A social rehabilitation service is a set of rehabilitative services provided based on an activity plan, rehabilitation plan, or rehabilitation programme created during the identification of the need for the service.
A disabled person has the right to request that the state assume the obligation to pay for the service. The Social Insurance Board concludes a contract with a service provider with an activity licence to assume the obligation to pay the fee from the person.
The activity licence is issued for an unspecified term by the Social Insurance Board.
Legal bases
The activities of a provider of rehabilitation services are governed by:
- the Social Welfare Act;
- the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act;
- the Child Protection Act;
- Regulation No 66. of the Minister of Social Protection of 21 December 2015 ‘Establishment of the list and prices of the services provided within the framework of the social rehabilitation service, the procedure for calculating the fee to be assumed and the maximum amount in one year, and the procedure for the reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses, the maximum cost, and the rate of travel expenses, and the evaluation criteria of the rehabilitation programme’;
- Regulation No. 69 of the Minister of Social Protection of 21 December 2015 ‘The list of data necessary to determine the need for the service and to provide the service when the state assumes the obligation to pay for the social rehabilitation service’.
Requirements for the applicant
To obtain an activity licence, you must meet the following conditions:
- you must have an assessment by the Health Board regarding the compliance of the place of provision of the service with health requirements;
- you must have a certificate from the Estonian Rescue Board certifying that the place where the service is provided complies with fire safety requirements;
- you must have guaranteed access to the place where the service is to be provided in accordance with the requirements established under subsection 11 (4) of the Building Code;
- you must have formed a rehabilitation team in compliance with the requirements provided in section 68 of the Social Welfare Act;
- the person directly providing the service must meet the requirements laid down in section 68 of the Social Welfare Act;
- you must have an internal complaint resolution procedure in place;
pursuant to section 20 of the Child Protection Act when providing services to children- a person who has been punished or to whom coercive treatment has been imposed for a criminal offence provided for in sections 89–93, 95–112, 113, 114, 116, 1181, 133–1333, 141–1451, 175–179, or 187 of the Penal Code, the information concerning punishment of which has not been deleted from the criminal records database according to the Criminal Records Database Act or the information concerning punishment of which has been deleted from the criminal records database and entered in the archives of the criminal records database, may not act a person working with children;
- the restriction applies also to persons who have been punished before entry into force of the Penal Code for acts qualified under sections 100–102, 115–117, subsection 118 (2), sections 200, 2003, 202, 2022, 2024, or clause 2026 (3) 1) or 2) of the Penal Code and also to persons who have been punished for equal criminal offences committed in a foreign state;
- a person who has been punished or to whom coercive treatment has been imposed for a criminal offence provided for in sections 118, 1191, 121, 122, 125, clause 134 (2) 2), section 135, subsection 136 (2), clause 1381 (2) 2), subsection 140 (2), sections 1531, 171–174, 180–182, 1821, 185, clause 195 (2) 2), sections 200, 214, subsection 215 (3), sections 237–2373, 244, 246, clause 251 (3) 3), section 263, clause 266 (2) 2), sections 274, 2901, 291, 302, 303, 312, 322, 323, subsection 327 (3), sections 403–405 or 435 of the Penal Code, the information concerning punishment of which has not been deleted from the criminal records database according to the Criminal Records Database Act, may not act as a person working with children;
- a person who enables working with children or the issuer of a relevant activity licence is required to verify compliance with the restrictions provided upon the employment of a person or issue of an activity licence. A person who enables working with children is required to verify the compliance of the person working with children at least once in 12 months, unless a notification on the change in the person’s punishment data is transmitted automatically. In the case of a legal person, compliance with the requirements provided for in this subsection shall be organised by the legal representative of the legal person, who may also re-delegate this obligation. If the organisation of compliance with the requirements has been re-delegated by the legal representative of the legal person, the person to whom the obligation has been delegated shall be liable for the organisation of compliance with the requirements;
- you ensure that the accommodation is provided in an environment that meets the requirements for a hospital, at least the requirements for a visitor’s apartment from the requirements for accommodation services established on the basis of subsection 19 (4) of the Tourism Act, or the health protection requirements established for social welfare institutions on the basis of the Public Health Act;
- the application must be accompanied by a copy of the document certifying the right of representation of the person who signed the application (unless their right of representation is verified in the business register);
- you are not subject to liquidation proceedings, a decision to dissolve, or a declaration of bankruptcy;
- you have paid the state fee.
