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COVID-19 Information
Last updated: 09/13/21
*** Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the U.S. may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Check the CDC website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.
Waivers to the testing requirement may be granted by the CDC on an extremely limited basis for emergency humanitarian travel. To request a waiver please read the requirements in the passenger section of the CDC’s website and email VisaTallinn@state.gov with the required information for the U.S. Embassy to submit to the CDC on your behalf.
Country-Specific Information:
- The Department of State has issued a Level 4 Advisory advising U.S. citizens not to travel to Estonia due to COVID-19. The CDC issued a Level 4 (Very High) Travel Health Notice, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country.
- Starting August 26, masks are required in public indoor spaces where COVID certificates are not checked. This includes public transportation, shops, shopping centers, banks, post offices, etc.
- As of August 26, COVID certificates are required for individuals 18 and older at most events including sports events, hobby activities and education, saunas, spas, public meetings, theaters, cinemas, museums, entertainment, and for eating and drinking on site in catering establishments. Event organizers may also ask for an identity document. A COVID certificate is proof of vaccination status, a negative COVID test, or evidence of having recovered from the coronavirus.
- Anyone who has been vaccinated abroad can prove they have been vaccinated by presenting a vaccine passport, a copy of the passport, or an officially verified excerpt from a database in a foreign country. The document must be in the Latin or Cyrillic alphabet and in Estonian, Russian, or English and must contain the following information:
- The disease against which the individual was vaccinated
- The date of immunization
- The brand name of the vaccine
- The number of doses administered
- Information on the certificate issuer (i.e. the CDC)
- Information for travelers to Estonia on acceptable vaccination certificates and/or recovery from COVID can be found here.
- Information on applying for an EU COVID certificate can be found on the Estonian Health Board website or by contacting the Estonian Social Insurance Board. More information can be found here.
- Regular flights are available out of Estonia. However, flight schedules remain limited and have not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
- Vaccinated travelers and some unvaccinated travelers from the United States are currently allowed to enter Estonia, but entry requirements vary depending on vaccination status. (Note: Information for the United States can be found under the guidelines for countries not on the EU’s Annex 1 list). All travelers entering Estonia are required to complete a declaration of health prior to entering the country. More information can be found here.
- Vaccinated travelers from the United States who provide proof of their vaccination status are permitted to enter Estonia and are not required to provide a negative test and are not subject to self-isolation requirements.
- Unvaccinated travelers from the United States are permitted to enter Estonia only for work, studying, family reasons, or under a special permit. Unvaccinated travelers are required to provide a negative test certificate on entry and are subject to a ten day self-isolation period, which can be shortened by taking a second COVID test after six days.
- An asymptomatic fully vaccinated person may travel to Estonia from any country. Travelers from some countries may require a visa. More information about visa requirements for Estonia can be found here.
- Travelers entering Estonia are required to complete a declaration of health prior to entering the country. More information can be found here. This form can be completed online, up to 72 hours prior to entry. Fines may be imposed for those who fail to complete the declaration. More details can be found on the Estonian Health Board’s website.
- Current restrictions in place across Estonia include:
Indoor Events and Activities
- Starting August 26 a COVID certificate (proof of vaccination status, a negative COVID test, or evidence of having recovered from the coronavirus) is required at indoor events.
- This applies to public meetings and events, including conferences, theatre performances, concerts, cinema screenings, entertainment services, , museums, exhibitions, saunas, spas, water parks, and swimming pools. These limits also cover education, sports, trainings, youth work, hobby activities and education, refresher training and courses, and the organization of sports competitions and sports and fitness events.
- COVID certificates are not required in shopping centers or stores, or when buying takeaway from a restaurant or café, but masks must be worn in these places.
Outdoor Events and Activities
- The COVID certificate is not required for outdoor events with unlimited territory.
COVID-19 Testing:
- Are PCR and/or antigen tests available for U.S. citizens in Estonia? Yes
- If so, are test results reliably available within 72 hours? Yes
- Individuals feeling sick or showing any symptoms should contact their family doctor or the family doctor help line at 1220. If necessary, your doctor will forward a testing order to a local laboratory. There is no charge for testing through the public testing centers if ordered by your family doctor. Full details can be found on the Estonian Health Board’s website.
