Welcome Guide for Asylum Seekers and Refugees

1. GENERAL FACTS ABOUT ESTONIA
Official name: Republic of Estonia
The Estonian flag:
The national coat of arms:
Government: Parliamentary Republic, single chamber Parliament (Riigikogu) of 101 members.
Head of State: President
Area: 45,227 km²
Capital: Tallinn
Other large cities: Tartu, Narva and Pärnu
Regional division: Estonia has 15 counties, 30 cities and 185 rural municipalities
Population: 1,311,000 (Statistics Estonia, 1 January 2014)
Composition of population: Estonian – 69%, Russian – 25.5% plus Ukrainians, Belarusians, Finns, Tatars and many
other nationalities.
Currency: Euro, 1 EUR = 100 cents
Geography: 1,400 lakes and 1,500 islands, highest peak Suur Munamägi 318 m (Big Egg Mountain).
Neighbouring countries: Finland across the Gulf of Finland to the North, Latvia to the South, the Russian
Federation to the East, and Sweden across the Baltic Sea to the West.
National language: Estonian
Other widely spoken languages: Russian and English
Religion: Lutheran and Orthodox, but most Estonians do not affiliate themselves with any religion. Jewish and
Muslim communities are also represented.
Calling code: +372
Coverage: Most of Estonia is covered by the Internet (3G, Wi-Fi etc.).
Emergency number: 112
Public holidays:
1 January New Year’s Day
24 February Independence Day
March/April
March/April
Good Friday
Easter Sunday
1 May Spring Day
May/June
Pentecost
23 June Victory Day
24 June Midsummer Day
20 August Day of Restoration of Independence
24-26 December Christmas
State agencies and banks are closed on public holidays. Shorter working days generally apply in the service sector.
Climate
There are four seasons in Estonia:
●●Winter (21 December-21 March)
Average temperature: -4…-5°C, but may drop to -20...-30°C. It snows when it is below 0 degrees and water bodies
may freeze. Get yourself some warm clothes and footwear. Keep in mind that the days are short and that it is a
relatively dark period.
●●Spring (21 March-21 June)
The weather gets warmer and the snow and ice melt. It is wet and muddy. The days start getting longer.
●●Summer (21 June-21 September)
July is the warmest month, with an average temperature of +18°C. Summer may be rainy, but also sunny and
warm. Estonians go swimming and sunbathing when it is warm.
The days are long in summer: the sun rises early and sets late. There are days at the end of June when it doesn't
get dark at all. The days start getting shorter again in the second half of summer.
●●Autumn (21 September -21 December)
Average temperature: +5…-5°C, but may also be colder. The weather gets cooler, windier and wetter. It mainly
rains and gets muddy, but it can already start snowing in October.
You can take a look at weather forecasts here: Estonian Weather Service – www.ilmateenistus.ee
Nature and environment
The living environment is highly valued in Estonia. Over one
half of Estonia is covered in forests, and Estonian nature is rich
in different wild animal and bird species. Estonia has many
national parks which offer a diverse range of flora and fauna.
What can be done to protect the environment and save money?
●●Turn heating down if possible.
●●Use less water when washing and don’t leave water running
from taps.
●●Turn off the light when you leave the room.
●●Use public transport or a bike instead of a car.
●●Use the same carrier bag (e.g. a fabric one) when you go
shopping.
●●Sort your garbage and dispose by type (either separate bins or
collection points and waste stations set up by local municipalities.
Always throw your garbage in a bin. Whenever possible, collect garbage by type – paper, glass, bio waste and
packaging are collected separately.
Transport and traffic
Cars in Estonia drive on the right. Traffic is regulated with traffic signs and rules.
Cars
Many people in Estonia own cars. In order to drive, make sure that:
●●you have a valid driving licence or other document evidencing your right to drive plus the registration certificate
of the motor vehicle (it is necessary to pass a driving course in a driving school and take the required exams,
which you must pay for);
●●In case you have a driving licence from your home country, contact The Estonian Road Administration (www.
mnt.ee) as soon as possible, in order to receive further information on your right to drive in Estonia.
●●the car meets all technical requirements;
●●the car is covered by motor third party liability insurance (if there is an accident, the insurance company will
indemnify the damage caused to the other person by the guilty party), which must be paid for and regularly
renewed;
●●you follow all traffic rules;
●●the car is only parked in designated parking areas;
●●you are sober while driving (Estonia has zero tolerance);
●●you and the passengers have fastened your seatbelts; and
●●any small children are sitting securely in special safety seats.
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