A volcano erupted on White Island, New Zealand on 9 December 2019. Follow the instructions of local authorities. Updates are available from the New Zealand Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management.
Call 112.
Call 112 or go to the hospital.
Call 112 or go to the local police station.
Exercise normal safety precautions in Estonia.
Use common sense and look out for suspicious behaviour, as you would in Australia.
Civil unrest is rare. But public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent. Monitor local media for possible action.
Bag snatching, pickpocketing, mugging and petty theft occur. Pickpockets target people at airports, train stations, parks, routes to major hotels and the Old Town in Tallinn. They often work in small groups. Keep an eye on your belongings.
Credit card fraud occurs in tourist areas. Watch your credit card during transactions.
Drink spiking happens in bars and casinos. Don't leave drinks unattended.
Car theft is common, especially in Tallinn. Use secure, well-lit carparks. Don't leave valuables in vehicles.
Internet crimes have been reported. Be wary of online dating and scams involving money.
Full travel advice: Safety
HIV/AIDS is widespread. Take precautions if you engage in high-risk activities.
Tick-borne encephalitis and other tick-borne diseases are a risk in forested areas. Ticks are common in spring from March to November. Use insect repellent. Wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing.
Infectious diseases include hepatitis and rabies. Water contamination may be a problem in rural areas. Drink only boiled or bottled water. Avoid raw or undercooked food. If an animal bites or scratches you, get immediate medical help.
Medical facilities at the main hospitals are good. However, facilities can be limited in rural areas. You may need to pay up-front before treatment.
Full travel advice: Health
Penalties for drug offences include heavy fines and jail, even for possession of small amounts.
Same-sex relationships are legal, but attitudes can be conservative. Avoid public displays of affection.
Estonia recognises dual nationality in some situations. This may limit consular help from us. Dual nationals may have to do military service. Always travel on your Australian passport.
Full travel advice: Local laws
Estonia is part of the Schengen area. In some cases, you can enter Estonia without a visa. In other situations, you'll need a visa. Always carry your passport, even within the Schengen area.
You must have valid travel and health insurance that covers you for the equivalent of 30,000 euros during your stay. If can't prove you have the right insurance, immigration authorities might deny you entry.
By law, pedestrians must wear reflectors at night. If you don't, you may be fined.
Learn the road rules for Estonia. Headlights must always be on. Winter tyres must be fitted from 1 December to 1 March. There's zero tolerance for drink driving. If your blood alcohol content is greater than 0%, penalties include heavy fines and jail.
Full travel advice: Travel
The Consular Services Charter details what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
The Australian Consulate in Estonia provides limited consular help. It doesn't offer visa and immigration services.
Contact the Australian Embassy in Sweden for full consular assistance.
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Civil unrest is generally not a problem in Estonia.
However, during public protests and events that draw large groups of people, you should monitor local media for updates. If you're in an area affected by protests, follow the advice of local authorities.
More information:
Street crime includes:
bag snatching
pickpocketing
petty theft
Airports, train stations, parks, routes to major hotels and the Old Town in Tallinn are popular locations for pickpockets.
Pickpockets often work together in small groups. Keep a close eye on your belongings.
Drink spiking happens in bars and casinos. Don't leave drinks unattended.
Car theft is common, especially in Tallinn. Use secure and well-lit carparks. Don't leave valuables in vehicles.
Credit card fraud happens in tourist areas. Locations include shops, restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Keep an eye on your credit card at all times.
Internet crimes have been reported. These include online dating and scams involving money.
Be wary of online contact from people you don't know.
Don't send money until you've checked who you're sending it to.
While there have been no recent terrorist attacks in Estonia, they can still happen.
There's an ongoing threat of terrorism in Europe. Terrorists have staged attacks in European cities.
Terrorism is a threat worldwide.
More information:
Estonia can experience natural disasters or severe weather across the country, including:
extremely cold winters
heavy snowfalls
These affect major metropolitan areas.
Winter weather can severely delay transport and temporarily shut down services and roads.
Flooding may happen in spring, from March to May.
If there's a natural disaster or severe weather:
monitor the media and local sources for updates
follow the advice of local authorities
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many thousands of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
what activities and care your policy covers
that your insurance covers you for the whole time you'll be away
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
have a basic health check-up
ask if your travel plans may affect your health
plan any vaccinations you need
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Estonia. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
what the medicine is
how much you'll take
that it's for personal use only
More information:
HIV/AIDS is present. Take steps to reduce your risk of exposure to the virus.