- Individuals wishing to request a COVID test, antibody testing, or are in need of a certificate for travel may contact a private laboratory, such as Synlab, Confido, Medicum, or Qvalitas, directly for an appointment. Costs at private facilities are approximately €78 to €81 for nasopharyngeal/PCR testing, €18 to €23.50 for anti-body testing, and €13 for a medical certificate.
- Testing is available at the Tallinn airport. PCR testing is available for arriving passengers and rapid antigen testing is available for departing passengers. Travelers planning to use the rapid antigen test prior to departure should check directly with their airline to ensure this type of test will be accepted for travel to their final destination.
- COVID testing is also available in some pharmacies.
- A coronavirus testing website has been created with information on different testing options available in Estonia.
- Information on options for obtaining a certificate of COVID-19 testing results can be found on the coronavirus testing website.
- The Estonian Health Board has created an online questionnaire to assist individuals in determining their risk of COVID-19 infection and provide personalized recommendations. Data collected will also aid the Health Board in assessing and predicting further disease spread within Estonia. The questionnaire can be completed at https://koroonatestimine.ee/en/frequently-asked-questions/
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
- Has the government of Estonia approved a COVID-19 vaccine for use? Yes
- Are vaccines available in Estonia for U.S. citizens to receive? Yes
- Which vaccines are available in Estonia? Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines are currently authorized for use in Estonia. More details are available here.
- Official information on COVID-19 vaccinations in Estonia and the order of distribution can be found on the Estonian government’s Vaktsineeri website. Vaccinations are voluntary, free, and available for anyone living in Estonia, including those without healthcare. Additional information can be found on the Estonian Health Board’s Q&A.
- Anyone who is at least twelve years of age may receive a vaccination against COVID-19 in Estonia. Time slots can be booked by calling the central phone number (1247) between 08:00 and 20:00. Time slots can also be booked via the eBooking system.
- Foreigners living or working in Estonia, including those without healthcare, are eligible to receive the vaccine for free. In Tallinn, foreigners without a family doctor may contact Ülemiste Perekliinik OÜ at +372 58 834 417 to schedule a vaccine. Outside of Tallinn, foreigners should contact the family doctor for their region. More information can be found on vaktsineeri.ee.
- Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
- The United States Government does not plan to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to private U.S. citizens overseas. Please follow host country developments and guidelines for COVID-19 vaccination.
Entry and Exit Requirements:
- Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Vaccinated travelers are permitted to enter and unvaccinated travelers for work, study, family reasons, or with a special permit.
- Travelers entering Estonia are required to complete a declaration of health prior to entering the country. This form can be completed online, up to 72 hours prior to entry. Fines may be imposed for those who fail to complete the declaration. More details can be found on the Estonian Health Board’s website.
- The Estonian government regularly reviews and updates guidelines on travel restrictions based on a country’s infection rate. The most current guidelines can be found here.
- Estonian Police and Border Guard Board’s information, including for questions about entering Estonia, can be found here.
- Travelers are reminded to check the border crossing conditions of the destination country and transit countries, as the rules may vary. Additionally, countries may impose measures to prevent new strains of the virus on short notice.
- Restricted border crossings remain at the Estonian-Russian border.
- Additional information on travel restrictions can be found here.There are no legal restrictions on exiting Estonia.Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Not for vaccinated travelers.
- Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes.
Starting July 1, people will be allowed to visit Estonia for up to 24 hours without the obligation to self-isolate on the condition that the person has been tested for the coronavirus with a PCR test up to 72 hours before arrival in Estonia or an antigen RDT test 24 hours before arrival in Estonia and received a negative test result.
- The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board has issued this guidance on the legal basis for the temporary stay in Estonia for foreigners who are unable to return home due to the COVID-19 emergency situation; exceptions apply. You may also contact us at acstallinn@state.gov if you have any questions on your residency status in Estonia.
