Estonia’s Border Crossing Still Limited – Quarantine Is Optional

The Estonian government has published new rules regarding the border crossing and the mandatory quarantine, in a bid to halt the spread of Coronavirus pandemic.

According to the government’s announcement, persons without symptoms of infection will be eligible to travel between Latvia, Finland and Lithuania, if they have not been in another country for two weeks at the time of travel, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Estonia’s Minister of the Interior Mart Helme stressed that “the virus has not disappeared anywhere, and in the interests of the health of oneself and one’s loved ones, unnecessary travel should be avoided.”

“Border control in Estonian ports and airports will continue, and in the course of it both the person crossing the border and the purpose of his or her trip will be identified,” Helme added.

Even though on May 15, border closure between Estonia and Latvia was terminated, the Police and Border Guard Board still keeps border control for persons arriving from Latvia, as long as Estonia foresees it necessary.

“Estonian citizens, residents and their family members can continue to enter Estonia regardless of which country they come from, but the requirements for a 14-day quarantine vary depending on where you came from,” Minister of the Interior Helme.

On May 15, Estonia’s government announced that residents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania who do not show symptoms of the deadly virus would be allowed to move freely between the three countries without restrictions and without being a subject of the mandatory quarantine.

“All Estonian citizens and residents who have stayed in countries other than Latvia and Lithuania or are not covered by the exceptions for arrivals from Finland must continue to be quarantined in order to stop the spread of the virus. For example, an Estonian resident who comes to Estonia from Sweden via Finland or from Italy via Latvia must stay at home for 14 days and can only leave it to buy food, necessities and medicines,” Minister of the Interior Helme stressed.

Helme clarified that only persons without symptoms can come to Estonia. Below you can see the list announced by Helme:

• who pass through Estonia as a transit country to reach their home country;
• who are employees of diplomatic missions or consular posts of foreign states located in Estonia or their family members or within the framework of international military cooperation;
• who are directly involved in the transport of goods and raw materials, including the loading of goods or raw materials;
• who provide healthcare or other emergency services;
• who is directly involved in the international carriage of goods and passengers, including a member of the crew or crew serving an international means of transport and a person carrying out repair, warranty or maintenance work on the means of transport;
• who serve groups of passengers and are directly involved in the provision of a passenger transport service;
• whose purpose of arrival in Estonia is related to ensuring the continuity of vital services;
• whose arrival in Estonia is related to the maintenance, repair, warranty or information and communication technology work of an enterprise operating in Estonia, if this is necessary to ensure the operation of the enterprise;
• whose direct descendant or ascendant relative or spouse is an Estonian citizen, a person holding an Estonian residence permit or a right of residence;
• whose admission is justified based on a special application by the PBGB.

On March 17, the Estonian government decided to reintroduce border controls in all crossing points, as part of the country’s efforts to stop the spread of Coronavirus and protect its citizens, while on May 15, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia reopened their common borders to help their citizens freely move between the three.