Tick-borne encephalitis and other tick-borne diseases are a risk in forested areas.
Ticks are common in spring, from March to November.
To protect yourself from disease:
use insect repellent
wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing
During and after visiting forested areas:
check yourself for ticks
remove any ticks as soon as possible
ensure you remove the whole tick
check the tick site for infection
Waterborne, foodborne, parasitic and other infectious diseases can occur. These include hepatitis and rabies.
Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.
Water contamination may be a problem in rural areas.
To protect yourself from illness:
drink boiled water or bottled water with sealed lids
avoid ice cubes
don't eat uncooked and undercooked food, such as salads
avoid contact with dogs and other mammals
If an animal bites or scratches you, get medical help straight away.
Get medical advice if you suspect food poisoning or if you have a fever or diarrhoea.
More information:
Medical facilities at the main hospitals in Tallinn and in Tartu are good. Facilities may be limited in rural areas, due to a lack of equipment and supplies.
Many doctors and hospitals need up-front payment before they treat you.
If you become seriously ill or injured, you may need to be evacuated. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences include heavy fines and jail, even for possessing small amounts.
More information:
Same-sex relationships are legal, but attitudes can be conservative. Avoid public displays of affection.
More information:
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Estonia recognises dual nationality in some situations.
If you're a dual citizen, this limits the consular services we can give if you're arrested or detained.
Always travel on your Australian passport.
Dual-national males may have to do military service if they have a permanent address in Estonia. If you're not sure of your obligation, contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Estonia.
More information:
Every country or territory decides who can enter or exit through its borders.
Make sure you meet all entry and exit conditions. If you don't, the Australian Government can't help you.
Estonia is part of the Schengen area. In some cases, you can enter Estonia without a visa. In other situations, you'll need a visa.
Check the Schengen Convention before you leave Australia.
Get an entry stamp in your passport from border control staff when you first enter the Schengen area.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
To enter Estonia, you must have valid travel and health insurance that covers you for the equivalent of 30,000 euros during your stay.
If can't prove you have adequate insurance, immigration authorities might deny you entry.
More information:
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport isn't valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government doesn't set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.
Estonia's currency is the Euro.
You must declare currency of 10,000 euros or more, or the equivalent, if you're travelling between Estonia and any non-European Union country. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.
If you don't declare your currency, authorities will fine you.
You don't need to declare cash if you're travelling to or from another EU country.
Since 2015, there have been significant pressures on border controls in Europe due to the movement of asylum seekers.
Always carry your passport, even within the Schengen area.
Check local media and ask your transport company about border conditions.
By law, pedestrians must wear reflectors at night. If you don't, you can be fined.
You can buy cheap reflectors at most supermarkets and small shops.
You must have a valid Australian driver's licence to drive in Estonia.
You may also need an International Driving Permit (IDP) to hire a vehicle. Ask the car rental company when you book.
Get your IDP before you leave Australia.
Driving can be dangerous because of snow, ice on roads and hazardous weather.
There are some road rules that you might not know:
Headlights must always be on.
Winter tyres must be fitted from 1 December to 1 March – dates may vary depending on weather conditions.
There's zero tolerance for drink driving. If you have a blood alcohol reading over 0%, penalties include heavy fines and jail.
More information:
Official taxis are marked and have a clear meter. Don't use illegal taxis.
Don't share a taxi with passengers you don't know.
Rideshare services are also available.
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Estonia's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
family and friends
travel agent
insurance provider
employer
airline
Call 112.
Call 112 or go to the hospital.
Call 112 or go to the local police station.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Australia has a consulate in Estonia, headed by an Honorary Consul.
The Consulate provides limited consular assistance. It doesn't offer visa and immigration services or notarial services, or issue passports.
c/- Standard Ltd
Marja 9
EE10617 Tallinn Estonia
Phone: (+372) 6 509 308
Fax: (+372) 6 509 344
Email: mati@standard.ee
Twitter: @AusAmbEE
The Australian Embassy in Sweden offers full consular help.
Klarabergsviadukten 63, 8th Floor
111 64 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 0 8 613 2900
Email: stockholm.reception@dfat.gov.au
Website: sweden.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australian Embassy, Sweden
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
+61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
1300 555 135 in Australia
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.