Published: 23.10.2026
Estonia’s justice chancellor said TalTech cannot reject Russian and Belarusian applicants solely because their lawful stay in Estonia may expire before graduation. He considered the rule incompatible with equal treatment because the same restriction is not applied to applicants from other countries.
The justice chancellor’s position provides a legal reference point for Russian and Belarusian applicants rejected because their residence status does not cover the full degree period. According to sources, state sanctions still restrict visas and residence permits for study, work and business for citizens of these countries, so the finding does not automatically create a right to enter Estonia or obtain a residence permit. Its practical effect may be a review of TalTech’s admissions rules and the handling of individual complaints. The issue matters to Russian and Belarusian students already in Estonia or considering study there, while its broader effect depends on the pending court proceedings.