Citizens of Estonia and persons with undetermined citizenship staying in Estonia on the basis of a residence permit can apply for a new name.

A new given name and surname shall not be given to a person who has been convicted of an offence provided for in § 141 (2) 1), § 141.1 (2) 1), § 142 (2) 1), § 143 (2) (valid until 15.07.2006) or (2) 1) (valid 16.07.2006- 22.12.2013), § 143.1 (2) 1), § 143.2 (1) or § 144–146 of the Penal Code. Applications submitted by such persons are not processed. Applications submitted by such persons are not processed.

The application can be submitted in the e-population register or physically at the office of the appropriate authority. Applications can be submitted to:
Jõhvi Rural Municipality Government, address: 2 Kooli Street, Jõhvi;
Pärnu City Government, address 16 Suur-Sepa Street, Pärnu;
Tartu City Government, address 12 Tiigi Street, Tartu;
Tallinn Vital Statistics Department, address: 67 Pärnu Road, Tallinn

When submitting a name change application, you can also apply for identity documents with a new name in the pre-application environment.

If the application for new identity documents is submitted when the name change application is filed, please note that the application will be processed only after the new name has been entered into the population register. Until then, the application remains pending.

If you do not submit an application for new identity documents when filing the name change application, you can submit it within 30 days after the new name has been entered into the population register through the self-service portal of the police and border guard board or on the spot.

As a rule, the application for changing your name does not require additional documents. If you would like to rely on a document (for example, you wish to bear the maiden name of you grandmother, but the population register is missing the relevant data), you may add it to the application. The official processing the application may require additional proof for the desired name in the application.
When changing the name of a child, the approval of the other parent who is a legal guardian must be added when submitting the application in an office (corresponding step in the e-service).

A state fee is paid for the name change procedure as follows: 150 euros for changing the given name, 150 euros for changing the last name, and 300 euros for changing both the given name and the last name.

A decision can be made based on the data in the population register if the Names Act does not require a reason or the use of discretion (for example, applying for the surname of a parent if the population register documents the familial connection and the parent bears or has borne the desired surname). Once the online application has been submitted and its compliance with the requirements stipulated in the Names Act has passed an automatic check in the population register and the requirements for making the decision have been met, the Ministry of the Interior makes an automatic decision regarding the name change.

If the Names Act requires a good reason and the use of discretion (for example, a freely chosen surname has been selected or there have been prior name changes), an official will assess the validity of the reason and the possibility of granting the desired name. If necessary, the applicant must submit further evidence or provide clarifications.

When it is possible to make an automated decision, the person changing their name is warned in the e-service that the decision to change the name is made when the state fee is paid and the new name is entered into the population register immediately.

The time for making the decision depends on the complexity of the decision (need for evidence, clarification of circumstances) as well as the organisation of work of the official, the procedures of the Ministry of the Interior, and the Personal Names Committee.

If an application is submitted in the e-population register, then you can cancel the application before paying the state fee, so the application is not submitted.
An application can be withdrawn by informing the authority that has accepted the application for processing:
Jõhvi Rural Municipality Government:

Pärnu City Government:

email

[email protected]

Tallinn Vital Statistics Department:

email

[email protected]

Tartu City Government:

email

[email protected]