On November 1, 2023, RIA closed the [email protected] email service
On November 1, 2023, the Estonian Information System Authority (RIA) closed the email service created for private correspondence, which means that it is no longer be possible to use the [email protected] and [email protected] address.
The decision does not concern in any way [email protected] and [email protected] email addresses through which state agencies (e.g. the Transport Administration, the Police and Border Guard Board, the Ministry of the Interior, the Social Insurance Board, etc.) send official emails to citizens.
People who have used email addresses ending in @eesti.ee and shared them as their contact address should update their contact details with their service providers. Those who have not used this email address as a contact address should do nothing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the alias email address? Aliases are email addresses created by the state for private correspondence for private persons and businesses until 2018. In the case of a private person, it is in the form of [email protected] (e.g [email protected])* and in the case of a business [email protected] (e.g [email protected]).
It was possible to use the alias for private correspondence, but emails sent to the alias were not stored in the national mailbox on the state portal, but were forwarded directly to the email address specified for this purpose on the state portal.
*In the case of namesakes (e.g. Mari Tamm is a very common name in Estonia) [email protected], [email protected] etc
Will the closure of aliases affect the notifications sent by the state? Aliases are not the ‘official’, or state-used email addresses through which the state communicates with citizens and businesses. The state sends notifications to citizens (e.g. invitations to military service, screenings, vaccinations or penalty notices, etc.) via an official email address in the form of [email protected] which is generated when an ID card or a residence permit card is issued. An email address [email protected] is generated for the business upon registration to which state agencies can send official notifications.
@eesti.ee email addresses act as a forwarding address and to activate them, you need to add your regular email address (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail etc.) to which you wish to receive emails. In the case of a private person, the state has done the forwarding for the citizen, based on the data in the population register. You can check and update your contact details on the state portal under mailbox settings.
The closure of aliases does not affect the operating of the official [email protected] and [email protected] email address!
Do I have an official email address in the form [email protected] or [email protected]?
Every person who has a personal identification code and every company that has a registration code issued by the Commercial Register has an email address in the form of [email protected] or [email protected].
How can I find out whether official email aadress has been forwarded? You need to log in to the state portal eesti.ee, select the mailbox from the left menu and open settings.
Why did the RIA decide to close alias email addresses? The possibility, which was created 20 years ago, to use a national mailbox alias as your contact address, is now obsolete and no longer meets the expectations of users or quality requirements of the service. According to a user survey, 60% of alias owners do not know that they have an alias or what the service is about. Almost 70% of them do not consider it necessary to have an alias.
The alias serves only as a forwarding address and has no real value compared to a personal email address, as a personal email address with an email service provider is always required to use the alias. In addition, it is not possible with the now obsolete solution to control the sending of spam and junk mail with reasonable costs and administrative burden, while ensuring that the necessary emails do not get trapped in spam filters and would reach the intended recipients. There are many providers of a secure and reliable email service today, so it is not practical to provide this service at the expense of the taxpayers.
By what right does the RIA close the service? RIA has an obligation arising from § 201 (4) of the Regulation No. 145 of 24.07.2020 of the Government of the Republic to ensure only the functioning of the official email addresses, i.e. [email protected] and [email protected], to which only the executors of public duties, e.g. state agencies, can send emails to.
What does the closing of an alias mean for me? From 1 November 2023, emails sent to [email protected] will no longer be forwarded and the email address ending with @eesti.ee can no longer be used as a personal contact address.
What should I do if my alias is closed? In case you have used [email protected] or [email protected] as your contact address with partners, acquaintances, service providers or others, please inform them of the new (e.g. Gmail, Hotmail, Hot, etc.) contact address.
If you have not used this as your contact address, you do not have to do anything.
If you are unsure whether you have used an alias as a contact address, check with your service provider s(e.g. mobile operators, banks, etc.) to be sure.
Who sends emails to your alias email address? Anyone who knows your first name and last name can send emails to this [email protected] email address. In most cases, emails will be sent by those to whom the user of the email address has forwarded it. For example, by assigning it as your login address when you create a user, or providing it as a contact address for a service provider.
How do I know if someone has sent me emails to my alias email?
Unfortunately, as emails sent to aliases are not stored in the national mailbox, it is not possible to check who has sent emails to your alias. All emails sent to aliases will be forwarded without being stored in the national mailbox. This means that your personal mailbox (to which the alias is forwarded via the national mailbox) will display the incoming email as if it had come directly from the sender.
What happens if I cannot remember who I have given my alias as my contact?
We recommend that you consult the list of service providers that we have provided and compare it with the important emails that you receive to identify potential service providers to whom you may have issued an alias. With service providers, it is usually possible to check the contact address in the self-service, by logging in to your user account or by contacting the customer support of the service provider.
What will happen to the emails I have already sent? Emails already sent will not be affected.
If the alias is closed, will I no longer receive state notifications? Emails and notifications from state agencies will continue to reach you without problems. They are sent to [email protected] and [email protected] which are not affected by the closing of aliases.
Service providers examples
Here you can find list of service providers who can send e-mails to your alias address:
- ***@osta.ee
- ***@seb.ee
- ***@lists.ut.ee
- ***@facebookmail.com
- ***@kv.ee
- ***@facebookmail.com
- ***@notice.aliexpress.com
- ***@recruiting.facebook.com
- ***@facebookmail.com
- ***@facebookmail.com
- ***@ebay.com
- ***@aliexpress.com
- ***@lhv.ee
- ***@auto24.ee
- ***@leadify.ee
- ***@microsoft.com
- ***@minuvalik.ee
- ***@just.ee
- ***@quora.com
- ***@riigiteataja.ee
- ***@e.circlekextra.ee
- ***@norstatpanel.com
- ***@riigihanked.riik.ee
- ***@email.apple.com
- ***@intl.paypal.com
- ***@palade.edu.ee
- ***@ragnsells.ee
- ***@benu.ee
- ***@e.linkedin.com
- ***@eestiloto.ee
- ***@news.takko-fashion.com
- ***@tntcompany.net
- ***@arved.ee
- ***@bolt.eu
- ***@github.com
- ***@swedbank.ee
- ***@alexela.ee
- ***@omniva.ee
- ***@on24.ee
- ***@telia.ee
- ***@emta.ee
- ***@earvekeskus.ee
- ***@email.cv.ee
- ***@telia.ee
- ***@prismamarket.ee
- ***@energia.ee
- ***@unitednation.com
- ***@elisa.ee
- ***@fillinvoice.com
- ***@politsei.ee
Please note! For Gmail and Outlook, it is possible to use ‘sent to: [email protected]’ in the inbox search to find messages sent to the aliases. It is then possible to see the emails sent to the specific address.