Estonia visa requirements for Russian citizens

Estonian missions, only for the admitted categories

Russians need a visa for Estonia, and the Estonian Government has approved a sanction restricting their visa applications, both Schengen (type C) and national (type D), for any purpose of travel. Applications are accepted only from people visiting a spouse, a child or descendant, or a parent or ascendant who is an Estonian citizen living in Estonia or holds long-term residence there; people visiting such a person with whom they raise a minor child; staff of diplomatic or consular missions in Estonia and their families; people directly involved in international carriage of goods or passengers; family members of EU citizens exercising free movement; and those whose entry is needed on humanitarian grounds, such as a funeral. In addition, since 19 September 2022 a Government order restricts temporary entry into Estonia for Russian citizens holding a valid short-stay Schengen visa; questions about crossing the border go to the Police and Border Guard Board. Since 31 March 2025 Estonia also no longer recognises non-biometric Russian passports.

Official application site →

Fee

€90

The 90 euros are the short-stay Schengen visa fee, set by Article 16 of the Visa Code (Regulation (EC) 810/2009) as amended by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415, in force since 11 June 2024. The same amount is paid at any Schengen consulate. Children aged 6 to 12 pay 45 euros and those under 6 pay nothing. Travellers entering without a visa pay no fee.

Processing time

Where the trip requires a Schengen visa, the consulate must decide within 15 calendar days of an admissible application being lodged, a period that can be extended to 45 days when the file needs closer examination (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 23). The application can be lodged no earlier than six months before the trip and, as a rule, no later than 15 days before it (Art. 9).

Required documents

• Passport issued within the previous ten years and valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen area (Regulation (EU) 2016/399, Art. 6(1)(a)). EU and Schengen citizens enter with their national ID card.
• A Schengen visa if your nationality requires one, unless you hold a residence permit or long-stay visa from a Schengen State (Art. 6(1)(b)).
• Accommodation booking or letter of invitation, and a return or onward ticket (Art. 6(1)(c) and Annex I).
• Financial means: border guards can ask for proof of 70 euros for each authorised day of stay, to cover the stay and departure from the country.

Health insurance

Mandatory to apply for the Schengen visa: minimum coverage of €30,000, valid across the whole Schengen area and for the entire length of the stay (Regulation (EC) 810/2009, Art. 15).

Which policies meet the €30,000 requirement →

When travel insurance is mandatory → Travel insurance policies ↓

How long you can stay

Schengen rule: no more than 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole area, adding up days in any Schengen State. There are no border checks with Latvia, but you must carry your passport or ID card. Estonia restricts the entry of vehicles with Russian plates; anyone planning to drive in from Russia should check first with the Estonian Ministry of the Interior.

Calculate your available Schengen days →

Why isn't your passport being stamped? The EES system →