On two Thursdays, 17 and 24 September, at 6 p.m. the Integration Foundation invites those interested in Estonian citizenship to attend information sessions, where they can receive practical advice on applying for citizenship, free Estonian language courses, and preparing for the exams. The information sessions are held in Russian and in collaboration with the Tallinn City Centre Administration and the Põhja-Tallinn District Administration.
According to Dmitri Moskovtsev, Director of the Integration Foundation, Estonian citizenship means the opportunity to participate more actively in our society and in shaping its future. ‘The more people living permanently in Estonia feel that Estonia is their country and that they have a say here, the stronger and more cohesive our society will be. It is therefore important that people wishing to apply for Estonian citizenship have a clear understanding of the process and the support they need to complete it,’ said Moskovtsev.
The information session will explain, step by step, what needs to be done to obtain Estonian citizenship and what support the state offers in this regard. Those interested can find out how to learn Estonian for free to the required standard, prepare for the citizenship exam and proceed to apply for citizenship. Participants will also be able to ask practical questions on the spot.
Jekaterina Gvozdeva, Head of Civic Education at the Integration Foundation, confirms that one does not have to go through the citizenship application process on their own. ‘People are in very different starting positions – some need to improve their Estonian language skills, some need to prepare for an exam, and some simply lack a clear idea of what to do next. During the information session, we will help explain these steps and introduce free resources that can help people achieve their goals,’ said Gvozdeva.
The information session will introduce the language learning agreement programme, offered in collaboration between the Integration Foundation and the Ministry of the Interior, which enables people applying for Estonian citizenship to learn Estonian free of charge. In addition, you can find out about free training courses where you can acquire and consolidate the knowledge required for the citizenship test. In addition, participants who have signed a language learning agreement are informed of the possibility of receiving compensation for taking unpaid study leave.
In the city centre, an information session will take place on 17 September at 6 p.m. in the Chamber Hall of Hopner House at Raekoja plats 18. A second information session will be held on 24 September at 6 p.m. at the Põhja-Tallinn District Administration at Kari tn 13.
The information session will be held in Russian and attendance is free of charge. Advance registration is required via the self-service portal of the Integration Foundation. Further information: https://integratsioon.ee/en/kodanik
The Integration Foundation organises information sessions on citizenship in both English and Russian, in person and online. Dates and registration information for upcoming sessions will be published on an ongoing basis on the Integration Foundation’s website.
