Estonia will strengthen control over the granting of residence permits to citizens of Russia and Belarus

The Estonian authorities plan to review and possibly tighten the rules for issuing temporary residence permits for citizens of Russia and Belarus. This was reported on February 21 by the Estonian television and radio company ERR.

The reason for the review was the initiative of MEP Jana Toom, who became interested in how people with an "unclear past" get the right to temporary residence in Estonia.

"Estonia will analyze the criteria and practice of granting temporary residence permits to citizens of Russia and Belarus and, if necessary, tighten them," the publication says.

It is clarified that submitting an application does not guarantee automatic receipt of a residence permit. The State reserves the right to make decisions on the entry, stay and expulsion of foreigners on a case-by-case basis.

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On February 4, the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation warned about the unstable operation of the neighboring side on the border between Russia and Estonia in the Pskov region. It was clarified that from February 1, 2026, Estonia suspended accepting vehicles from Russia through the Shumilkino checkpoint, and the first car was allowed through only on February 2. The customs post on the Russian side was functioning normally.

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