Denis knew from childhood that his life was connected to Estonia. He was born, studied, and developed his personality here. Despite years of living with the so-called grey passport, he made the conscious decision to obtain Estonian citizenship, feeling that the time had come to finally define his place in the world.
"For a long time, I thought a grey passport was enough for me: I could travel freely to Europe, Russia, and other countries," says Denis. "But over time, I realized that I wanted to fully be part of the society I live in. Moreover, my Estonian friends constantly asked me why I was ignoring this opportunity."
His friends, in fact, played a key role in his decision. Their support helped Denis confidently navigate all the stages of preparation and exams. "One of my acquaintances said, 'Listen, you just have to do it.' I realized he was right. Sometimes, decisions come exactly at such moments."
Preparation for the exams turned out to be relatively easy for Denis. He had been hearing Estonian spoken since childhood and often practiced the language with his friends. Nevertheless, the courses ended up being useful: "Grammar lessons were the most useful to me. Even my Estonian friends often don’t know all the rules, and I figured them out with the help of wonderful teachers. Studying was not a burden, but a pleasure."
However, the path to citizenship coincided with a difficult period: the war, volunteering, and work — all of this took a lot of time. "There were moments when I wanted to give it all up," admits Denis. "But the support of friends, teachers, and the program itself helped me keep going. I felt that I was not alone."
Denis emphasizes that the learning process was not only a necessity for him but also a truly interesting experience. In the classes, he met other participants in the program, each of whom was moving toward their own goal. "It was inspiring. We shared advice and supported each other. There was an amazing atmosphere in the group where no one felt like a stranger."
After successfully passing the exams, Denis was filled with joy and pride. "When I told my friends that I had passed, they joyfully exclaimed, 'Tere tulemast!' (Welcome!). It was a big moment for me because I became a member of a community that I always felt I was part of."
Participation in the program helped Denis reaffirm his decision to stay in Estonia. "I was born here, and my heart will always stay with this country." The program not only opened up new opportunities for him but also helped him fully realize that Estonia is the place where his roots, friends, and home are.
For future Estonian citizens
The Integration Foundation, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, supports foreigners in applying for Estonian citizenship. To this end, the foundation offers opportunities to learn Estonian at the required level (B1) for free, prepare for the citizenship exam, and provides advice on related issues. All the interested are welcome to a consultation at first: https://integratsioon.ee/en/language-training-apply-estonian-citizenship
