Today, 23 April, the Government of the Republic approved a draft act amending the Consular Act, the Identity Documents Act and the Statutory Fees Act. The amendments will modernise the provision of consular services and create conditions for more efficient use of public sector resources.
The draft streamlines the list of consular services provided at foreign representations. The provision of the following services will be discontinued: (1) those for which there is no or very low demand (for example, the issuance of driving licences); (2) those that can be accessed directly from Estonia via various (digital) channels (for example, notarial certifications and applications for release from citizenship); or (3) those for which provision by a foreign representation is not justified in practice (for example, translation services and the sealing of urns or coffins).
The draft also increases state fees for certain services provided on site at foreign representations, bringing them into line with the rising costs of maintaining such missions, in order to encourage the use of e-services, for which the fees will remain unchanged.
For some services (for example, applications for and issuance of identity documents, and the recording of data from foreign civil status documents), higher state fees will be introduced for Estonian citizens who apply for services at a foreign representation but whose registered place of residence in the population register is not abroad.
Estonia’s foreign representations will continue to provide consular assistance to Estonian citizens, holders of Estonian alien’s passports and unrepresented citizens of European Union member states who find themselves in a temporary emergency due to an accident, illness, having fallen victim to a crime, or other circumstances.
For example, a foreign representation may, where necessary, assist individuals in distress in communicating with their relatives and with the authorities of the host country, including law enforcement bodies. It also provides information on medical and legal assistance and advises on matters related to returning to Estonia.
The draft act must next be approved by the Riigikogu. The law is planned to enter into force on 1 January 2027.
Additional information
Communication Department
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