You can start by choosing a language and entering your e-mail address, then the system will guide your through the process step-by-step. When you have completed the application an e-mail acknowledgement and visa reference number will be generated.

The completed application has to be printed out, signed and presented to the embassy. Only a signed application is valid for applying for a visa!

Travel agencies can also submit visa applications online, though the printed out applications still need to be signed by the applicant.

If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact the embassy:

Tel: 44 (0) 20 78 38 53 88
Fax: 44 (0) 20 75 89 34 30
Embassy.London@estonia.gov.uk

The foreign minister expressed solidarity with the USA and its diplomats, emphasising that Belarus itself will be responsible for the consequences of its decision. For this reason, Paet called upon Belarus to revoke its short-sighted decision. The foreign minister is certain that the European Union will soon reach a common viewpoint on this issue and will carefully follow developments in the situation.

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On Saturday, May 3rd Estonians join forces in an effort to clean up the 45,227 km² country from illegally dumped or littered waste.

Technology meets volunteerism with the Estonian civic initiative, Teeme Ära 2008, led by one of the Skype inventors, Ahti Heinla, and the founder of Microlink and Delfi, Rainer Nõlvak.

Close to 11,000 waste dumping sites are mapped by special software based on Google Earth, voluntarily developed by team led by Ahti Heinla, now Chief Architect of Skype and one of core-team members of Teeme Ära 2008.

The team uses the combination of three elements:

• software, developed by Ahti Heinla, based on Google Earth;

• positioning software for mobile phones; • mobile phones with GPS-device

to create a very simple to use system which allows them to put all the illegal garbage lying around in the country on the map. Each garbage place has its own ID-number, descriptive data and picture.

“Software provided by Ahti Heinla highlights Estonia’s hi-tech approach in everything we do, with mobile parking, e-taxation and paperless government meetings as prime examples,” said Rainer Nõlvak.

Nõlvak added that this innovative software solution brings the waste removal campaign virtually into your living room as everybody can follow real-time progress how Estonia becomes cleaner.

Each of the illegal dumping sites has an ID code on the map, relevant descriptive data and a photo. Such details make thorough logistics planning possible. The map is located online at: www.teeme2008.ee/kaart

Green shift in the mindset

After the software solution the next step was simple – organize 40,000 people to clean it all up! The organizing team built up the broadest media campaign ever in the country and engaged three percent of Estonia's entire population to drag it all out of the forest on May 3rd.

”Although a massive amount – 10,000 tons, of garbage will be moved in one single day, the real mission of the project is to shift the population's mindset to a more environmentally-conscious way of thinking,” said Rainer Nõlvak.

The population of Estonia is 1.3 million people, so engaging 40,000 people on the clean-up day would be the same as to engage 1.8 million people to participate in such an action directly in Great Britain.

The initiators of the project have set a goal to bring 80% of the collected garbage to recycling. Usual so far in Estonia has been around 10%. This makes it a zero waste management pilot project in Estonia.

Among others, the civic initiative was endorsed by Enterprise Estonia, a foundation for promoting Estonian business environment, international trade and tourism.

Check out our webpage: www.teeme2008.ee (also in English) or contact us:
e-mail: tiina@teeme2008.ee / phone: +372 5904 0404

Estonia’s donation is primarily intended to take care of the basic needs of children and to restore schools and lessons. Hundreds of school buildings were severely damaged or destroyed by the cyclones. Their interiors, along with school supplies, were also ruined.

UNICEF is implementing the education projects “Back-to-School” and “Rehabilitating and increasing the capabilities of local education”, which require a total of 46 million kroons. UNICEF is also implementing programmes intended for children that focus on health care, food supplies, and improving hygienic conditions. Other projects include the construction of temporary homes and camps for victims of the cyclones. 

Madagascar was assaulted by Cyclone Fame from 27-29 January and Cyclone Ivan from 17-19 February. The storms resulted in widespread destruction, and this year’s crops were also lost. There are massive problems with hygiene and drinking water, and there is danger of an epidemic.

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Kosovar Deputy Prime Minister Manaj thanked Estonia in the name of the people of Kosovo for recognising the independence of Kosovo, and expressed his gratitude for the help that Estonia has given to Kosovo since 1999.

According to Foreign Minister Paet, Estonia hopes for rapid normalisation of the situation in Kosovo, as well as in relations between Kosovo and Serbia and the continuation of co-operation  with the EU. Manaj affirmed that Kosovars hold pro-European values and the nation is firmly on the course of integration into the EU.

