Your first 90 days in Estonia: the arrival checklist
The visa got you in — this is what turns you into a functioning resident: the registration clock, the ID number everything else depends on, and the money, healthcare, and license steps in the order they actually unlock. Each step links the official source so you can verify the current rule.
Checked against official sources · September 2026 · how we verify
The catch that burns new arrivals
The Estonian system assumes you are digitally reachable: official notices go to your @eesti.ee address and are considered delivered whether or not you ever forward them. Set the forwarding up the day you get the ID card, or you will miss deadlines that were technically served on you.
The checklist, in the order it unlocks
Apply for the temporary residence permit at a Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) service office, then register your address in the population register
Residence permit processing runs about 30 days; the address registration with your local municipality is expected within a month of moving in
The permit application must be given in person for fingerprints even when everything else is digital, and the address registration is the step that unlocks the municipal services and the ID-card delivery — it is routinely forgotten because nothing blocks you on the day.
Get your isikukood (Estonian personal identification code)
It is the single key to Estonian digital life — banking, the e-services portal, the health insurance fund, signing documents, and every tax filing.
Issued with the residence permit or on registration in the population register; the physical ID card that carries the digital certificates is collected from a PPA office afterwards.
Open a bank account
Estonian banks (LHV, Swedbank, SEB) want the isikukood and a genuine Estonian connection before opening a full account, and e-Residency alone is explicitly not enough — that programme gives company access, not personal banking. With a residence permit and a registered address the process is fast and almost entirely online afterwards.
Enrol in healthcare
The Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa) covers you once someone is paying social tax on your behalf — an employer, or yourself as a self-employed registered person — after which you pick a family doctor who gatekeeps specialist care. There is a real gap between arriving and the first contribution landing, so keep private or travel cover across it.
Sort your driver's license
A licence from an EU/EEA state is valid until expiry; other foreign licences may be used for up to 12 months from the date you take up residence, after which Estonia requires an exchange — usually with a medical certificate and, for many non-EU licences, a theory and practical test.
Deadlines and requirements vary by nationality, visa type, and region, and they change — this is information current as of 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Verify each step with the official source before you rely on it.
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Information only, not legal advice — we never file anything with any government. Requirements change; verify with the official source or a licensed immigration advisor before you apply.
First 90 days in Estonia: FAQ
What do I have to do first after arriving in Estonia?
Apply for the temporary residence permit at a Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) service office, then register your address in the population register — Residence permit processing runs about 30 days; the address registration with your local municipality is expected within a month of moving in. The permit application must be given in person for fingerprints even when everything else is digital, and the address registration is the step that unlocks the municipal services and the ID-card delivery — it is routinely forgotten because nothing blocks you on the day. Verify the current rule with the official source before you rely on it.
What is the isikukood and do I need one?
isikukood (Estonian personal identification code) is Estonia's personal tax/ID number. It is the single key to Estonian digital life — banking, the e-services portal, the health insurance fund, signing documents, and every tax filing. Issued with the residence permit or on registration in the population register; the physical ID card that carries the digital certificates is collected from a PPA office afterwards.
Can I drive in Estonia on a US license?
A licence from an EU/EEA state is valid until expiry; other foreign licences may be used for up to 12 months from the date you take up residence, after which Estonia requires an exchange — usually with a medical certificate and, for many non-EU licences, a theory and practical test. Rules differ by nationality and change — check the official source before the window closes.
How do I get healthcare after moving to Estonia?
The Health Insurance Fund (Tervisekassa) covers you once someone is paying social tax on your behalf — an employer, or yourself as a self-employed registered person — after which you pick a family doctor who gatekeeps specialist care. There is a real gap between arriving and the first contribution landing, so keep private or travel cover across it. See our healthcare-systems guide for how Estonia's system treats foreign residents.