Travel on transboundary bodies of water

On 30 July 2021 the phone number to be used to register going on a transboundary body of water changes. The new number for sending a text message is +372 57000001.

Before going on to a transboundary body of water:

  • Make sure you know where the state border (temporary control line) runs
  • Read up on the rules in force on transboundary bodies of water
  • Notify your emergency contacts if you are going out on the water
  • Bring with you a communication device and documents.
  • Register your travel on the transboundary body of water at www.piiriveekogu.ee
  • Do not be out on the water in a state of intoxication
  • Check the weather forecast
  • The border guard has the right to establish a prohibition on access to transboundary bodies of water.
  • Make sure that the equipment on your watercraft meets the requirements and that its navigational devices are in order.
  • When leaving the transboundary body of water, secure your watercraft
  • Organizing boating trips, competitions, exercises and other events on transboundary bodies of water

Make sure you know where the state border (temporary control line) runs

Watercraft may come within 200 metres of the state border on Lake Peipus.

Watercraft may come within 50 metres of the state border on the Narva Reservoir, Lake Lämmijärv and Lake Pskov.

Watercraft may come within 20 metres of the state border on lakes Vaniku, Pattina, Kriiva and Pabra.

Fishing and access to the ice is allowed within 20 metres of the state border on the River Narva, and lakes Vaniku, Pattina, Kriiva and Pabra.

Fishing and access to the ice is allowed within 50 metres of the state border on the Narva Reservoir, Lake Lämmijärv and Lake Pskov.

Fishing and access to the ice is allowed within 200 metres of the state border on the Narva B ay and Lake Peipus.

Fishing can be fun and sometimes people lose track of their surroundings and pilot vehicles, e.g., across the ice, so that they end up on the other side of the border markings. This is a violation of the border regime and an illegal border crossing. If you are going ice fishing in winter, for example, follow the corresponding border regime area markings. On transboundary bodies of water, there is an imaginary line marked with buoys or other markers. If lasting ice cover forms on bodies of water, the border regime area that is prohibited to access for fishing and ice access will be marked on Lake Peipus within 200 m of the border, and on lakes Lämmijärv and Pskov within 50m before the state border/temporary control line.

Read up on the rules in force on transboundary bodies of water

Swimming in the River Narva and the Narva Reservoir is allowed only in designated places, during the day, and the maximum permitted distance from the banks/shores is marked. At night (half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise), it is prohibited to access the River Narva and the Narva Reservoir. It is prohibited to access the dry bed of the River Narva from the reservoir dam to the railway bridge. Access to the islands in the river and reservoir is allowed only with approval from the Eastern Prefecture.

Bring with you a communication device and documents:

  • an identity document
  • watercraft and documents certifying the right to operate it
  • if you are fishing, bring with you fishing licences
  • documents certifying registration of vehicle and right to operate it

Register your travel on the transboundary body of water at www.piiriveekogu.ee

To do so, create a user profile at www.piiriveekogu.ee. After creating a user profile you can register travel on bodies of water on the same website or by sending a text message to +37257000001. To register by text, send a message reading "Algus" or "A" (meaning beginning of your stay on the water) and "Lopp" or "L" (meaning the end of your time on the water).

Registration over the phone

If registration via piiriveekogu.ee is unsuccessful, it is possible to register going on a transboundary body of water and the return from it by making a phone call to the relevant border guard station.

Narva Border Guard Station +372 333 1580
Mustvee Border Guard Station +372 333 1670
Saatse Border Guard Station +372 786 1770
Piusa Border Guard Station +372 786 1760

The border guard has the right to establish a prohibition on access to transboundary bodies of water.

Information on ice conditions is available from the nearest border guard station. The purpose of prohibitions on access to the ice is to save lives. Statistics show that since the border guard was authorized to establish prohibitions on access, the number of accidents on transboundary bodies of water has declined significantly.

Organizing boating trips, competitions, exercises and other events on transboundary bodies of water

All persons, agencies and organizations must coordinate exercises, competitions, underwater activity, blasting work, ice road construction and other activities that disturb the border peace on transboundary bodies of water and inland and territorial waters (other than scientific marine research in the economic zone) with the PBGB by submitting a written application 10 working days before the planned date of the activity.