Movement Restrictions:
- Is a curfew in place? No.
- Are there restrictions on intercity or interstate travel? No.
- The government replaced lifted the 2+2 rule on May 31 and replaced it with a dispersion requirement, which means strangers should keep a reasonable distance from one another in indoor spaces. More information can be found on the Police and Border Guard site.
- Up to date information on COVID-19 in Estonia can be found on the Estonian Health Board’s English-language page.
- Mask use is recommended in enclosed and crowded places. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on effective mask use can be found here.
Quarantine Information:
- Are U.S. citizens required to quarantine? If vaccinated, no. If unvaccinated, yes.
- Travelers arriving from COVID-19 risk countries must self-isolate for 10 days. These lists of countries and quarantine requirements will be reevaluated every week and can be found here.
- Effective January 15, quarantine requirements may be shortened for travelers arriving with proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result, taken no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. Testing is also available upon arrival at air and sea ports of entry. Travelers must remain in self-isolation until a second negative test is confirmed, taken no sooner than 6 days after the first test. More information can be found here.
- In some cases, quarantine-free entry is available to travelers with proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a full recovery from the disease with in the last 6 months. More details can be found here.
- The Estonian Government has established a mandatory quarantine for all individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 and those living with and in close contact with the infected individuals.
- If a case is identified, the infected individual will be put in isolation. The Health Board will reach out to those who were possibly in close contact with an affected individual and advise them to limit their social engagements. People who were potentially exposed to the virus are encouraged to voluntarily quarantine themselves at home and continuously monitor their own health.
- Individuals not complying with a quarantine requirement may be subject to a fine up to €2,000.
- For more information on quarantine requirements, please see the Riigi Teataja website.
Transportation Options:
- Are commercial flights operating? Yes.
- Passenger flights from Tallinn Airport continue to remain limited. However, airlines have begun to resume many previous flight paths. See the Tallinn Airport website for the current list of available destinations.
- Americans interested in departing Estonia for the United States are encouraged to look at the contact information for airlines at Tallinn Airport here.
- Is public transportation operating? Yes.
Fines for Non-Compliance:
- Failure to comply with restrictions can result in fines up to 9,600 Euros.
Consular Operations:
- All visitors to the Consular Section are required to wear masks. Any visitors who subject to a restriction of movement will not be admitted for their appointment and will be asked to reschedule for a future date. Additionally, visitors experiencing flu-like symptoms, or believed to have been exposed to the novel coronavirus, are required to postpone their appointment by at least 10 days.
- The U.S. Embassy Tallinn is currently offering all routine American Citizen Services, but appointments are limited. American citizens should contact us at acstallinn@state.gov if assistance is needed.
- U.S. Embassy Tallinn is accepting immigrant visa appointments.
- The U.S. Embassy Tallinn has limited non-immigrant visa appointments available for sea crew, student/exchange visitors, and petition-based work visas for applicants resident in Estonia
- More information can be found here.
- U.S. Citizens seeking information on the CARES Act, including stimulus checks for individuals and assistance for small business owners, are encouraged to visit the IRS Coronavirus Tax Relief and Economic Impact Payment site for more information.
Local Resources:
- The Estonian Health Board (in English): https://www.terviseamet.ee/en/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-previously-known-2019-ncov. The Estonian Alarm Center has established a helpline aimed at addressing key questions regarding COVID-19 by simply dialing 1247 from Estonia. The helpline operates 24/7, is free to call, and information is available in English, Estonian, and Russian. However, for medical consultations and advice, please call the family physician advisory line at 1220.
- Estonian Police and Border Guard Board’s information, including for questions about entering Estonia, can be found here.
- The Estonian Government’s Crisis Website includes an extensive list of questions and answers related to the pandemic.
- The Health Board’s has created this website with information on the COVID-19 vaccination in Estonia.
- Information on public and private COVID-19 testing options in Estonia can be found here.
- The Estonian Tourism Board has a summary of COVID information here.
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