Kosovo declared its independence on 17 February, and Estonia recognized it on 21 February.

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The Rio de Janeiro honorary consulate operates at the address Rua Benedito Otoni 23, Sao Cristovao, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The honorary consulate can be reached at the number +55 21 22 19 89 52.

Oskar Metsavaht was born in Caxias do Sulis in 1961. He graduated from the University of Rio de Janeiro with a degree in medicine and worked as a sports doctor. Metsavaht has been involved in entrepreneurial endeavours for over 20 years, as he is the owner of the well-known company Osklen, which produces sports clothing in Brazil. Oskar Metsavaht has also been Brazil’s representative in UNESCO and is currently vice chairman of the Association of Entrepreneurial Friends of UNESCO.

Brazil is one of the few countries in South America where Estonia opened an honorary consulate already in the 1930’s. In addition to Oskar Metsavaht, there are two other Estonian honorary consuls in Brazil—Jüri Saukas in the consular region of Sao Paolo and Parana, and Flemming Patrick Rickfors in Santos.

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Estonia has actively contributed to Ottawa Convention efforts in recent years. From 2003-2007, an Estonian rescue team worked to clear mine fields in Afghanistan. In 2006 Estonia was a co-reviewer on the Ottawa Convention’s stockpile destruction committee, and in 2007 Estonia served as co-chairman of the same committee.

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In the meeting with the Canadian foreign minister, topics of discussion included the two nations’ contributions in Afghanistan, the cyber defence centre being set up in Estonia, and the possibility of concluding a youth exchange agreement in the near future.

The ministers emphasised that Estonia and Canada have similarly positive positions when it comes to NATO enlargement and issuing Membership Acton Plans (MAP) to Georgia and Ukraine. Estonia and Canada both contribute to the most complicated regions in the southern part of Afghanistan. The ministers also recognised that Estonia and Canada are united by their long-term presence in Afghanistan. “Collective efforts in a complicated security region are a strong unifying force,” said Paet. The Estonian foreign minister also gave an overview of the Estonian units’ activities in Helmand province and introduced the work of the civil expert who was sent there in early March.

In talking about the NATO cyber security centre that is being established in Estonia, Urmas Paet asked Canada to consider joining the centre.

At the meeting with Georgian Foreign Minister David Bakradze, Georgia’s NATO MAP perspective was discussed. Foreign Minister Paet confirmed that Estonia has always supported issuing a MAP to Georgia. He also emphasised that the Georgian government must guarantee that reforms will continue. According to the foreign minister, “a strong signal must be sent to Georgia during the Bucharest summit. We should inspire them to try even harder to implement the necessary reforms”.

Additional information:
Riia Salsa
Press spokesperson, Permanent Representation of Estonia to NATO
+32 473 800 358

Gurgenidze and Paet felt that in future development co-operation, more attention should be given to small businesses and increasing business-related knowledge. “Improving the quality of leadership and financial skills in small businesses would help to strengthen Georgia’s economy as a whole,” Paet noted. Georgia is one of Estonia’s primary development co-operation partners. Priority areas of co-operation are supporting the educational sector, developing democracy as well as good administrative practices and, and supporting economic development.

Gurgenidze and Paet also talked about Georgia’s NATO perspective. The Estonian foreign minister confirmed that Estonia supports the idea of giving a NATO Membership Action Plan to Georgia during the Buchrest summit. “In any case, Georgia must be given a clear signal during the Bucharest summit, which will encourage the nation to continue its NATO-related endeavours,” the foreign minister added.

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The Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention was adopted in May 2007 and will provide the legal basis for States to remove, or have removed, shipwrecks that may have the potential to affect adversely the safety of lives, goods and property at sea, as well as the marine environment.

According to Ambassador Laidre the Convention, once in force, can fill a gap in the existing international legal framework by providing set of international rules aimed at ensuring the effective removal of wrecks. “Estonia’s will to join the Convention proves that Estonia is a credible partner contributing to the IMO goals of safe navigation and marine environmental protection,” he said.

The Convention is open for signature until 18 November 2008 and, thereafter, will be open for ratification, accession or acceptance. In Estonia it has to be ratified by the parliament.

The Convention will enter into force twelve months following the date on which ten States have either signed it without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval or have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession with the Secretary General of IMO.

Embassy photos on Flickr

Press & Public Affairs Officer
Estonian Embassy in London
Tel: +44(0)20 7838 53 90
Mob: +44(0)7768913554