We invite beneficiaries of temporary and international protection to attend free Estonian language courses, which must be completed within the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme. Detailed information about the A1-, A2- and B1-level courses available is provided in a Q&A format below.

You can register for suitable courses on the Settle in Estonia website: REGISTER

If you have any further questions, please contact the consultants of the Integration Foundation via email: info@settleinestonia.ee.

Detailed information about the Estonian language course for Ukrainian refugees

• Which Estonian language courses do Ukrainian refugees have to take?
• Which courses can Ukrainian refugees register for in 2024?
• When and how can I take the available language courses?
• What should I do before the language course registration?
• How to register for available courses?
• What to do if there are no available courses on my personal account?
• What confirms my enrolment in a language course?
• Do I have to pass the exam after the language course?
• What else does Estonia provide to refugees within the framework of the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme?
• Who should I contact and how if I have questions about Estonian language learning or the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme?

Which Estonian language courses do Ukrainian refugees have to take?

Ukrainian refugees will have to complete the Estonian language courses provided by the Integration Foundation within the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme for beneficiariesipients of temporary or international protection. There are the courses for beginners – A1 level – as well as for the following A2 and B1 levels. You can take the courses free of charge online or in larger Estonian towns in the morning, afternoon, or evening.

The purpose of learning Estonian is to make it as easy as possible for you to settle in Estonia. It is also necessary for obtaining a residence permit in Estonia.

Which courses can Ukrainian refugees register for in 2024?

As at 12 August 2024, beneficiaries of temporary and international protection can register for Estonian language courses, which can be attended online or in larger Estonian towns starting in August, September, or October of this year.

There are about 1600 available seats for beneficiaries of temporary protection: for A1-level – about 1000 seats, for A2 – 200, and for B1 – about 400 available seats. You should register for these courses as soon as possible, as registration for study groups closes when the maximum number of students is reached, and new groups are not being planned this year.

There are now about 200 seats available for beneficiaries of international protection: for A2-level – about 160, and for B1 – about 40 seats. This autumn, there will be about 1800 seats added for A1 level beginner courses.

You can register for a suitable course on the Settle in Estonia website: REGISTER. You can log into the website via Mobiil-ID, Smart-ID or ID-card.

Then, on your personal account, you will see your data and the courses available to you and can pick and register for a course that suits you.

When and how can I take the available language courses?

As at 12 August 2024, beneficiaries of temporary protection can register for A1-, A2-, and B1-level Estonian language courses and beneficiaries of international protection for A2- and B1-level courses.

All available courses will start in August, September, or October of this year. They will take place online and in larger Estonian towns in the morning, daytime, or evening. The courses are taught by language school teachers selected by the Integration Foundation through a public procurement procedure.

The Estonian language course for beginners (A1 level) lasts approximately four months, A2-level – six months, and B1 – eight months. To successfully complete the courses and obtain the corresponding certificate, you will need to attend language lessons and take a test at the end of the course.

Detailed information (time and place of studies, the name of the language school, etc.) is available on the Settle in Estonia website: LOGIN. You can log into the website via Mobiil-ID, Smart-ID, or ID-card. On your personal account, you will see your data and the courses available to you and can pick and register for a course that suits you.

What should I do before the language course registration?

We recommend that you first visit the Settle in Estonia website to view the available courses: LOGIN. You can log into the website via Mobiil-ID, Smart-ID, or ID-card. On your personal account, you will see your data and the courses available to you and can pick and register for a course that suits you.

We recommend that you carefully consider which language course is suitable for you. On the one hand, you need to assess your language level to choose the relevant course. You can start learning from A1 level, then continue with A2, and finish with B1 within the Settle in Estonia programme. On the other hand, you need to consider how the time and place of studies would be compatible with your personal life. For example, for online courses you will have to allocate the exact time on exact days and some time for home tasks between sessions and have the possibility to use Zoom.

How to register for available courses?

Beneficiaries of temporary and international protection can register for available courses on the Settle in Estonia website: REGISTER. You can log into the website via Mobiil-ID, Smart-ID, or ID-card. Then, on your personal account, you will see your data and the courses available to you and can pick and register for a course that suits you.

What to do if there are no available courses on my personal account?

If you are interested in A1-level courses but there are none available on your personal account, you should report this via email: info@settleinestonia.ee.

If you are interested in A2- or B1-level courses but there are none available on your personal account, send your language certificates (A1- or A1- and A2-level accordingly) via email: info@settleinestonia.ee.

In both cases, please note that the lack of suitable courses may also be due to the fact that the study groups for the courses of interest are already full. That is why we recommend that you register as soon as possible.

Check your data and register for a course on the Settle in Estonia website: LOGIN. You can log into the website via Mobiil-ID, Smart-ID, or ID-card. Then, on your personal account, you will see your data and the courses available to you.

