How to Get Estonia CitizenshipKey facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 8 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Citizens abroad only
- Civic test
- Required, with a test or certificate
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for citizens who naturalise abroad onlyNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Only naturalised citizens lose their citizenship when they naturalise abroad.
- Available routes
- Region
- Europe
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
For foreign nationals living in Estonia, this is the ordinary route based on residence. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
- Residence
- 8 years
Person has been resident in Estonia for 8 years, of which the last 5 years permanently.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required.
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Knowledge of the language of Estonia required.
- Civic knowledge
- Required, with a test or certificate
Knowledge of the Constitution and the Citizenship Act (citizenship test), loyalty to the country required.
- Criminal record
- A criminal record or good character condition applies
Person does not comply with the Estonian constitutional order or laws, acted against Estonian state and its security, committed a crime for which he has been sentenced to imprisonment for more than one year and sentence has not expired, has been punished repeatedly for intentionally committed crimes, person or their spouse has worked for a foreign intelligence or security service, or person or their spouse has served as a military personnel in the armed forces of a foreign country (unless person has been married to a citizen for at least five years).
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Permanent legal income required.
Descent (citizen parent)
This route covers children of a citizen of Estonia, subject to the conditions below. Under the law of Estonia, citizenship is acquired automatically, with no official decision involved.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Estonia to a citizen.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to a citizen.
Child of a new citizen
A parent acquiring citizenship of Estonia is the basis of this route. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Transfer to a child
Person is a minor under the age of 15 whose parents are citizens who apply for naturalisation of the child (or the child's single parent who is a citizen applies for naturalisation). If only one parent is a citizen, the parent who is not a citizen must officially agree.
Child coacquisition
Person is a minor under the age of 15, resident in Estonia and mentioned in the parent's application for citizenship (consent needed from the other parent). Other condition: renunciation or automatic loss of citizenship of another country.
Adoption
This route covers people adopted by a citizen of Estonia, subject to the conditions below. Under the law of Estonia, citizenship is acquired automatically, with no official decision involved.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen. Renunciation or automatic loss of citizenship of another country.
Former citizens (reacquisition)
Earlier citizenship of Estonia is the basis of this route. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has lost citizenship as a minor and is resident in Estonia. Other condition: renunciation or automatic loss of citizenship of another country.
Stateless persons
For people without any citizenship, the rules below show what the law of Estonia provides.
Foundlings
Person is found in Estonia of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Child must be born and permanently resident in Estonia after 26 February 1992 (or before August 20, 1991 as citizen of the USSR) and 'not deemed by any State to be citizens of that State on the basis of any Act in force'. Child under 15 must be born and permanently resident in Estonia. Parents must have been legally resident in Estonia for 5 years and are 'not deemed by any State to be citizens of that State on the basis of any Act in force' (including citizens of the USSR before August 20, 1991). Until the age of 1 (or until 1 Jan 2017), an application can be submitted by the child's parents (or single or adoptive parent) if they do not want Estonian citizenship for their child.
Special achievements
This route covers people recognised for special achievements or for contributions to Estonia, subject to the conditions below. A decision rests with the authorities, who may refuse despite the conditions being fulfilled.
Person has special merits in the area of science, culture, sports or in other areas. Conditions under the rules for ordinary naturalisation may be waived. Applies to a maximum of 10 persons per year.
Not available in Estonia: Marriage or civil partnership, Birth in the country, Other family members of citizens, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Public or military service, Investment. Based on the GLOBALCIT coding of the law, updated with in-force changes.
Dual citizenship
Estonia accepts dual citizenship in one direction: citizens who naturalise abroad.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Only naturalised citizens lose their citizenship when they naturalise abroad
Person voluntarily acquires citizenship of another country. Provision is also applicable to persons who acquired citizenship during minority (exceptions outlined in EST 3 apply). Article 8 of the Constitution and Article 5(3) of the Citizenship Act, which preclude deprivation of Estonian citizenship obtained by birth.
Compare with neighbours
Estonia requires 8 years, the most common requirement across Northern Europe.
Compare Estonia with all countries in the residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Denmark | 9 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Finland | 8 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Iceland | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Lithuania | 10 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Norway | 8 years | Test or certificate | Accepted |
 Sweden | 8 years | None | Accepted |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 6.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Estonia Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/estonia/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/estonia/">How to Get Estonia Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become an Estonian citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Estonia takes 8 years of residence at minimum, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Estonia allow dual citizenship?
In part. The law of Estonia accepts dual citizenship for its citizens who naturalise abroad, not generally for new citizens.
Do I need a language test for Estonian citizenship?
A language requirement exists, but no test or certificate is specified.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Estonian citizenship?
Estonia requires applicants to pass a civic knowledge test or obtain a certificate.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Estonian citizenship?
Giving up your current citizenship is a requirement for Estonian citizenship.
Can I get Estonia citizenship by marriage?
The data codes no separate marriage route for Estonia. Spouses would use another route in the law, if one applies.
Can I get Estonia citizenship by descent?
Yes. A child of a citizen can acquire citizenship of Estonia by descent. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Estonia citizenship by investment?
No investment route is coded in the law of Estonia.
Related pages
Also see: Estonia passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.