Translation service for beneficiaries of international protection and temporary protection

This information is for you if:
 

• your Estonian language skills are not yet sufficient to access public services. A beneficiary of international protection must learn Estonian and achieve at least B1 level proficiency within five years.
• you have been granted international protection (refugee status or subsidiary protection) or temporary protection.
• you have lived in Estonia for less than two years since receiving protection.
• you need translation services to communicate with state or local government authorities.

The translation service can be used, for example:

• for administrative matters in school or kindergarten (e.g., enrollment, meeting with a teacher, development discussions)
• with a municipal social worker
• at the doctor’s office or hospital
• for translating important documents required by authorities
• for translating agreements important for settling into life in Estonia

The service cannot be used, for example, for changing marital status or residence permit type, visits to a veterinarian, shopping, or beauty services.

Conditions

• You must be a beneficiary of international or temporary protection.
• You can use the service for up to 2 years from receiving protection for the first time.
• The right to use the service is calculated from the date of receiving protection and applies to the entire family. This means that if other family members receive a residence permit later or join the family after that date, the eligibility period will not be extended.
• The service has a financial limit: up to 8 times the subsistence minimum per person, or up to 16 times per family.
• Some institutions (e.g., the police and border guard board in international protection procedures, ENIC/NARIC for evaluation of education documents) provide interpreters themselves.
• You cannot order an interpreter yourself – the service is arranged by the Social Insurance Board after your application is approved.
• Finding an interpreter usually takes up to 15 working days, but if the interpreter is not available at the requested time, please be prepared for the process to take longer.

Application

• Send an email to [email protected].
• In your email, provide:
  • your name and Estonian personal identification code
  • your place of residence (municipality)
  • the reason you need translation services
• If you need oral interpretation, specify:
  • source and target language
  • date, time, and location
  • whether the interpreter must be present on-site or can interpret remotely (by phone, Microsoft Teams)
• If you need written translation, specify:
  • source and target language
  • the content and volume of the document
  • the deadline
• The Social Insurance Board will check whether you are eligible for the service.