1. General facts about Estonia

The Estonian flag The national coat of arms

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Official name: Republic of Estonia Type of government: Democratic parliamentary republic Head of State: President

Legislative power: Single-chamber parliament (Riigikogu) Executive power: The Government of the Republic headed by the Prime Minister

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Surface area: 45 339 km2

Population: 1 328 976 Capital: Tallinn (437 619 residents) Other major cities: Tartu (96 123 residents), Narva (54 409 residents) and Pärnu (50 914 residents) Administrative distribution: 15 counties, 79 local municipalities (incl. 15 towns)

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Ethnic composition: Estonians (68%), Russians (25%), Ukrainians (2%), other ethnicities (4%) (Belarusians, Finns, Tatars and many others.) Currency: the euro; 1 euro = 100 cents Neighbouring countries: Finland (to the north, across the Gulf of Finland), Latvia (to the south), Russia (to the east) and Sweden (to the west across the Baltic Sea) State language: Estonian Other most frequently used languages of communication: Russian and English Religion: Lutheranism and Russian Orthodoxy, although many Estonians do not associate themselves with a certain religion. Jewish and Muslim communities are also represented.

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1 January, New Year 24 February, Independence Day and anniversary of the Republic of Estonia March or April: Good Friday March or April: Easter Sunday 1 May, Spring Holiday May or June: Pentecost 23 June, Victory Day 24 June, Midsummer Day (St. John’s Day) 20 August, Anniversary of Restoration of Independence 24.–26 December, Christmas

On public holidays, most of the governmental services, banks, schools etc are closed. Private sector companies, including shops and restaurants, might have shorter working days. The workday before holiday might be shortened.

Estonian public transport system is good and on time. What is more, in some cases it can be even completely free. Using public transport – buses, trams and trains – is also good for the environment. The routes, schedules and stops are fixed. You can buy tickets for public transport within the city on www.pilet.ee. You can view bus timetables and find further information about routes online at www.peatus.ee. Google Maps also gives good options regarding the routes and times. If you need to take a bus from one city to another, you can buy a ticket at the bus station and online at www.tpilet.ee You can buy train tickets online, from the railway station or on the train. You can view train timetables online and buy tickets at www.elron.ee. If you would like to get an Estonian driving licence, you should finish the driving school and pass the theory and driving exam in Maanteeamet. If you already have a driving licence issued by another country, you should change your current driving licence to Estonian driving licence by passing the theory and driving exam. Contact Maanteeamet for more information and for scheduling the exam times: www.mnt.ee.

Even if you have a driving licence and international driving permit, it is strongly recommended to take few driving lessons while applying for Estonian driving licence. Through this you can surely pass the exam.

1.3. COMMUNICATIONS

Many services provided in Estonia are internet-based, and internet also helps you stay connected with your family and friends. Also, it is important to have a phone, so that you can be reached and make calls as needed. For local internet and phone subscriptions you could consider from following service providers in Estonia:

Telia Tele2 Elisa STV

Mobile phone subscription Prepaid sim-cards ‘Super’, ‘Simpel’ ‘Tele2’ ‘Elisa’  Home internet TV Landline phone

NB! The costs vary, thus make sure that you compare the prices prior choosing the service provider. You can pay bills and fill in official forms online. To fully benefit from online services, you will need your residence permit card with a chip and the card reader.

The main gateway for services offered online by the state is www.eesti.ee. See more in Chapter 2. You can also access wireless internet in most public locations like cafes, restaurants as well as bus- and train stations.

1.3.1. E-MAIL

In Estonia, it is common to communicate via e-mail. If you don't have an e-mail address, you should create one. You can use www.gmail.com, www.yahoo.com etc for example. E-mails are used for communication with the state and different organisations, and you will also receive your bills and other important information on your email address.

Make yourself an account and remember to check it every day, as you would do with the regular mailbox in your home.

If you want to send a letter, you need an envelope and a stamp. You can buy these from the local post office or from R-kiosk. When the letter is ready to post, find an orange Eesti Post post-box on the street and put it in there. If you want to send a package, you can do it in the post office or at a parcel terminal of Omniva, Itella Smartpost or DPD. Parcel terminals (you can pay with card only) are more suitable for sending packages inside Estonia, but in the post office you can send the package anywhere in the world. Most of the packages sent to you from abroad must be collected at the closest post office. You will get a notice in your mailbox, when the package has arrived.

Find your closest post office, postbox or Omniva's parcel terminal here: www.omniva.ee/abi/kaart.

1.3.3. SAFETY

In general Estonia is a safe country – we don’t have natural disasters or deadly venomous animals and the crime rate is rather low. Regardless, in case of emergency call the national emergency number 112 free of charge. Call the emergency number if your or someone else’s life, health or property is in danger or there is reason to believe that it may be. Keep in mind that giving a false alarm may be subject to punishment. Explain the situation and the 112 operators will notify if the police, ambulance, rescue and/or fire services.

Answer any question concisely and precisely and do not end the call before you have been given permission to do so by the operator in 112.

In case there is some sort of other crises in the state (e.g pandemic), follow the governmental guide-lines relating to ongoing crises that are published on www.kriis.ee or contact free of charge state helpline 1247.

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Bussijaam Lennujaam Rongijaam Sadam Bussipeatus Postkontor Pakiautomaat Kiirabi Politsei Tuletõrje Kus on …? Vasak / vasakul Parem / paremal Otse Bus station Airport Train station Port Bus stop Post office Parcel terminal Ambulance Police Fire services Where is …? Left / on the left Right / on the right Straight ahead