Topic: Family events - childbirth, marriage, divorce and the passing of a close one

Family events

Settling into a new country includes learning how to navigate life events from an official viewpoint. In Estonia, beautiful milestones and difficult moments alike, births, marriages, divorces, and deaths, are gently integrated into the national Population Register and public services system. Many of these steps are easily accessible online through the citizen portal, though a few still require personal visits. As an international resident, please note that documents from abroad may require official verification or translation. In this video, we will walk you through the most common family events and show you exactly which government institutions to turn to when they happen.

Vital statistics procedures and where to do them

Important vital statistics procedures such as welcoming a child, marriage, divorce, registering a gender change, or issuing official certificates are handled by your local city or municipality’s population register office. (See “Links” at the end) 

Whenever you need to update your personal details or request official registry excerpts, for example a birth certificate, these institutions are there to support you. To make things easier, many of these essential procedures can be completed online via the e-population register (see “Links” at the end). And to get a complete overview of what to do in the case of bigger life events, you can find guidance from the proactive government services on the citizen portal with step-by-step guides for every situation mentioned in this video. (see “Links” at the end)

Birth of a child

Having a baby is an exciting life event that comes with a lot of love, but also with a bit of paperwork. When your child is born in Estonia, the healthcare provider will automatically issue them a personal identification number and send it to the Population Register. Once that's done, you have 30 days to officially register the birth and choose a name. You can do this easily online through the e-Population Register, or in person at your local government register office or the Tallinn Vital Statistics Office. For married couples with updated register data, the husband is automatically registered as the father; and if you aren't married, the father just needs to confirm paternity on the application form. For more detailed steps, you can check out the Ministry of Interior's website. (see “Links” at the end).

Please know that if at least one parent holds an Estonian residence permit, your baby automatically receives a residence permit upon birth registration, provided they are born here or arrive within their first year. You don't technically have to get them a physical residence card until they turn 15, but most parents do it much sooner so they can travel. If you ever feel confused about your child's legal status, you can get help from the Police and Border Guard Board’s migration consultants. And if either parent holds Estonian citizenship at the time of delivery, the child is legally entitled to Estonian citizenship by birth. (See “Links” at the end). 

Estonian law guarantees all children equal rights, irrespective of nationality or parental marital status. If at least one parent is a resident, registering your baby’s birth automatically activates many helpful support services, including healthcare coverage, family allowances, and parental benefits. For further guidance, you can always visit the Estonian citizen portal, the Ministry of Interior’s and the Social Insurance Board’s websites. (see “Links” at the end).

Marriage in Estonia

You can register your marriage through a local government county center official like the Vital Statistics Office in Tallinn, a notary, or an authorized minister of religion. If you want a detailed, step-by-step overview of how the whole wedding process works in Estonia, head straight to the proactive government services guide on the citizen’s portal. (See “Links” at the end + graafika: https://www.eesti.ee/eraisik/en/syndmusteenused/getting-married )

The first step to your wedding is submitting a joint marriage application. If your vital statistics are already in the Population Register and you both have lived in Estonia for at least 6 months, you can easily apply online through the e-Population Register. (See “Links” at the end).

 Required documentation includes:

• identity documents;
• birth certificates;
• If applicable, divorce or annulment certificates from previous marriages;
• for third country nationals a document certifying the legal stay in Estonia;
• If you have lived in Estonia for less than 6 months, you also need a certificate of legal capacity to contract the marriage. Otherwise, just a document from your home country proving you are currently unmarried is enough.

The certificate of legal capacity to contract the marriage comes from your home country and proves that there are no legal reasons stopping you from getting married. It must still be valid on your wedding day. If you absolutely cannot get this document, don't panic, you can apply directly to an Estonian county court for a special permit that lets you marry without it, as long as you have a good reason.

Submitted documents must be in Estonian, Russian, or English. Foreign documents generally require legalization or an apostille, depending on international treaties that your country has joined. If you need any translations, a certified sworn translator must prepare them for you.

You can tie the knot anywhere from one to six months after submitting the application. When you marry, either of you can take your partner's surname or hyphenate yours with theirs. Just keep in mind that a hyphenated name can only have two names maximum, and only one of you can use it. As you plan ahead, please note that a double surname cannot be given to any children you register later on.

To register your marriage, a state fee is paid before submitting your application. If you choose a notary for your special day, the state fee is waived, though a notary fee will apply. Detailed legal requirements are available on the Ministry of Interior’s website. (See “Links” at the end).

Additionally, Estonia recognizes registered cohabitation and same-sex marriage. We have provided information on this in the Links section after this video. (See “Links” at the end).

Divorce and separation

Facing a divorce far from home can feel incredibly overwhelming. In Estonia, the process depends on mutual agreement and whether or not you have minor children. To guide you through this, the citizen portal’s "Divorce" life event service provides comprehensive support regarding child custody, property division, and next steps. (See “Links” at the end + graafika: https://www.eesti.ee/eraisik/en/syndmusteenused/divorce)

If both partners agree, you can divorce by mutual application at either a notary or a local municipal register office. Keep in mind that municipal offices can't handle agreements about kids or property. A notary, however, can officially formalize written plans for your children's living arrangements and divide your shared property. If you choose to divorce at the municipal office first, you can always visit a notary later to sort out property and custody. Either way, you will need to pay a state or notary fee when applying.

