Иллюстрация: politsei.ee
Estonia is ready to review and, if necessary, tighten procedures related to the issuance of temporary residence permits to citizens of Russia and Belarus, Interior Minister Igor Taro (Eesti 200) said, according to ERR.
Taro was responding to a request for clarification from Estonian Member of the European Parliament Jana Toom (Centre Party) regarding the procedure for issuing temporary residence permits in Estonia to citizens of Russia and Belarus.
According to the Interior Ministry, as of January 9, 2026, a total of 7,797 Russian citizens and 1,476 Belarusian citizens were residing in Estonia on temporary residence permits, amounting to 9,273 people in total.
In her inquiry, Toom asked how individuals with an “unclear past” — a wording used by Taro on January 29 — had obtained the right to temporary residence in Estonia. The question arose in connection with planned legislative changes that would restrict the ability of Russian and Belarusian citizens without long-term residence permits to purchase real estate.
In his response, Taro stressed that the issuance of temporary residence permits in Estonia is carried out in strict accordance with the law. The procedure includes verification that all required conditions are met and that there are no grounds for refusal.
“In accordance with the principles of international law, a state has the right to make decisions on the entry, stay and expulsion of foreigners. Thus, the process of considering an application for a temporary residence permit does not mean automatic issuance of a permit once certain conditions are met, but remains subject to discretion in each individual case,” he said.
At the same time, Taro подчеркнул his readiness to tighten the criteria for issuing temporary residence permits to citizens of Russia and Belarus.
“On the basis of your inquiry, we will assess the criteria and practice for granting temporary residence permits to citizens of Russia and Belarus and, if necessary, tighten them,” Taro said.
At the end of January, the Interior Ministry announced plans to ban citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus without long-term residence permits in Estonia from purchasing real estate in the country.