevant chapters in the Constitution);
• The powers of the president and those of the courts, as well as information on the Citizenship Act.

Like in the case of language verification, persons who want to acquire Estonian citizenship by naturalisation must pass an examination for their assessment of knowledge concerning the country’s constitution and laws.

Contact our law firm in Estonia for more information about citizenship applications, as well as the eligibility criteria and application requirements for citizenship by descent in Estonia.

Some of the conditions presented above are similar to the ones available in other EU countries, for example, those in Poland, for example: persons who have parents, grandparents, or great-grandparents can apply for Polish citizenship by ancestry. However, clients interested in applying for citizenship by descent in Poland should know that there are other situations in which they can apply for this type of citizenship, and they can receive complete assistance from our partners, a team of experienced Polish immigration lawyers – Immigration-Poland.com.