Professional qualifications of workers
If you want to employ a worker who has acquired a qualification abroad or has (professional) experience abroad, the worker must apply for the recognition of their professional qualifications in Estonia. A professional qualification obtained abroad does not necessarily automatically meet the conditions set in Estonia. The certificate is issued by the Estonian ENIC/NARIC Centre, email: [email protected].
See which professions are subject to recognition.
For the recognition of professional qualifications and more information, please contact the Social Insurance Board.
Cross-border operation
When operating in Estonia, a foreign economic operator must comply with the same requirements as a national economic operator.
Filling in and submitting an application
To obtain an activity licence, you must submit an application by logging in to the register of economic activities (authentication is required to use the service). The application must contain the following information:
- name, registry code, and contact details of the economic operator (telephone number, email address, and postal address);
- name of the field of activity in accordance with the Social Welfare Act (rehabilitation services) and the EMTAK code (88101 Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabled);
- the desired period of validity of the licence, if you want the period of validity of the licence to be limited;
- the date on which economic activities in the field will commence, if different from the date of notification of economic activities;
- the place of business;
- the list of services provided by you within the framework of the rehabilitation service (service code and name in accordance with Annex 1 to Regulation No. 66 of the Minister of Social Protection of 21 December 2015 ‘Establishment of the list and prices of the services provided within the framework of the social rehabilitation service, the procedure for calculating the fee to be assumed and the maximum amount in one year, and the procedure for the reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses, the maximum cost, and the rate of travel expenses, and the evaluation criteria of the rehabilitation programme’);
- information about the rehabilitation team specialists: – name, personal identification code, contact details, and data in the Social Welfare Act and the Child Protection Act;
- details of the rehabilitation programme to be provided, which must be approved by the Social Insurance Board, in accordance with the data fields of the application, including a description or summary of the programme in accordance with the form (from 17 April 2025 the Social Insurance Board will not approve the rehabilitation programme and will not accept applications for the programme);
- the name and contact details (telephone number and email address) of the person who signed the application and, in the case of a legal person, the basis for the power of representation (member of the management board or an authorisation).
The following additional documents must also be submitted:
- a copy of the document certifying the right of representation of the person who signed the application (unless their right of representation is verified in the register card of the business register);
- a certificate from the Estonian Rescue Board confirming that the premises where the service is provided comply with fire safety requirements;
- an assessment by the Health Board regarding the compliance with health requirements of the premises where the service is provided;
- a copy of the document certifying the education or qualification of the rehabilitation team specialists, if it is not entered in the Estonian Education Information System (EHIS) or the professional register;
- a description or summary of the rehabilitation programme in accordance with the form;
- a confirmation that the person working with children has no criminal record in other countries.
The service provider or the person themselves can submit a request for the verification of the person’s background via the Centre of Registers and Information Systems (indicate the name, personal identification code, foreign country where the person has resided or stayed for a longer period). If the person has not resided or worked abroad, it is sufficient for the applicant to submit a written confirmation with the activity licence, stating the following: I hereby certify that the following persons (names, personal identification codes) working directly with children at (company name) have not resided or worked abroad. The described confirmation entitled ‘Criminal record check abroad’ can be attached to the activity licence documents. The statement is digitally signed by a representative of the company or the owner.
Please pay the state fee before submitting an application.
You can submit your application:
- in the register of economic activities (authentication is required prior to using the service)
- by signing the application digitally and emailing it to [email protected]
- by post to the Social Insurance Board at Paldiski maantee 80, 15092 Tallinn
- through a notary.
Paying the state fee
Before submitting the application for an activity licence, the applicant must pay a state fee of 100 euros to the account of the Ministry of Finance, indicating the reference number 2900082414 and the explanation ‘riigilõiv rehabilitatsiooniteenuse teenuse tegevusloa taotlemisel’.
The state fee can be paid to:
- SEB – EE891010220034796011
- Swedbank – EE932200221023778606
- LHV Bank – EE777700771003813400
- Luminor Bank – EE701700017001577198
You do not need to submit a payment order.
Processing the application
The Social Insurance Board verifies the accuracy of the data and documents submitted by the applicant for the activity licence and issues the activity licence or refuses to issue the licence within 30 calendar days from the date of submission of the application. If, upon the issue of an application, it is found that the requirements for applying for an activity licence have not been met, the deadline for making a decision regarding the application may be suspended until the deficiency has been remedied, but for not more than 30 days, by informing the applicant thereof.
