An alien holding permanent residence permit shall automatically be deemed as an alien holding the long-term residence permit.

As of 1 June 2006 an alien holding permanent residence permit shall automatically be deemed as an alien holding the long-term residence permit and he/ she is not required to submit application for long-term residence permit or pass language proficiency examination.

If an alien intends to reside, study or work in another Member State of the European Union (EU) and intends to use the benefits available for long-term resident in that country, i.e. to prove that he or she is a long-term resident of Estonia, such alien is required to apply for a new identity card (ID-card) at first and/ or alien's passport or residence permit sticker in the travel document of the country of nationality.

If the holder of permanent residence permit has no such need, his or her documents shall be replaced upon expiry of the period of validity of current documents.

All internal operations and activities can be performed by using identity document containing a notation "permanent residence permit".

Therefore the holder of permanent residence permit has no need to apply for new document before the expiry of his/ her current identity card or passport.

Applying for a new document
The person who should apply for a document containing new notation is first and foremost an alien who intends to reside, study or work go in another EU Member State and wishes to prove his status of long-term resident of Estonia in that country.

If application for a new document is necessary, the alien shall submit relevant application to the CMB. Document may be applied for by visiting the customer service of the CMB in person or by submitting the application by post.For minors, less than 15 years of age, and for aliens with restricted legal capacity their legal representative (parent, guardian or authorised representativeof guardianship institution) shall apply for identity document.When submitting an application the legal representative shall present his/her identity document and a document certifying his/ her right to represent the applicant.

An alien applying for a new document shall submit:

• application form (complete on screen; print out and fill in by hand);
• 1 coloured photo sized 40x50mm;
• a document certifying the payment of the state fee.

The place for issue of document which suits the best must be indicatedon the application form. The list of customer services of the CMB that issue documents is available here.

When submitting the application by post, send a sealed envelope to the address given below:

APPLICATION
Police and Border Guard Board
Sõle 61a
10144 Tallinn

Upon the application for an alien's passport the citizen of a foreign state shall submit a consent of a competent authority of your country of citizenship for the issue of an alien's passport to you or handwritten letter of explanation indicating that such consent cannot be granted.

If a document is applied for a minor under 15 years of age or for a person with restricted active legal capacity, the identity document of a parent or a guardian or anauthorised representative of guardianship institutions shall be submitted in addition to the abovementioned documents (e.g. birth certificate if you apply for a document for your child).

Upon any changes in your personal data, the submission of additional documents is required.

Documents issued by a foreign state, which are appended to an application, shall be translated into Estonian, Russian or English. The authenticity of a translation shall be notarised. Document issued by a foreign state shall be legalised and confirmed by a relevant certificate (apostille) unless otherwise provided by an international agreement.

Revocation and restoration of residence permit

The long-term residence permit may be declared invalid by the Citizenship and Migration Board if an alien:

• has submitted personal request for the revocation thereof;
• has submitted false information or committed fraud upon application for long-term residence permit;
• may endanger public order and national security;
• has stayed outside the Member States of the European Union for twelve consecutive months;
• has been granted long-term residence status in other Member State of the European Union;
• has stayed outside Estonia for six consecutive years.

The long-term residence permit may be restored if the alien's long-term residence permit was revoked on the basis of:

• grant of long-term residence status in other Member State of the European Union;
• stay outside Estonia for six consecutive years; or
• stay outside the Member States of the European Union for twelve consecutive months.

Long-term residence permit shall be restored if the alien:

• has stayed in Estonia permanently on the basis of temporary residence permit for at least two years prior to the date on which he or she submits an application for restoration of long-term residence permit;
• holds valid temporary residence permit;
• has permanent legal income for subsistence in Estonia;
• is covered with health insurance as defined in the Health Insurance Act or international agreement concluded with the Republic of Estonia; and
• is not subject to any circumstances that may serve as a basis for refusal to issue long-term residence permit.