Estonian alien's passport

History

After independence in 1991, the Estonian government granted Estonian citizenship to the persons who resided in the country before its annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940, as well as to their descendants. Those who could not prove that or arrived after 1940 and their children born in Estonia or elsewhere could acquire Estonian citizenship on condition that they be proficient in the Estonian language and know the country's history. But about 125,000 people (most but not all of whom were Russian speakers) who failed the tests or refused to take them have become stateless, or “non-citizens”, who hold a grey passport. Tens of thousands have opted for the red Russian passports proposed by Moscow. After a change in the law in 1995, all children born in Estonia after 1992 may obtain Estonian citizenship subject to certain conditions.

Identity information page

The Estonia Passport includes the following data:

• Photo of passport holder
• Type (P for ordinary passports)
• Code of Issuing State (EST)
• Passport No.
• Surname
• Given Names
• Date of Birth
• Personal No.
• Sex
• Place of Birth
• Date of Issue
• Authority
• Date of Expiry
• Holder's Signature

The information page ends with the Machine Readable Zone.

Visa requirements

Main article: Visa requirements for Estonian non-citizens

The vast majority of nations which provide visa-free entry to Estonian citizens (those holding an Estonian passport) do not allow visa-free entry to holders of the Estonian alien's passport (who are not Estonian citizens).

Unlike Estonian citizens, holders of an Estonian alien's passport do not enjoy freedom of movement within the EU and the Schengen Area. They are allowed to stay in other Schengen Area countries for no more than 90 days in any 6-month period.

Moreover, holders of an Estonian alien's passport cannot legally work in other EU countries without a work permit. As with their Latvian counterparts, Estonian alien's passport holders can travel visa-free to Russia and Belarus, unlike ordinary Estonian citizens.

References

References

1. Peeter. (2021-01-14). "Määratlemata kodakondsusega elanike arv on langenud alla 69 000 {{!}} Buller Uudised".
2. [https://www.ft.dk/samling/20072/almdel/upn/bilag/102/589306.pdf Ft.dk. ''Estonia today - citizenship.''] Retrieved 8 February 2021.
3. [https://workpermit.com/news/latvian-estonian-non-citizens-visa-free-travel-most-eu-27-20070102 Latvian & Estonian "non-citizens:" visa-free travel for most of EU-27]