Estonia

Summary

We advise you to exercise normal safety precautions in Estonia.

Exercise common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia.

There is an ongoing threat of terrorism in Europe. In the past, terrorist attacks have occurred in anumber of European cities.

Although civil unrest is generally not a problem in Estonia, you should avoid demonstrations andlarge public gatherings as they may turn violent.

Australia has a Consulate in Tallinn, headed by an Honorary Consul, which provides limited consularassistance (not including visa and immigration services or the issue of passports). The AustralianEmbassy in Sweden provides full consular assistance to Australians in Estonia.

Be a smart traveller. Before heading overseas:

Entry and exit

Visa and other entry and exit conditions (such as currency, customs and quarantine regulations)change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Estonia for the most up to dateinformation.

Estonia is a party to the Schengen Convention, along with a number of other European countries,which allows Australians to enter Estonia without a visa in some circumstances. See our travelbulletin on the Schengen Convention for more information.

Estonia requires visitors to have valid travel and health insurance that covers them for theequivalent of 30,000 Euros (about $A40,000) for the duration of their stay. Immigration authoritiesmay deny entry to visitors who are unable to provide evidence of adequate insurance coverage. It ispossible to purchase insurance coverage at the border.

People travelling directly to or from a country outside the European Union (EU) carrying 10,000Euros or more (or the equivalent amount in another currency) are required to declare the cash atthe place of their arrival or departure from the EU. Under the legislation, the term "cash" includescheques, travellers' cheques and money orders. Travellers failing to declare the cash or providingincomplete or incorrect information will incur a fine. There is no requirement to declare cash forpeople travelling to or from another EU country.

Make sure your passport has at least six months' validity from your planned date of return toAustralia. You should carry copies of a recent passport photo with you in case you need areplacement passport while overseas.

Safety and security

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat throughout the world. You can find more information about this threat in ourGeneral advice to Australian travellers.

There is an ongoing threat of terrorism in Europe. In the past, terrorist attacks have occurred in anumber of European cities.

Civil unrest/political tension

Although civil unrest is generally not a problem in Estonia, you should avoid demonstrations andlarge public gatherings as they may turn violent. Monitor the media for developments and if you arein an area affected by protests, follow the advice of local authorities.

Crime

Street crime, including muggings and assault, occurs, particularly during the summer months. Pettycrime, including bag snatching and pickpocketing, has been reported, particularly in the Old Townarea of the capital, Tallinn. Travellers at airports, parks, train stations and around major hotels havebeen targeted, particularly after dark. Thieves often work together in small groups.

Incidents of car theft and theft from vehicles are common.

Credit card fraud and internet-based crime, including dating and financial scams, have beenreported.

The emergency contact number for the police is 110.

Money and valuables

Before you go, organise a variety of ways to access your money overseas, such as credit cards,travellers' cheques, cash, debit cards or cash cards. Australian currency and travellers' cheques arenot accepted in many countries. Consult with your bank to find out which is the most appropriatecurrency to carry and whether your ATM card will work in Estonia.

Make two photocopies of valuable documents such as your passport, tickets, visas and travellers'

cheques. Keep one copy with you in a separate place to the original and leave another copy withsomeone at home.

While travelling, don't carry too much cash and remember that expensive watches, jewellery andcameras may be tempting targets for thieves.

As a sensible precaution against luggage tampering, including theft, lock your luggage. Informationon luggage safety is available from Australia's Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Your passport is a valuable document that is attractive to criminals who may try to use your identityto commit crimes. It should always be kept in a safe place. You are required by Australian law toreport a lost or stolen passport. If your passport is lost or stolen overseas, report it online or contactthe nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate as soon as possible.

You are required to pay an additional fee to have a lost or stolen passport replaced. In some cases,the Government may also restrict the length of validity or type of replacement passports.

Local travel

Driving in Estonia can be dangerous due to local driving practices, poorly maintained roads andvehicles and inadequate road lighting. Winter tyres are required by law from 1 December to 1March. When driving, headlights must be on at all times. These dates may vary according to weatherconditions. For further advice, see our road travel page.

Official taxis are marked and have a visible meter. Do not use illegal taxis, and do not allow extrapassengers in the vehicle.

At night, pedestrians must wear reflectors. Failure to do so may attract a fine. Reflectors areavailable at most supermarkets and small shops and are inexpensive.

Airline safety

Please refer to our air travel page for information about aviation safety and security.