The activity licence is issued for an indefinite period unless the applicant applies for a licence for a limited period. The issuer of the licence enters the data in the register of economic activities not later than on the working day following the date of the decision on issuing the licence. When data is entered in the register, amended, or declared invalid, the registrar will send an automated message to your email address containing a reference to the data entered in the register, amended, or declared invalid, and, if based on an administrative act, a reference to its contestability.
The Social Insurance Board checks the accuracy of the data and documents, and issues the licence.
If the applicant fails to submit the required data or documents with the application or if there are other deficiencies in the application, the issuer of the activity licence notifies the applicant no later than on the working day following the day on which the deficiency is identified, stating the data which has not been submitted and setting a reasonable time limit for its submission. If the required data is not provided by the deadline, the Social Insurance Board may reject the application. The activity licence is usually issued for an indefinite period unless you applied for a licence for a limited period.
Modification of the terms of an activity licence
During the period of validity of the licence, the substitute care service provider must notify the issuer of the activity licence if:
- the place of provision of service changes;
- the rehabilitation team specialist or their qualifications change;
- there are changes to other provisions of the Social Welfare Act.
The issuer must be informed of any planned changes to the provision of the service at least 30 days before the planned change.
The service provider must notify the Social Insurance Board immediately, but within five working days at the latest, of any change in the subject of review of the licence (e.g. an immediate service provider leaving the service or a new one joining the service provider) or in the secondary conditions (e.g. a change in the number of places or in the place of service provision) that occurs independently of the holder of the activity licence.
An application to modify an activity licence is resolved by the Social Insurance Board in accordance with the procedure for issuing activity licences. If the notification reveals that the changes result in non-compliance with the requirements for rehabilitation services included in the subject of review of the licence or with the secondary conditions, as well as the need to verify the requirements for rehabilitation services, to amend the activity licence, or to apply for a new activity licence, the Social Insurance Board will immediately notify the service provider thereof.
Suspension of an activity licence and termination of economic activity
A notice of renouncement of economic activities and an application for the termination of economic activities can be submitted:
- in the register of economic activities (authentication is required prior to using the service);
- by signing the application digitally and emailing it to [email protected];
- by sending the signed application by post to the Social Insurance Board at Paldiski maantee 80, 15092 Tallinn;
- through a notary.
If the holder of the licence wishes to terminate the economic activity specified in the licence, they must submit an application to the issuer of the activity licence to revoke the activity licence, indicating in the application the date of termination of the activity specified in the licence.
The following are also considered to have completely renounced their economic activity:
- an undertaking which has not fulfilled the statutory obligation to submit an annual report within six months of the expiry of the deadline for fulfilling that obligation;
- a self-employed person who has not fulfilled the statutory obligation to submit an income tax return within six months of the expiry of the deadline for fulfilling that obligation.
Revocation of an activity licence
The issuer of the activity licence revokes an activity licence in the following situations:
- the holder of the activity licence renounces the economic activity; the holder of the activity licence has intentionally provided false information when applying for the activity licence, which affected the granting of the licence and if such information had not been submitted, the activity licence would not have been issued;
- the holder of the activity licence has been subject to a relevant prohibition on economic activities imposed by a court judgment or arising from law in a relevant area of activity in respect of the undertaking, except for the validity of a prohibition on economic activities imposed pursuant to the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act.
The issuer of the activity licence may revoke the activity licence if:
- requested by the licence holder;
- the holder of the activity licence has not commenced the activities specified in the licence within two years of the date of issue of the licence;
- there is a material breach of the requirements for rehabilitation services or of the secondary conditions of the activity licence;
- the activity specified in the activity licence has caused significant damage or danger to public order, which was not known at the time of granting the activity licence and which overrides the interest of the holder of the licence in continuing the activity and which cannot be eliminated;
- the secondary conditions of the licence are amended.
The activity licence becomes invalid if:
- the term of the activity licence which was granted for a specified term has expired;
- the self-employed person dies or the undertaking which is a legal person is liquidated, transformed, merged, or divided, except in the case of the transfer of the activity licence.
If an activity licence is revoked, the Social Insurance Board will also terminate the contract with you to assume the obligation to pay for rehabilitation services.
Supervision
National supervision of the compliance with the requirements laid down in the legislation on rehabilitation services is carried out by the Social Insurance Board.
Contact information
Substantive information
Tiiu Pärnmäe
Social Insurance Board, phone: 620 8346, email: [email protected]
Registry information and technical questions
Register of Economic Activities, phone: 668 7080, email: [email protected]