Starting from 1 January 2026, two additional requirements are in force regarding foreigners applying for a temporary residence permit to live in Estonia permanently:

• mandatory completion of the adaptation programme (basic module)
• Estonian language proficiency at least at level A2

Therefore, as of 1 January 2026, the following requirements are in force for foreigners submitting applications for a temporary residence permit to reside permanently in Estonia:

• having resided in Estonia for at least three years over a period of five consecutive years;
• completion of the adaptation programme (basic module);
• a high level of adaptation in Estonia;
• proficiency in Estonian at least at level A2*;
• sufficient income to cover the costs of living in Estonia;
• health insurance;
• their activities to date have been in accordance with the purpose and conditions of the residence permit granted to them.

*The following exceptions apply to the Estonian language proficiency requirement of level A2:

• foreigners who have acquired basic, secondary, or higher education in Estonian are not required to take the Estonian language proficiency exam;
• foreigners who are permanently unable to take the Estonian language proficiency exam due to their state of health are fully exempted from taking the test;
• foreigners who are permanently unable to take the Estonian language proficiency exam due to their state of health are partially exempt from the test – they take the test to the extent and in the manner that their state of health allows.

Completion of the adaptation programme and Estonian language proficiency at least at level A2 are not required if:

• the foreigner has a valid temporary residence permit for permanent residence in Estonia issued before 1 January 2026 and is applying for its extension;
• the foreigner has submitted an application for a temporary residence permit to reside permanently in Estonia before 1 January 2026 and a decision on the application will be made after 31 December 2025.

Please note! All applications submitted to the Police and Border Guard Board before 1 January 2026 will be processed in accordance with the procedure in force at the time of submission.

For foreigners who are applying for or extending a temporary residence permit for employment, the conditions remain the same:

• a foreigner who applies for a temporary residence permit for employment and who has previously resided in Estonia for at least five years on the basis of a temporary residence permit for employment must have proficiency in Estonian at least at level A2;
• when extending a temporary residence permit for employment, the applicant must have acquired Estonian language skills at least at level A2;
• foreigners are not required to have proficiency in Estonian at least at level A2 if:

1. they had a valid temporary residence permit for employment on 15 July 2018, and
2. they are applying for a temporary residence permit for employment or its extension.

In this regard, we would like to remind you that the Integration Foundation offers so-called newly arrived immigrants who have been residing in Estonia on the basis of a temporary residence permit or temporary right of residence for less than 5 years the opportunity to participate in Estonian language courses at levels A1, A2, and B1 and the adaptation programme. Additional information: https://integratsioon.ee/en/adaptation-programme

Please note! After completing the Estonian language courses of the Settle in Estonia programme, applicants must also pass the respective language proficiency exam organised by the Education and Youth Board. More detailed information about the Estonian language proficiency exam can be found HERE.

For more information on applying for a temporary residence permit to live in Estonia permanently, see:

• https://www.politsei.ee/en/instructions/residence-permit-for-a-permanent-resident
• https://www.politsei.ee/en/migration-consultants
• https://www.eesti.ee/eraisik/en/artikkel/citizenship-and-documents/right-of-residence-and-residence-permit-for-foreign-nationals

We offer free language courses and training courses on the Constitution and the Citizenship Act for people who wish to become Estonian citizens. This year, we will be organising information sessions to introduce our services in more detail and answer questions from interested parties.

Upcoming Info Sessions:

• January 28 at 10:00 (online, in Russian). Registration is OPEN in self-service.
• February 18 at 10:00 (online, in English). Registration is OPEN in self-service.
• March 18 at 10:00 (online, in Russian). Registration will open on January 28, 2026 at 11:00 in self-service.

If you are not yet a user of our self-service environment, please first create your profile at the following link:
https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/

You can learn more about language learning to apply for Estonian citizenship at:
https://integratsioon.ee/en/language-exam

You can read more about training courses on the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Citizenship Act at:
https://integratsioon.ee/en/citizenship-exam

All those who sign up for the information session will receive all the information and materials also by email, whether they attended or not. 

Would you like to better understand local customs, visit exciting places, and practise Estonian in a relaxed and supportive atmosphere? We invite you to participate in a new series of meetings that will take place in four regions of Estonia – Harju County, Ida-Viru County, Tartu, and Pärnu.

