On the initiative of a local government
Local governments are entitled to initiate the entry or amendment of the residential address of an individual in the population register. Local governments must initiate the entry or amendment of the residential address of an individual in the population register if the residential address of the individual who continuously stays in the territory under the local government is not entered in the population register, or if the individual states that he or she does no longer use the property at the residential address entered in the population register. Social welfare institutions, medical institutions, rescue service agencies, police authorities and other agencies or individuals may notify local governments of individuals who are continuously staying in the territory under the local government. In order to specify the residential address of an individual in the population register to the level of the property, the local government shall make a written inquiry to the individual and the owner of the property to obtain their consent. If neither the person nor the owner of the property provides notice of their consent within one month of sending the inquiry, the residential address of the individual shall be specified by the local government in the population register to the level of the city or rural municipality. The person’s known address shall be stated as an additional address. In case he owner of the property does not give consent during the processing of a notice of residence for the address of the property belonging to the former to be entered in the population register as an individual’s place of residence, but the local government is aware that the individual who has submitted the notice of residence is using the owner’s property as the place of residence, the local government may enter the address of the property stated in the notice of residence in the population register as the individual’s place of residence.On the basis of a decision of a committee settling a lease dispute or a judicial decision
A local government can change an individual’s residential address entered in the population register on the basis of a decision by a committee settling a lease dispute or a judicial decision, which has entered into force, if the individual receives or loses the right to use the property as a place of residence.
In the case of the loss of the right to use the property as a place of residence, the individual’s residential address shall be preserved in the population register, specified to the level of the city or rural municipality.
In the case of a change of the address details
A local government can change a residential address entered in the population register if the administrative-territorial organisation, which is the basis of the residential address, or the names and numbers of objects which are address units (e.g. the street name or dwelling number) are altered. The local government shall inform the individual of the changes to the address details.
On the basis of information received from competent foreign agencies
An individual’s address details may also be changed on the basis of information received from competent foreign agencies. Information from a foreign state about an address to be entered in the population register may be contained in a document issued by a competent foreign agency or transferred in the course of the automated exchange of information between agencies. Estonia has an agreement to exchange population information with Finland. This means that Finland transfers information on Estonian citizens that have registered or changed their residential address in Finland to the population register automatically once a week. Similarly, information on Finnish citizens having registered their residential address in Estonia is transferred to the Finnish population register.
Last updated: 27.10.2023