Laws

When you are in Estonia, be aware that local laws and penalties, including ones that appear harsh byAustralian standards, do apply to you. If you are arrested or jailed, the Australian Government willdo what it can to help you but we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.

Information on what Australian consular officers can and cannot do to help Australians in troubleoverseas is available from the Consular Services Charter.

Penalties for all drug offences, even possession of small amounts, include heavy fines andimprisonment.

There is zero tolerance for drink driving. Penalties for driving with a blood alcohol content greaterthan zero include heavy fines and imprisonment.

Some Australian criminal laws, such as those relating to money laundering, bribery of foreign publicofficials, terrorism, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, child pornography, and child sex

tourism, apply to Australians overseas. Australians who commit these offences while overseas maybe prosecuted in Australia.

Australian authorities are committed to combating sexual exploitation of children by Australiansoverseas. Australians may be prosecuted at home under Australian child sex tourism and childpornography laws. These laws provide severe penalties of up to 25 years� imprisonment forAustralians who engage in child sexual exploitation while outside of Australia.

Information for dual nationals

Estonia recognises dual nationality in limited circumstances. This may limit the ability of theAustralian Government to provide consular assistance to Australian/Estonian dual nationals who arearrested or detained. We recommend that you travel on your Australian passport at all times.

Australian/Estonian dual national males may be liable for military service if they have a permanentaddress in Estonia. If you are unsure of your military service obligation, contact the nearest Embassyor Consulate of Estonia.

Our Dual nationals provides further information.

Health

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance that will cover anyoverseas medical costs, including medical evacuation, before you depart. Confirm that yourinsurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away and check what circumstances and activitiesare not included in your policy. Remember, regardless of how healthy and fit you are, if you can'tafford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. The Australian Government will not pay for atraveller's medical expenses overseas or medical evacuation costs.

It is important to consider your physical and mental health before travelling overseas. We encourageyou to consider having vaccinations before you travel. At least eight weeks before you depart, makean appointment with your doctor or travel clinic for a basic health check-up, and to discuss yourtravel plans and any implications for your health, particularly if you have an existing medicalcondition. The World Health Organization (WHO) provides information for travellers and our healthpage also provides useful information for travellers on staying healthy.

The standard of medical facilities at the main hospitals in the capital Tallinn and in Tartu is good. Inrural regions, however, facilities may be limited due to a lack of equipment and medical supplies.Many doctors and hospitals will require up-front payment before commencing treatment. In theevent of a serious accident or illness, medical evacuation to a destination with appropriate facilitiesmay be necessary. Medical evacuation costs are considerable.

Water-borne, food-borne and other infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and rabies)occur. Water contamination may be a problem in rural areas. We advise you to boil all drinkingwater or drink bottled water, avoid ice and raw and undercooked food.

Travel in forested areas brings the risk of exposure to tick-borne encephalitis and other tick-bornediseases. Ticks are common from spring to autumn (March to November).

Where to get help

The contact number for the emergency services (ambulance and fire services) is 112. The emergencycontact number for police assistance is 110.

Australia has a Consulate in Estonia headed by an Honorary Consul. The Consulate provides limitedconsular assistance (not including visa and immigration services or the issue of passports). Contactdetails for the Consulate are:

Australian Consulate, Tallinn

c/- Standard Ltd

Marja 9

EE10617 Tallinn ESTONIA

Telephone +372 6 509 308

Facsimile +372 6 509 344

Email: mati@standard.ee

You can obtain full consular assistance from the nearest Australian Embassy in Sweden.

Australian Embassy, Stockholm

Klarabergsviadukten 63, 8th Floor

111 64 Stockholm, SWEDEN

Telephone +46 (0)8 613 2900

Facsimile +46 (0)8 613 2982

Email: reception@austemb.se

Website: www.sweden.embassy.gov.au

If you are travelling to Estonia, whatever the reason and however long you'll be there, we encourageyou to register with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. You can register online or inperson at any Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate. The information you provide willhelp us to contact you in an emergency - whether it is a natural disaster, civil disturbance or a familyissue.

In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contactthe Embassy you can contact the 24-hour ConsularEmergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or 1300 555135 within Australia.

cheap business flights

In Australia, the Department of Foreign Affairs andTrade in Canberra may be contacted on (02) 62613305.

Additional information

Natural disasters, severe weather and climate

Estonia experiences extremely cold winters and heavy snowfall.

Flooding may occur in spring(March to May).

For parents

For general information and tips on travelling with children see our Travelling with children page.