Residency
Estonia — Residency: Citizenship
Adult naturalisation in Estonia requires eight years of residence, at least five of them on a permanent basis, plus language and constitution exams.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourcePolice and Border Guard Board — Estonian citizenship for an adultLast reviewed: 2026-10-23
Key facts
- Applicants must have lived in Estonia for at least eight years on a residence permit or right of residence, of which at least five years on a permanent basis, and hold a long-term residence permit or permanent right of residence.
- They must pass a Constitution and Citizenship Act exam and an Estonian language exam organised by the Education and Youth Board (Harno).
- People with basic, secondary or higher education taught in Estonian are released from the language exam.
- Other conditions are legal income, registration of residence in the population register, and loyalty to the Estonian state.