What confirms my enrolment in a language course?

If the registration is successful, you will see the confirmation on your personal account on the Settle in Estonia website. A week before the start of the course, a teacher sends an email with information about the course (place of studies, link to the online class, etc.) To get this email, double-check your email while registering.

Do I have to pass the exam after the language course?

It is not obligatory to take a language exam after the course. At the end of the course, there is a test to assess your progress. Based on the test results and attendance, a certificate of completion is issued. This certificate can be used as proof of Estonian language proficiency, including when extending the residence permit.

What else does Estonia provide to refugees within the framework of the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme?

The Settle in Estonia Programme is a free educational programme provided by the Estonian state which is intended to help the foreigners who have arrived in Estonia to adapt and become accustomed to local life more easily.

The programme, which comprises various training courses, gives an overview of how the state of Estonia and its society function and how daily life is organised, as well answers to FAQ, and knowledge of the Estonian language. The conditions of participation in the courses (study modules, obligations, etc.) depend on the legal status of the person in Estonia: temporary protection, international protection, or ordinary arrival.

Beneficiaries of temporary protection should take:

• basic module: the general information about the Estonian state and society (up to eight academic hours);
• language learning module: Estonian language courses for A1 level (100 academic hours), A2 (150 academic hours) or B1 (250 academic hours).

Beneficiaries of international protection should take:

• basic module: the general information about the Estonian state and society (up to eight or 32 academic hours);
• language learning module: Estonian language courses for A1 level (100 academic hours), A2 (150 academic hours) or B1 (250 academic hours).

Who should I contact and how if I have questions about Estonian language learning or the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme?

General information about the Settle in Estonia adaptation programme is available on the Integration Foundation website: https://integratsioon.ee/en/kohanemine. Up-to-date information on courses and other aspects of settling in Estonia is available on the Facebook account of the programme: https://www.facebook.com/settleinestonia. If you have any questions, please contact the consultants of the Integration Foundation via email: info@settleinestonia.ee.

We encourage everyone to celebrate the Day of Restoration of Independence by sharing photos and videos, what makes you truly cherish Estonia. In this way, we will wish Estonia well together.

Let’s celebrate Estonian restoration of independence by capturing memories of everyone and everything that makes Estonian dear to us. To this end, we ask everyone to post pictures or videos on their social media accounts of people or places that are important to them, sunrises or seashores, singalongs or jam-making – everything and anything that makes Estonia dear to our hearts. We welcome photos and videos from everyone who loves Estonia – from Estonian residents and Estonian people from all over the world, their relatives and friends, groups and communities.

Please post the content no later than August 20, using the hashtags #eesti, #meiekodu and #kultuuririkkus. On August 21, an overview of the posts will be published on the social media accounts of the Cultural Diversity Year, grouped by hashtags.

The Cultural Diversity Year is a theme year organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Integration Foundation with the aim of celebrating the diversity of cultures in Estonian communities and among the peoples living in Estonia. All information can be found at: www.kultuuririkkus.ee.

Just a few years ago, while researching his family history, Ivan Slepnjov discovered that his ancestral roots lead him to the first Republic of Estonia. Born and raised in St. Petersburg, an Estonian citizen by birth tells us his story about returning to his roots and studying the Estonian language. 

1. Tell us a bit about yourself, please. Who are you and how did you end up in Estonia? 

My name is Ivan, I am 35 years old and I ended up in Estonia in a very unusual way, in my opinion - a long search for my ancestors led me to post-revolutionary Estonia, the first Estonian Republic. I only found out a few years ago - there were no documents or necessary information. According to Estonian laws, I am an Estonian citizen by birth. So I found a second homeland that I had never known. In the summer of 2022, I visited Estonia for the first time, in Tallinn - it was a familiarization trip that left a lot of impressions and which greatly influenced my decision to move. A few months later, the development of events accelerated and I made the final decision, I am not afraid of this word, about a new life. 

2. What do you like about Estonia? 

In my opinion, Estonia has a calm, moderate pace of life. It is a very small, compact country - a big plus for someone who likes to take a walk sometimes. Lots of nature. In fact, all these are forests, fields, meadows, lakes. Reminds me of the village from my childhood. I liked the capital, Tallinn, right away and it reminded me of the city where I was born and lived - St. Petersburg. Similar weather, similar old cozy neighborhoods, greenery and modern buildings. Only elusively different, interesting in its own way. For me, the question of what I like about Estonia is more a question of feelings and sensations. 