If you can't agree on property, custody, child support, or the divorce itself, you will need to head to court. You can find all the details on handling family disputes through the Estonian Courts Information Portal. (see “Links” at the end).

To dissolve your marriage by mutual agreement, both partners need to submit an application either in person, via the e-population register, or through online notary verification. Whichever method you choose, please remember that you will both need to visit the civil status officer or notary together, one to three months later, to gently finalize the process.

If you changed your name when you married, a divorce lets you choose between keeping your married name or restoring your previous surname. Separating involves so much more than just paperwork, so please  remember that support is out there. The Social Insurance Board offers a free family mediation service (Graafika: Family mediation service = Perelepitus) for separating parents. A neutral mediator can help you navigate the process and build the best possible agreements for your children's future.  (see “Links” at the end).

Even after a divorce, both parents still share full responsibility for their kids. Child support is a legal requirement in Estonia, meaning the parent who doesn't live with the child full-time typically contributes financially to their upbringing.

If you are worried about your residence permit or legal status, especially if it is tied to your spouse, please contact the Police and Border Guard Board’s migration advisors. They will thoroughly guide you toward available solutions to secure a new legal stay.

If you ever feel alone, please know you can request support from your local municipality's social or child services specialists. If your relationship has become difficult or unsafe, please circle back to  Chapter 5, where we provided dedicated guidance on domestic violence support. Reaching out for help is a brave, responsible step that protects you and your children.

Death of a loved one

Losing a loved one is a deeply difficult experience. Whether a passing follows a long illness or happens suddenly, we can never fully prepare our hearts for it. Despite the grief, knowing the essential steps to take is very important. Having this guidance helps ease the burden of the necessary paperwork during this sad time. 

The thoughtful government service “Death of a loved one” is there to guide you through everything from registration to funeral planning and emotional support. (See “Links” at the end).

In Estonia, registering the passing is the necessary first step before you can arrange a funeral or handle inheritance matters. Most often, the medical institution or ambulance service takes care of this by entering an electronic certificate directly into the Population Register. However, you might need to submit a paper application if there is no medical certificate or if the passing happened abroad. You can find detailed guidance on these requirements on the Ministry of Interior’s website (See “Links” at the end). The official death certificate will be provided by the medical institution or the population register. If your loved one held an Estonian ID number, the document will be issued in Estonian.

If a foreign national passes away in Estonia, the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will report the death to their home country's embassy. You might need to submit the death certificate to the authorities in their home country. If so, you can apply for an international version. Local city or municipality governments in county centers issue these for a small fee. You can get them in English, German, French, or the multilingual CIEC format.

If you want to transport the body or an urn of ashes to another country, you must follow the destination country's rules. You will need to contact either their embassy in Estonia or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. For details on organizing cross-border transport and estimated costs, it is best to check directly with local funeral homes.

Once the death is officially registered, you can begin organizing the funeral. You can either organize everything yourself, or you can let a funeral home or crematorium support you through each step. Funeral arrangements and gatherings vary a lot based on the deceased's wishes, budget, cultural practices, and religious beliefs. If you want to organize a church funeral, make sure to contact the congregation directly.

Both burial and cremation are widely accepted in Estonia. It is always best to follow your loved one's specific wishes on this. If you choose a burial, remember you will need permission from the cemetery for the plot. If all these arrangements feel overwhelming, a professional funeral bureau can step in and handle everything for you.

Please keep in mind that you can also apply for funeral support from your loved one's registered municipality. While the exact amounts vary, your local government can provide clear details on how to apply. This extra support is there to help lift some of the financial burden during this difficult time.

Financial support is also available for dependents. When a family member passes away, the state helps out by paying a survivor’s pension. You can read more about how this works and who is eligible, on the Social Insurance Board’s website. (see “Links” at the end).

If you need a safe space for your feelings, please look at the support sources in Chapter 5. You can also reach out to professional grief consultants. They are here to walk beside you and support you through this tender time.

Requirements for foreign public documents

As a foreign national, managing documents between different countries is very important.  When you bring a foreign document, for instance your child’s birth certificate, to Estonian authorities, it usually requires an apostille or legalization. Apostille is a confirmation done to the document by either a notary or specific institution at the country of issuing. And legalisation is a process, where the document is confirmed first at the country of issuing and then at the Estonian ministry of Foreign Affairs. A few countries even require three-step legalisation, where the document also needs to be verified by your country’s embassy.  In case the document is not issued in English, you will also need a sworn translator to prepare an English or Estonian version. However, family documents from the European Union are accepted without an apostille. If you need more details, head to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website to read about specific document requirements based on the country of issuance. (See “Links” at the end)

If you ever need to use an Estonian document abroad, a notary can help you with the apostille. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can legalize the document for you. You can find trusted, certified translators through the Ministry of Justice.

Family transitions represent major milestones. Understanding your rights and responsibilities brings peace of mind. And knowing that support networks are available helps you feel truly at home in Estonia.