Arrival checklist
Before arrival
- Check your entry and residence conditions. If necessary, obtain a visa or residence permit for entry/employment/study.
- Update your health insurance. If applicable, obtain the European health insurance card. If necessary, obtain private health insurance.
- Check at your local tax authority whether you need a certificate proving your previous status as a tax payer.
- Arrange your accommodation.
After arrival
- Register your place of residence.
- Register for a family physician.
- Register your car at the Estonian Vehicle Registration Centre, if necessary.
Arrival in Estonia
By air
Tallinn Airport is located 4 kilometres from the centre of Tallinn. Use tram nr 4, take a taxi or use Taxify or Uber, which both work in Estonia. See information about getting to and from the airport here. Public transport tickets cost 2 euros, taxi fare should not be more than 10 euros.
It is convenient to arrive at Tartu Airport, if Tartu is your final destination. Only intarnational connection is through Helisinki, operated by Finnair. Transport between Tartu city centre and the airport is comfortable with the Airport Shuttle.
By sea
Arrival in Estonia by sea is possible from Helsinki and Stockholm. In summer ships also go to Rostock and St. Petersburg. The ship traffic between Tallinn and Helsinki is frequent and fast. Smaller boats take an hour and a half for the trip from Helsinki to Tallinn, but they are dependent on the ice conditions on the Gulf of Finland and do not travel in winter. Large ferries travel all year round and need a bit more than 3 hours for the trip. The port of Tallinn is near the city centre, so the centre can also be reached on foot.
For passenger ship schedules, see Port of Tallinn.
By bus
International bus lines connect Estonia to Central and Western Europe and to our eastern neighbours. International bus lines go to Tallinn, Tartu and Pärnu, and buses coming from Russia go through Narva. Bus connections within the Baltic countries are quite frequent, so it is possible to arrive in Estonia via Riga, the capital of Latvia.
By train
It is possible to get to Estonia by train from Russia and Latvia.
- Moscow-St Petersburg to Tallinn with GoRail
- Riga to Valga with Pasažieru Vilciens
Travel by train within Estonia with Elron.
See also:
Roadmap: Visas & Entry Conditions - Graphic step-by-step guide for what you need to do and when to enter the country
Welcoming Programme - Free crash courses (language, work and daily life etc) for new settlers with residentce permits up to 5 y.
Family & Daily Life in Estonia - Schools, parental benefits, household, transport
Language Courses & Access to Culture - Language courses, social life, hobbies, sports