Upon arrival in prison, a personal account is opened for the prisoner, referred to as a 'personal account'. This account receives earned wages as well as money sent by relatives, and the prisoner can use it to make payments. Cash is not permitted in prison. Opening the personal account takes some time, but the prisoner will receive the account number and instructions on when the account can be used. 

If financial claims have been made against the prisoner, 50% of the funds received into the personal account will be used to repay debts and 20% will be transferred to the release fund. The remaining money may be used by the prisoner for purchases from the prison e-shop or for paying for services. If there are no financial claims against the prisoner, 70% of the funds received into the personal account will be transferred to the release fund and the remaining money may be used while in prison. Once the release fund has reached its maximum amount, the prisoner may decide whether to continue transferring part of their money into the release fund or to use it while in prison.

A short-term visit is permitted at least once a month. The visit may last up to three hours and takes place in the prison visiting room, which may be separated by glass. A short-term visit takes place on the basis of a written application submitted either by the prisoner or the visitor. The visitor may submit the application by telephone or digitally. Following approval of the application, the prison confirms the visiting schedule and informs the parties involved. Each prison has its own procedure for submitting visit applications.

A long-term visit is permitted at least once every six months. A long-term visit takes place in designated facilities on prison premises and generally lasts for one day (24 hours). A long-term visit is permitted only on the basis of an application submitted by the prisoner. Long-term visits are permitted only with the de facto spouse, spouse, father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, child, adoptive parent, adopted child, step-parent or foster parent, stepchild or foster child, brother, or sister of the prisoner.

Contact numbers and email addresses for visits:

• Viru Prison – telephone 663 7946 (Tuesday to Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.), [email protected]
• Tartu – telephone 7500 839 (Tuesday 8.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m., Wednesday 2 p.m. – 4 p.m., Thursday 8.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.), [email protected]
• Tallinn – telephone 612 7593 (Monday 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.; Friday 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.), [email protected]

A video meeting is permitted at least once a month and only on the basis of an application submitted by the prisoner. The meeting takes place through the video call portal. The application must be submitted electronically through the Prisoner Portal (VaPo) at least ten working days before the requested meeting date.

The video call portal is used to enable prisoners to communicate with relatives. These meetings are primarily intended for situations where an in-person visit is not possible or is difficult, for example due to long distances, health reasons, or other restrictions. Only the prisoner may submit an application for a video call. The application must be submitted electronically through the Prisoner Portal (VaPo) at least ten working days before the requested meeting date.

Letters sent to prison may include postage stamps, photographs, envelopes, and/or postcards. All other deliveries are classified as parcels and are subject to parcel delivery conditions. The envelope must include the prison address and the name of the prisoner. Letters arriving at the prison are delivered to the prisoner within seven working days. Outgoing letters are posted within three working days from the moment the letter is handed to a prison officer.

Communication with relatives is an important part of reintegration of a prisoner into society. Relatives cannot contact prisoners directly by telephone, but prisoners are allowed to make outgoing calls from prison. Upon arrival at prison, 1 euro is credited to the calling card of a prisoner, allowing approximately 10–20 minutes of conversation time. After that, additional funds must be added to the calling card.

"In order to verify identity and ensure legal validity, all written communications to the prison must be submitted digitally signed (in free form).

When contacting the prison, please include the following in your email:

• the first name and surname of the sender, or the name of the legal entity/institution;
• the contact details (postal or email address, telephone number) of the sender through which we can contact the sender;
• the purpose or request of the communication (as detailed as possible, in order to provide a meaningful response).

Response deadlines are calculated from the working day following registration of the communication, as follows:

• requests for information involving the issue of a document or extract will be answered within five working days at the latest;
• requests for clarification requiring analysis or additional information gathering will be answered within 15 calendar days at the latest;
• memoranda containing information or proposals concerning the organisation of the institution's work or the development of the field will be answered within 15 calendar days at the latest;
• applications and petitions containing a request or appeal will be answered within 30 calendar days at the latest.

If you have any questions, you may also contact us through the general telephone numbers. Information related to personal data is not provided by telephone, as identity cannot be verified over the phone. General contact details for prisons: 

• Tallinn Prison: 612 7539 (Mon–Fri 8 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.); [email protected]
• Tartu Prison: 7500802 (Mon–Thu 8 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m.– 3 p.m.); [email protected]
• Viru Prison: 663 7840 (Mon–Thu 8 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.; Fri 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.), [email protected]

A victim has the right to request and receive information from the prison about the prisoner who committed the offence against them, if a restraining order has been applied to the prisoner and/or the prisoner has been convicted of offences set out in chapters 9 or 11 of the Penal Code. The victim has the right to receive information about the start of the sentence, compliance with obligations set out in the court decision, and the execution of the prison sentence, excluding sensitive personal data.

• Prison Act
• Prison Internal Regulations

• Estonian Courts
• Republic of Estonia Prosecutor's Office