Published: 27.10.2026
Since July, Estonia’s Police and Border Guard Board has detained 388 foreigners who arrived without legal grounds. As of 27 October, 258 people were held at the Tallinn detention centre, while 148 people who entered the EU via the Belarus–Latvia border were transferred to Latvia.
The figures show active enforcement against entry without a lawful basis and a significant detention risk for people using irregular routes. For those planning a move, the practical implication is the need to carry valid documents and have a confirmed basis for entry or stay. The development primarily affects irregular migrants and people facilitating such entry, rather than ordinary visa or residence-permit applicants. It is particularly relevant to anyone considering entry through the EU’s external border or travelling with unresolved immigration status.