From 9 December 2025, the procedure for issuing return certificates and permits (TPT and TPL) will change.
These emergency travel documents will be replaced by the European Union’s standard-format Emergency Travel Document (ETD). The ETD is a temporary travel document that can be applied for at Estonian embassies and other EU member state missions.
Under the new procedure, ETDs may be issued by Estonian embassies and EU member state missions to:
- all EU member state citizens;
- individuals previously eligible for Estonian return permits, including persons of undetermined citizenship, holders of temporary or refugee travel documents issued by Estonia, and individuals legally residing in Estonia.
Unlike TPT and TPL documents, the ETD does not require the holder to return to Estonia. It allows travel to the person’s country of residence, even if that is another EU member state. If there is no Estonian embassy nearby, or it is unreasonably far, the ETD can be applied for via remote identification or through another EU member state’s embassy or consulate. The completed document will be sent to the applicant by courier.
The ETD replaces the previous return certificates and permits, which will no longer be issued.
State fees remain unchanged:
- €100 for an invalid document
- €20 for a lost, stolen, or destroyed document
- €45 for a first-time document for a child under one year of age
Frequently asked questions – https://vm.ee/en/etd
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs