Estonia adopts new COVID-19 testing rules for arrivals – updated 19 April 2021

Starting on Friday, 15 January, new testing rules for travellers from high-risk countries will come into effect. If a person does not want to quarantine for 10 days on arrival in Estonia, they must arrive with a negative PCR test taken up to 72 hours before arrival. They can then be retested no earlier than six days after the first test was taken. If both tests are negative they may leave self-isolation early.

If it is not possible to take a test before departure, the test can be done immediately on arrival to Estonia and then a second test after six days. If both tests are negative, the self-isolation period may end.

The government also decided to increase the infection rate that defines a high-risk country. From 15 January, countries that have a 14-day coronavirus rate of more than 150 per 100 000 inhabitants are high-risk and travellers from these countries (including Estonian citizens and residents) must self-isolate upon arrival in Estonia. Self-isolation is not required for arrivals from European countries with rates below 150. As of 16 April 2021, Italy had an infection rate of 398,6 and Malta an infection rate of 140,5. Travellers from Malta are therefore exempt from the self-isolation requirement starting on 19 April 2021. 

Children under 12 are exempt from testing.

Government press release 14.01.2021: https://valitsus.ee/en/news/government-has-established-testing-procedure-upon-arrival-estonia-countries-high-risk

Foreign Ministry press release 16.04.2021: https://vm.ee/en/news/updated-information-about-restrictions-movement-passengers-arriving-estonia-between-19-and-25