Applying for Family Reunification

If you have received refugee status or subsidiary protection status in Estonia, and you were separated from your family before or during your flight from your home country, you can apply for family reunification so that your family can join you in Estonia, under specific conditions.

If you want to apply for family reunification, you should do so as soon as possible and no later than 6 months after you were granted refugee or subsidiary protection status in Estonia.

You can even apply for the reunification of your family to the Police and Border Guard Board at the same time that you apply for asylum.

If you do not apply for family reunification within 6 months after you were granted refugee status or subsidiary protection, you may need to fulfil additional conditions, such as proof of sufficient income, having a permanent address and health insurance in Estonia. If you fail to fulfil those criteria, family reunification may be denied. You can appeal this decision before the Estonian courts.

“Family members” for family reunification purposes are:

• Your spouse
• Children under 18 years old to come to reside with you
• In special situations, other close members of your family who had lived with you in your home country and who fully depend on you may come to reside with you in Estonia.

If your application for family reunification is accepted, you need to organise and pay for the trip for your family members to come to Estonia. A support person, legal advisor or advisor can assist you with filling in the necessary documentation, if necessary.

We advise you to contact our partner the Estonian Human Rights Centre:

Address: Eesti Inimõiguste Keskus Ahtri 8, 10151 Tallinn, Estonia

E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter: @EIK_anneta
Facebook: @humanrightscentre
Telephone: (+372) 644 5148
Fax: (+372) 646 5148

The family reunification procedure in Estonia is under the responsibility of the Police and Border Guard Board.

In Estonia, UNHCR supports the national authorities in executing its duties in line with international and European standards.

UNHCR is not part of the family reunification procedure in Estonia.

If you live in Estonia and you do not know where your family is or you cannot contact them, you can contact our partner the Estonian Red Cross.

The Estonian Red Cross is an organization that works with family tracing services and can be contacted at:

• Address: Eha Str. 8, Tallinn 10137, Estonia
• Tel: +372 64 11 645
• Email: [email protected]

Read more about the work carried out by the Estonian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross in relation to family tracing.

ATTENTION! UNHCR does not provide family tracing services.