How to Help Ukraine
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Information for Ukrainian refugees in Estonia

Permits valid until March 2027; apply online from December 2026 to extend to March 2028

Information checked in October–November 2026.

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Important to know

Permits expire in March 2027: extend online at asylum.politsei.ee from early December 2026, no later than 2 months before expiry, after a new photo at a PPA office; you need a registered address and the adaptation programme. Extended permits run until March 2028. Since 14 Aug 2026 new applicants who may not legally leave Ukraine due to military service get no protection; those already protected in the EU are not affected. Over 90 days abroad in any 180 cancels the permit. Reapply for family benefits after extending. Helpline 1247. PPA: extending protection

Status and documents

How long protection lasts
One-year residence permit (card). Protection applied for or extended from 13 Aug 2025 is valid until March 2027; applied for from 14 Aug 2026, until March 2028. It is not extended automatically: apply online at asylum.politsei.ee.
Documents
Passport or other identity documents (e.g. birth certificate); without them, first get a certificate from the Ukrainian Embassy (Lahe 6, Tallinn). Application form and family members form. New applicants liable for military service (since 14 Aug 2026) must be able to prove they may legally leave Ukraine (e.g. exit stamp, Reserve+ document).
Where and how to apply
In person at a Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) office, booked at broneering.politsei.ee: Tallinn (Tammsaare), Tartu, Jõhvi or Pärnu; photo and fingerprints are taken. Getting an Estonian personal ID code from the municipality first speeds things up. Extension: online at asylum.politsei.ee after a new photo at any PPA office.
Processing time
Decision within 2 months; the residence card can be collected within 30 days of a positive decision (UNHCR). Extension: apply 3 months before expiry, at the latest 2 months before.
When protection ends
Ends when the permit expires (current ones March 2027, new ones March 2028) unless extended; an expired permit cannot be extended, you must apply again. The permit is revoked if you spend over 90 days outside Estonia in any 180-day period; travel to Russia may also lead to revocation.

Travel, pets and language

How to get there
No common border: bus via Poland and the Baltics (FlixBus Warsaw–Tallinn approx. 15.5 h, several a day); train via Poland and Lithuania (LTG Link Kraków–Vilnius, then daily Vilnius–Riga–Valga–Tallinn with a change to Elron in Valga, €39); flights to Tallinn from Warsaw (LOT, Wizz Air) or Riga (airBaltic).
Pets
The special regime for refugees' pets has ended. Only pets travelling with their owner: microchip, rabies vaccination, rabies antibody test (≥0.5 IU/ml, at least 30 days after vaccination and 3 months before travel), Ukrainian vet certificate; checked by customs at the border. Shelter animals and unvaccinated puppies and kittens are not allowed.
Languages
Estonian (mother tongue of 67%, 2021 census); Russian is widely spoken, especially in Tallinn and Ida-Viru County. Adults with temporary protection must take the free adaptation programme with an A1 Estonian course (Settle in Estonia); A2–B1 courses are also free.

Work, healthcare and education

Right to work
Yes, on the same terms as residents once temporary protection and the residence permit are granted; minimum wage €946/month (2026). Many jobs legally require Estonian at A2–C1 level (the employer sets the level under the Language Act); teachers need at least B2.
Jobs in demand
Welders, mechanics, machine operators, electricians and other metal and machinery workers; teachers and special-needs educators; doctors and other health professionals; speech therapists, psychologists; ICT specialists (EURES, 2024 data).
Healthcare
Not automatically: Tervisekassa insurance comes with a job (contract over 1 month) or registration as unemployed; children, pregnant women, students and pensioners are covered. Emergency care is free for everyone; pharmacies accept Ukrainian paper prescriptions (except narcotic and psychotropic drugs).
Kindergarten
A place for children aged 1.5–7 via the municipality (you can apply before getting an ID code). Usually a place fee set by the municipality plus meals; in Tallinn municipal kindergartens are free since 1 Sep 2026 if the child and at least one parent are registered in Tallinn (meals still paid).
School
Yes, state and municipal schools are free; school lunch is paid by the state and municipality. School from age 7; since 2025/26 learning is compulsory until 18. Schools are switching to teaching only in Estonian by 2030; Vabaduse Kool in Tallinn (upper secondary for Ukrainians) teaches in Estonian with up to 40% in the mother tongue.

Benefits

Housing support
No general rent support: the state closed short-term refugee accommodation in Nov 2023. People without money or contacts may be referred by the PPA to state accommodation while their application is processed. Low-income households get housing costs covered through the municipal subsistence benefit.
One-time payment
None as a rule. A one-off compensation of initial rent costs is now mainly for people housed by the state (first permit only, apply within 6 months). Childbirth allowance €320.
Monthly allowance for adults
No fixed allowance. With low income: municipal subsistence benefit based on €220/month for the first adult and €176 for each further adult (2026), plus housing costs, minus income. Registered unemployed who worked 8 of the last 12 months (incl. in Ukraine) or raised a child under 8: €14.77/day (≈ €458/month) for 180 days.
Monthly allowance for children
Child allowance €80/month for the 1st and 2nd child, €100 from the 3rd (until 19); families with 3–6 children also get €450/month, 7+ €650 (2026). Granted only until your permit expires: reapply to the Social Insurance Board after each extension.

Cost of living

Average rent
1-bedroom flat: Tallinn approx. $770/month in the centre, from $545 elsewhere; Tartu approx. $535, from $390 (livingcost.org, June 2026, partly crowdsourced).
Groceries per person per month
Approx. $520/month per person for food in Tallinn, $450 in Tartu (livingcost.org, 2026, partly crowdsourced).
Kindergarten fees
Paid kindergarten/daycare approx. $680/month in Tallinn, $155 in Tartu (livingcost.org, 2026, crowdsourced; prices vary widely).
Private school fees
Public schools are free; international primary school in Tallinn approx. $10,560/year (livingcost.org, 2026, crowdsourced).
Health insurance cost
If you are not insured otherwise: voluntary Tervisekassa insurance €272/month (2026; annual contract €3,264), cover starts one month after signing.
Documents, consulates, legal helpThe same in every country: e-Consul, Diia, free legal aid, a psychologist.

All information is for reference only. Rules and benefits change often, so some of it may be out of date. Always check with official sources before making a decision.

If you spot an inaccuracy, please write to us at howtohelpuacom@gmail.com.