Veterinarians who wish to provide veterinary services need to hold a professional activity licence for veterinarians.
Such professional activity licences are without a term and issued by Agriculture and Food Board.
Legal bases
Veterinary activities are governed by:
- the Veterinary Act;
- Statutes of the National Register of Veterinarians (Regulation No. 67 of the Minister of Agriculture of 23 November 2021)
Applying for a professional activity licence
A state fee (€70) must be paid before applying for a professional activity licence.
Applicants for a professional activity licence of veterinarians must have the qualifications of a veterinarian.
Applicants for a professional activity licence need to submit to the Agriculture and Food Board:
- an application;
- a curriculum vitae, including their first name and last name, previous first name(s) and last name(s), personal identification code or, in the absence of a personal identification code, their date of birth and the type and number of their identity document, contact details, country of previous employment, and an overview of professional work experience;
- a copy of the document certifying the qualifications in veterinary medicine;
- a copy of the document certifying professional development, if more than five years have elapsed since obtaining the qualifications in veterinary medicine.
Application for a professional activity licence if the qualifications in veterinary medicine have been obtained in a Member State, a contracting state of the European Economic Area, or Switzerland
Applicants for a professional activity licence who have acquired their qualifications in veterinary medicine in a Member State, a contracting state of the European Economic Area, or Switzerland needs to submit to the Agriculture and Food Board:
- an application;
- a curriculum vitae, including the applicant’s first name and last name, previous first name(s) and last name(s), personal identification code or, in the absence of a personal identification code, their date of birth and the type and number of their identity document, contact details, country of previous employment, and an overview of professional work experience;
- a copy of the document certifying the qualifications in veterinary medicine;
- Details of the European Professional Card, if applicable.
Applying for a professional activity licence if the qualifications in veterinary medicine have been obtained in another foreign country
Applicants for a professional activity licence who have **acquired their qualifications in veterinary medicine in a foreign country (other than a Member State, a contracting state of the European Economic Area, or Switzerland) need to submit to the **Agriculture and Food Board:
- an application;
- a curriculum vitae, including the applicant’s first name and last name, previous first name(s) and last name(s), personal identification code or, in the absence of a personal identification code, their date of birth and the type and number of their identity document, contact details, country of previous employment, and an overview of professional work experience;
- a copy of the document certifying the qualifications in veterinary medicine;
- the veterinary curriculum of the veterinary educational establishment that issued the qualification in veterinary medicine (translated into Estonian by a sworn translator);
- a copy of the document certifying refresher training, if more than five years have elapsed since obtaining the qualifications in veterinary medicine.
Submitting an application for a professional activity licence
- via [the customer portal of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture] (https://portaal.agri.ee/) (authentication of the user with an ID card or Mobile ID is required for using the service);
- signed digitally via email to: [email protected];
- by mail;
- through a notary.
If the application is not submitted via the customer portal of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture, the applicant must additionally submit a declaration that he or she does not have a valid employment contract to work in a general pharmacy, veterinary pharmacy, a wholesale distribution authorisation holder, or a manufacturing authorisation holder in accordance with section 43 (7) of the Medicinal Products Act**.
Paying the state fee
- The state fee for processing an application for a professional activity licence for veterinarians is 70 euros.
- The state fee for processing an application for a certificate of professional activities of a veterinarian is 35 euros.
The state fee is payable to the bank account of the Ministry of Finance with the reference number 2900082278:
- SEB – EE891010220034796011
- Swedbank – EE932200221023778606
- Luminor Bank – EE701700017001577198
If the state fee is paid by a third party, indicate the name of the person the state fee is paid for.
Processing the application
The Agriculture and Food Board processes the application for a professional activity licence and makes a decision to grant or refuse to grant the licence within 20 working days after receiving the documents and information required for making the decision.
If the Estonian University of Life Sciences is required to assess whether the curriculum completed by the applicant complies with the relevant Estonian curriculum, the Estonian University of Life Sciences has an additional 40 working days from the receipt of the documents and data.
Changing registration data
The information in the national veterinary register (including contact details, professional development, etc.) must be updated.
The easiest way to change registration data is via the Customer Portal of the Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture.
Applying for a certificate of professional activities of a veterinarian
A state fee (35 euros) must be paid before applying for a professional activity licence.
If a veterinarian wishes to work outside Estonia, he or she can apply to the Agriculture and Food Board for a certificate confirming his or her professional activity, if necessary.
To apply for a certificate of professional activities, the veterinarian must submit an application to the Agriculture and Food Board with the following information:
- first and last name of the applicant;
- number of the professional activity licence of the applicant;
- country where recognition of the professional qualification is sought;
- a description of professional history.
The application for a certificate may be submitted by the veterinarian in electronic format, signed digitally, or by other such secure means which allow the applicant to be identified.
The Agriculture and Food Board will issue a certificate of professional activities of a veterinarian to the veterinarian within 20 working days of receipt of the application.
Revocation of professional licences
The Agriculture and Food Board revokes the professional activity licence on the following grounds:
- the veterinarian has intentionally submitted false information upon applying for the licence and this information affected the granting of the licence and the licence would not have been granted if the information had not been submitted;
- a judgment depriving the veterinarian of the right to engage in veterinary practice is in force with regard to the veterinarian;
- the veterinarian withdraws his or her professional activity licence at their own request.
- the veterinarian has a valid employment contract for working in a general pharmacy, veterinary pharmacy or at a wholesale distribution authorisation holder or a manufacturing authorisation holder.
- the violation on the basis of which the professional activity licence was suspended has not been remedied by the deadline set in the precept.
The professional activity licence will terminate in the event of the death of the veterinarian.
Supervision
State supervision is exercised by the Agriculture and Food Board.
Contact information
Substantive information:
Agriculture and Food Board
Registry information and technical questions:
Ardo Pakkonen
Agriculture and Food Board, email: [email protected]
Services
Laws
- Riikliku veterinaararstide registri põhimäärus
- Veterinaararsti sobivustesti koostamise, korraldamise ja hindamise ning sobivustesti tulemustest teatamise kord (MeM 01.12.2021 nr 66)
- Veterinary Act
- Medicinal Products Act