I’m fascinated about this! What can you tell me about the Estonian alien’s passport?

([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian\_alien%27s\_passport](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estonian_alien%27s_passport))

* Who’s got one or knows someone who’s got one?
* Can anyone get one? Like, if you just rock up and say you want one, will you be denied?
* Wikipedia says you an use it to travel to Russia. Where else accepts this document?
* What else can you tell me that isn’t in Wikipedia?

Thanks in advance!

by oliversisson

10 comments

  2. Itsa shitshow. Soviet occupants were given one. Itsa .. fuuuk at the moment

  3. You can travel with that visa free both in Schengen area and to Russia. All over the Eurasia from Atlantic ocean to Pacific ocean. In that sence very powerful and useful document for those who often visit Russia, because getting Russian visa costs to regular EU citizen 70 euros and month of waiting.

    Those are not issued any more and so number ot those passport holders is decreasing every year.

  4. It was given to Soviet colonists who had come to Estonia illegally. As Estonia restored its independence and we don’t consider ourselves to have been legally part of the Soviet Union, we treat them as the foreigners that they are. Yet Russia treats them as citizens of the former Estonian SSR, that Estonia should have provided automatic citizenship to. A classic case of genocidal empire dictating its rules to countries that don’t want anything to do with that shithole.

  5. I had one in the past. you can travel with it. In Russia and the EU do not need a visa. In other countries you should get visa to travel, but I think it depends of the country. For some visa needed for some not.

  6. I still have one, kept it as a sentimental token and it actually looks kind of cool (Aliens passport has a nice ring to it). It even has a temporary residence permit in it, along with a couple of visas.

  7. 1. I know a few people who have one.
    2. You can renounce your citizenship. And if you have no citizenships remaining then you get that passport. But creation of stateless persons is crime, so states cannot strip you of citizenship if you are going to be left stateless. ( thats why ex ISIS fighters are still UK , etc citizens )
    3. Russia allows visa free travel for for stateless persons born in USSR. The document is international norm, but incredibly rare.
    4. In theory with such a passport no state can deport you. In practice you are going to be in a lot of pain.
    5. This was done so that in the begging nationalist parties would consolidate power. Meaning that in a top down democracy they will remain in power forever.

  8. One thing what Wikipedia doesn’t mention is that when independence was re-established, everyone who voted for Estonian freedom in independence Referendum got Estonian citizenship with no other questions asked, including no need to follow naturalization rules, like knowing language.

    Those Alien passport holders didn’t either bother themselves with Estonians wish for ending occupation, hoped that Soviet Union will return, or voted against independence.

    In that situation, giving them forcefully Estonian citizenship would have been against their own decision and will. Instead they got this temporary document until they will make up their mind in which country they want to live. Now fast forward 30+ years; and some have still not decided do they want to apply for Estonian citizenship or not.

  9. It was fuckup sitution. Both sides Russia and Estonoa actually fuck over people. But we needed to join Nato and Eu thats why some people did not got estonian passportand payback for occupation.I think it was right decision especially what happen others ex-soviets states. Maybe eu should start doing it for immigrants who can not go back home country.

  10. >Can anyone get one? Like, if you just rock up and say you want one, will you be denied?

    Not really. As per [politsei.ee](https://www.politsei.ee/en/instructions/alien-s-passport-for-an-adult), *the alien’s passport is issued to foreigners who have a valid Estonian residence permit or right of residence and it is proved that they lack a travel document issued by a foreign country and it is not possible for them to obtain one*.

    So basically, it’s for very specific circumstances, meant to be a temporary travel document for all the “Soviet citizens” who moved to Estonia during the Soviet occupation. After the USSR collapsed and the occupation ended, it was thought everyone would eventually either return to their original country and apply for that citizenship (e.g. return to Russia and apply for Russian citizenship) or stay here and apply for Estonian citizenship. But alas, as the alien’s passport grants all the benefits most ordinary people care about, plus a few extra ones even Estonian citizens don’t have, such as the ability to travel to Russia without a visa and an exemption from conscript service, an unexpected number of people have chosen to keep it. Keep in mind that they still have the right to apply for an Estonian citizenship at any time.

    Also, starting from 1 January 2016, all children born in Estonia and anyone under the age of 15 at that point would automatically be given Estonian citizenship, no matter what their parents’ citizenship. However, the parents can choose to reject this and apply for their child to have an alien’s passport instead, usually to grant them the same benefits I mentioned above. This is rare, but it does happen. I don’t have current numbers, but [this article](https://www.postimees.ee/3990789/ulevaade-millised-oigused-annaks-halli-passi-omanikele-eesti-kodakondsus) from 2017 mentions minors’ automatic citizenship was rejected by their parent(s) on 25 occasions within the first year of this law.

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