We invite all adults whose native language is not Estonian to join the programme. This way, you can take part in shared activities that will help you become more familiar with the everyday life and culture of Estonia.

What do we do together?

A group is created in each region that will engage in:

• workshops and discussions (20 academic hours in total), where we talk about Estonian life and culture.
• joint study trips (five in total), during which we visit museums, exhibitions, and go on tours.

Why participate?

• Meeting new people: you will meet people who are in a similar situation to you.
• Practising the language with confidence: all activities take place in Estonian. We have Estonian-speaking volunteers who will assist you with communication and help boost your confidence.
• Discovering Estonia: together, we will visit places you might not see on your own.

Where and when?

Meetings and study trips take place in the evenings after work or on weekends so that you can participate even if you have work or studies.

• In Harju County: We will visit the Botanic Garden, the Estonian Open Air Museum, and Padise Monastery.
• In Ida-Viru County: We will explore Narva Museum, Virumaa Museums, and Rakvere Castle together.
• In Tartu: We will explore the Estonian National Museum, Palamuse Museum, TYPA Printing and Paper Art Centre, and the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum.
• In Pärnu: We will learn about the history and stories of Pärnu at the Pärnu Museum, the Koidula Museum, and the Red Tower.

The programmes are carried out by the Integration Foundation’s cooperation partners: Targa Eesti Instituut OÜ and ImmiSchool – Uusimmigrantide Koolituskeskus OÜ.

How to join?

New groups start once a quarter.

To participate, register at the self-service portal of the Integration Foundation: https://iseteenindus.integratsioon.ee/login

Make your adaptation to life in Estonia exciting and memorable. You are more than welcome to join us!

The activities have been co-financed by the Swiss Confederation to reduce economic and social disparities in the European Union. The Swiss-Estonian cooperation programme supports activities that help people of different nationalities and linguistic backgrounds to better integrate into Estonian society. The programme aims to foster a feeling of unity and provide opportunities for participating in cultural and educational activities. Support is provided, for example, for learning Estonian, getting to know Estonian culture, developing digital services and volunteering, and events that bring together people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The activities of the programme help participants to better understand life in Estonia and find their place in society. The programme is implemented by the Ministry of Culture in cooperation with the Integration Foundation and other partners.

All native Estonian speakers or those with a very good command of the language are invited to participate in the Language Friends programme as volunteer mentors to support language learners in communicating in Estonian. Registration for the new season of the programme launched by the Integration Foundation has begun and will continue until 6 February 2026.

‘The Language Friends programme brings together people who want to improve their Estonian language skills with volunteer conversation partners. Even an hour of conversation with a mentor each week increases the language learner’s confidence in speaking and mutual understanding,’ said Dmitri Moskovtsev, Director of the Integration Foundation. ‘I invite everyone to actively participate in the programme so that the Estonian language can be heard more and more.’

People who are of legal age and speak Estonian as their native language or at a very high level can apply to become mentors. The mentor will talk to the learner about everyday topics at least once a week over a three-month period – from 14 February to 14 May. A communication channel suitable for both parties is selected for the conversation, such as Zoom, MS Teams, or phone. The mentor will receive support from the Language Friends programme team, who will provide suggestions and materials and match learners with mentors. To participate in the programme, Estonian language learners must have reached at least the B1 level of language proficiency, which enables them to hold a conversation. Both mentors and learners must be adults.

‘Over the course of six years, the programme has brought together nearly 7,400 language friends of all ages from all walks of life, who speak 36 different native languages. Volunteer Estonian language mentors do not need to have teaching experience: what counts is openness and a willingness to contribute your time to help people practise their Estonian,’ said Ave Landrat, head of the Language Friends programme.

You can register as a mentor here.

More information about the programme can be found at:

https://integratsioon.ee/en/language-friends-program

Estonian language learners will be able to join the Language Friends programme from 9 February, when registration opens. The Language Friends programme team will bring language learners and mentors together starting from Valentine’s Day, 14 February. The programme season will last until 14 May.

The activities are carried out with the support of the European Union’s 2021–2027 Cohesion Policy and Internal Security Funds and within the framework of Project No. 2021-2027.4.07.23-0006 of Decree No. 80 of the Minister of Culture of 15 March 2023 ‘Conditions for granting support for carrying out activities supporting integration, including adaptation, in Estonian society’.