Driving licence exchange in Estonia

Driving licences are valid for 10 years.

Driving licences for novice drivers between 16-17 years of age are valid until the driver turns 18 (category B).

Driving licences for elderly drivers are valid for 10 years for all categories.

If you hold a driving licence for life (i.e. one that remains administratively valid for an unlimited period) that was issued by another EU country, you will not have to renew it after changing your usual place of residence.

Non-EU driving licences - exchange & recognition

You must exchange your non-EU driving licence within 12 months after moving.

To exchange your non-EU driving licence:

1. go to to a service bureau of the Estonian Road Administration (or call +372 620 1200)
2. hand in the following documents:

• valid health certificate,
• one photo in electronic format plus signature sample (can be made at the service bureau),
• the non-EU driving licence to be exhanged,
• the relevant fee.

If you have previously exchanged a non-EU driving licence for an EU licence in another EU country, you can use it in Estonia.

 

Physical description
Size	85.60 x 53.98 mm
Format	ID-1
Material	100% polycarbonate
Colour	Pink

Security features
Several security features
Characteristics	Laser engraving for personal data on the driving licence (including photo and signature), digital photo (black and white) and safety background of digital signature, positive and negative microtext, pink-violet-pink IRIS combined with verification colour, hidden image (LFI - Latent Filtered Image), shadow image with microprint (map of Estonia), visible and invisible multi-coloured fluorescent print, optically variable ink (OVI) - changing between golden and green colour (on the back of the driving licence).
OVI
Location	OVI on the back of the driving licence
Characteristics	Colour-shifting (optically variable) ink, which changes colour according to viewing angle. non-reproducible security element.
Method of verification	Changes colour according to viewing angle.

Categories
Category	Period of validity
A, B, BE	Until 65: 10 years; above 65: 5 years
C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE	Until 50: 10 years; above 50: 5 years
A1, A, B1, B, C1	2 years in the case of a provisional driving licence

National categories
National category	Description of national category
T	tractor, mobile machinery and tractor train

Codes
National codes	Description
101	Preliminary driving licence: use of novice driver sign required. Maximum speed limit 90 km/h. Code has validity period of 2 years.
102	These categories are only allowed to drive while the conscript is in the Defence Forces. The code is not used for the right to drive power-driven vehicles in subcategory C1.
105	Motorcycle with a power output of 25 kW or an effective engine power of maximum 0.16 kW/kg.

Professional drivers
Certificate of professional competence is issued	YES
Code 95 is marked on the driving licence	NO

 

EESTI (EST)
1. Model EST1. Since 1 February 1999, the words ‘Eesti Riiklik Autoregistrikeskus’ (the issuing authority) are indicated (as a hologram) on the front of the licence under item 5 and on the reverse side and the date of issueis indicated for each category on the reverse side. On 1 October 1999, the numerical information printed on the licence changed.
2.Models EST1, EST2. The word ‘ESMANE’ on the front (EST1) and on the back (EST2) indicates that the licence  holder is a novice driver; the validity of such licence is limited to two years.
3.Model EST1. National categories R and T have been issued since 1 February 2001.EST: Description and security features
Model EST1. Description: Format 105 mm x 74 mm.Security features: Pink colour, microprint (consisting of the words ‘Eesti Vabariik and Juhiluba’), UV-colour, embossed pattern (on the front page).
Model ES T2. Description: All physical characteristics draw from ISO 7810, ISO 7816-1 and ISO 10373 standards; 100 %  polycarbonate; format 85.60 x 53.98 x 0.76 mm. Security features: Laser engraving for personifying data transferred onto the driving licence (including photo and signature), digital photograph (black & white) and digital signature security background, microlettering positive and  negative, rainbow printing pink-violet-pink combined with a control colour, LFI-latent filtered image, shadow image with microlettering (map of Estonia), visible and invisible multicolour fluorescent printing, optical variable ink (OVI) — gold to green (on the back page).