Picking up a document at Selver stores is now cheaper than at PBGB service offices

As of 1 January 2025, collecting ID-cards and passports at Selver stores is cheaper than at PBGB service offices. In 2024, a total of 39,067 documents were collected at Selver stores, accounting for 9% of all issued documents.

The residents of Rapla County (14%), Viljandi County (12%), Harju County (12%), and Tartu County (10%) were the most likely to choose to collect their documents at Selver stores.

Marit Abram, Senior Superintendent of the PBGB’s Identity and Status Bureau, believes that collecting documents at Selver stores will become even more popular, as from 2025 it will be cheaper to have a document delivered to a store than to a PBGB service office. “For instance, an adult applying for an ID-card via self-service portal and having it delivered to a Selver store will pay a total of €32.3, including the state fee and the store’s service fee. Collecting the document at a PBGB service office costs €35,” she explained.

“Selver is a good alternative for document applicants because, in addition to saving money, it offers faster and more convenient document collection. Today, there is at least one Selver store in every county in Estonia and many cities have several stores where documents can be collected. Collecting a document from Selver is more flexible because, unlike the PBGB service offices, the stores are open daily until late at night, including weekends,” Abram added.

Among the stores, Selver locations in Harju County were the most popular for document collection last year. Kadaka Selver ranked first with nearly 2,186 pick-ups, followed by Järve (1,968) and Kakumäe (1,866) Selver stores. Elsewhere in Estonia, over 1,000 documents were picked up at Anne Selver (1,696), Veeriku Selver (1,246), and Ringtee Selver (1,235) in Tartu, and Rapla Selver (1,060).

In total, 458,099 identity documents were applied for in 2024, including 254,505 ID-cards, 81,242 passports, and 93,866 residence permit cards. Estonian citizens submitted a total of 287,387 document applications last year, 63% of which were made through the PBGB self-service portal.

“Each year, the number of people applying for a document online has increased as self-service is more convenient, affordable, and faster. If a person has a suitable photo, valid fingerprints, and a signature sample, then thanks to Selver, it is possible to complete the entire process—from applying for a document to receiving it—without visiting a PBGB service office. Thousands of people have already used this option,” Abram said.

The most active self-service users have consistently been the residents of Tartu County (71%) and Harju County (71%). The youngest person for whom a document was applied online last year was just one day old, while the most elderly was 103 years old. Applying for documents via self-service was most popular among adults aged 35–44. The average time to apply for a document online was 5 minutes, while the average waiting time in service offices was 31 minutes, and the application process on-site took 10 minutes.

Documents can be collected at more than 40 Selver stores and 18 PBGB service offices across Estonia. The list of stores where documents can be collected is available on the PBGB website at Document pick up in a shop - Police and Border Guard Board.