How to register your residence and get an ID card in Estonia as an EU citizen
- Ingmar Lääts
- Jun 23
- 2 min read
Getting an Estonian ID card as a citizen of another EU country requires registering your residence in Estonia. Registration of residence means adding the data on the residence of yourself to the population register.
The notice of residence is handled by the local municipality where your address is located. In Tallinn it is the city government of Tallinn.
The notice of residence can be submitted in the following ways:
in the e-population register (you must log in with your ID-card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID). You can check the residence data that has been submitted by you to the e-population register and its status in the same portal;
at the rural municipality or city government/in Tallinn, to the district government in person;
by post to the local government by adding a copy of the personal data page of the identity document;
by e-mail to the local government by signing the notice digitally.
If you are not the owner of the premises indicated in the notice of residence, you must add a copy of the document proving the right to use the premises to the notice of residence (such as a tenancy contract) or the authorisation of the owner (a signed prepared in a freely selected format or as the signature of the owner on the notice of residence).
Although most services in Estonia are online, easy and fast, the residence registration (for the first time) can be burdensome. When you first arrive, you need an Estonian id code. When relocating to Estonia for the first time, a personal identification code for an EU citizen must first be created for an EU citizen. The individual must go in person to the local city or rural municipality government office for this. Only after that can you register your residence. And only after registering your residence can one apply for an ID card.
There is one exception - individuals who have e-residency. They already have an id code from Estonia and they already have a digital card allowing access to the digital services of Estonia. For them the residence registration process is that much simpler.
If you need help registering or finding an address for that, please contact us on our website or info@expatlegalestonia.com
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