Published: 21.02.2026
Estonia’s interior minister said the government was prepared to review and, if necessary, tighten the criteria and practice for issuing temporary residence permits to Russian and Belarusian citizens. The authorities also planned to restrict property purchases by citizens of these countries without a long-term residence permit.
The announcement concerns a planned review rather than a new residence-permit procedure already in force. If the criteria are tightened, obtaining a temporary residence permit could become more difficult for Russian and Belarusian citizens, particularly new applicants. The issue also matters to people considering property purchase as part of relocation, since ownership should not be treated as a guarantee of residence rights. Applicants from these countries and prospective property buyers should monitor further decisions.