Estonia grants exemptions from sanctions regime to select Russians

Helsinki, May 18 – The press service of the Council of Ministers said on Thursday that the Estonian government has made an exception from the sanctions regime for a number of students, doctors and scientists from Russia, as well as from Belarus, who can now apply for new residence permits.

Exclusion does not mean an automatic residence permit. Each application will be considered individually, and in each case the authorities will assess whether the person has grounds for receiving it, notes the press service.

In the academic year 2022/2023, 298 citizens of Russia and Belarus, who are subject to the sanctions regime, are studying at Estonian universities. The exception primarily applies to 78 students who have completed their studies in the Estonian language programme.

According to the Health Council, in 2022-2023, 10 doctors who came to work from Russia and 9 doctors from Belarus were registered in Estonia. In turn, the Ministry of Education and Science reports that three academics currently working in Estonian universities are exempt from penalties.

An exception to the penal regime applies to persons who came to Estonia to study or work prior to the events in Ukraine, have passed all required Estonian language tests or have completed an Estonian language curriculum and speak Estonian at least at B2 level. Faculty members are not subject to language proficiency requirements.