On 11 August 2022, the Government of the Republic of Estonia approved a sanction imposing a restriction on citizens of the Russian Federation applying for an Estonian visa. The visa restriction applies to all types of visas and purposes of travel, except for those Russian citizens who are:
- visiting a spouse, who is an Estonian citizen residing in Estonia or a person residing in Estonian on the basis of Estonian long-term residence permit;
- visiting a relative in the direct descending or ascending line who is an Estonian citizen residing in Estonia or a person residing in Estonia on the basis of Estonian long-term residence permit;
- visiting an Estonian citizen residing in Estonia or a person residing in Estonia on the basis of Estonian long-term residence permit and with whom they raise a minor child;
- employees of a diplomatic mission or consular post in Estonia and their family members;
- directly involved in the international carriage of goods and passengers;
- persons enjoying the right of free movement under European Union law (EU citizens family members) and
- whose entry into Estonia is necessary for humanitarian reasons (e.g. funerals).
The sanction will come into effect on 18 August, which means that only the Russian citizens listed above can apply for a visa from that date. Russian citizens, who want to apply for a visa as an exception, must together with their application also present documents proving that they are eligible for one or several exceptions.
Additional sanctions were imposed to Russian citizens who wish to cross the external border of Schengen area to enter Estonia. Russian citizens who have questions regarding entering Estonia must address their questions directly to Estonian Police and Border Guard Board or to the border guards of the Schengen Member State where they are entering Schengen area.