3. Why did you decide to learn Estonian? 

The decision to learn the language came to me as self-evident. Firstly, it is respect for the society in which you live. Maybe you will not be able to learn it well or it will be very difficult. But you make an effort, which means you take a step towards Estonian-speaking people - people always appreciate it and in return also become closer to you. Secondly, learning Estonian is good for my and opportunities. The key to life is language. In Estonia, it is the Estonian language. Through it you will find everything else. Thirdly, for me it is as a sports interest and challenge. I meet a lot of Estonian-speaking people who speak Russian. If they can learn Russian, why can't I learn Estonian? Fourthly, it's just natural curiosity. 

4. What difficulties did you encounter in learning the language? Were there moments when you wanted to give up and abandon learning the language? How did you overcome the difficulties? 

There were and still are many difficulties. The Estonian language is very different from Russian, there are difficult sounds and "strange" constructions for a Russian-speaking person. At the beginning, the lack of masculine/feminine gender can also be confusing. A large number of cases, peculiarities in the use of verbs, an almost complete lack of prepositions in the classical sense. In addition, of course, you need time, good teachers, an Estonian-speaking environment. Time is probably the most difficult question for everyone. But if you dig hard enough, everyone can find it. It was probably a little easier for me - after solving the initial everyday problems, finding housing and work - there was time to learn the language. I chose Narva as my initial place of residence - the Narva House of Estonian Language is located here and housing prices are low, which was important - after all, you never know how things will go. The key thing in my studies was of course the Estonian Language House, I took my first steps there. I would like to highlight the Estonian language teachers I met. A teacher is half the success. There are people working there who are real teachers with a capital "T" - I would like to name them separately - Julia, Pille, Inga, Martin - those whom I met personally. After the initial courses (levels A1, A2), finding the Estonian-speaking environment became a difficult task and a necessity. But even in Narva there are certain opportunities if you look for them. Of course, there were moments when you feel that the language is not so easy, that it may never work out. But then I immediately think - if not now, then when? Life goes fast and there is only one life. Why miss the moment? And no matter how difficult it is, focus and consistency always give results. Thinking this way, I overcome difficult moments and study further. So far, I am only at the beginning of the journey. 

5. How was the adaptation in Estonia? Did the locals accept you? 

I think that the initial adaptation went well. It was difficult mentally - a new country, new people, uncertainty, the need to act. I encountered only friendly relations, both among Russian-speaking and Estonian-speaking people. The difficult moment was when I found myself in Tallinn with the decision to move. At that moment, I stayed with my sister (she arrived with her husband and child a little earlier than me). And then I realized what it means to come not to visit, but to live. You don’t yet know how and where you will live, how and where you will work, who will need you here and how happy you will be here. At that moment, it’s scary, you want to give up everything and go back to comfort. But that would mean not believing in yourself. That’s much scarier. Later, I was convinced of the correctness of my choice - I met many great people - at school, at work. People, finding out that I had just arrived in Estonia, immediately tried to help, to tell me how things are arranged here. I can make a very long list of how local people helped me, I am very grateful to them.  

6. Have you done anything to communicate more in Estonian? 

I am looking for various opportunities to listen to Estonian speech and communicate. There are many opportunities to listen without leaving home - music, films, TV shows. 

I took part in the "Language Friend" program - a great program where you are matched with a native Estonian speaker with whom you constantly communicate for several months on free topics. I did not quite meet the program requirements at the time it began - the requirements there were from B1. However, I understood that I could not miss such an opportunity. It was a little scary, but I wrote my application, where I honestly said that I had A2, but I really wanted to study. And they matched me with a volunteer - his name is Maris, he lives near Pärnu. Thank you very much - he told me a lot about Estonia, patiently helped with questions and mistakes. Two months flew by unnoticed and now we sometimes continue to keep in touch. The European Football Championship is currently underway - a great opportunity to watch it in Estonian. Also, on the integration website and the Estonian Language House Facebook pages, you can find a lot of information about one-time learning events. Language trips, meetings, live board games, Zoom meetings. There are a lot of projects for live communication when you start to get into it. I went to Haapsalu from the Estonian Language House, I really liked it - the history, the place, the people. Zoom - I participated, I liked it. But unfortunately, the chat roulette in Zoom falls on my classes, so I am not participating yet. There were also theater visits, also from the Estonian Language House. To be honest, I haven't been to the theater for a million years - and here there is both a theater and an opportunity to study. Great! 

7. What would you recommend to other people coming to live or study and stay for a longer time in Estonia? 

For those who come to live in Estonia, regardless of the reasons, I recommend one thing - learn the language, this is the key. This is a priority. If you see opportunities - use them, even if you are scared. The very first thing is that you need to find out where and how you can learn the language - the Estonian Language House, courses from the Unemployment Fund, adaptation programm Settle in Estonia. I would like to separately recommend the Keeleklikk e-courses - this is an excellent free training platform.