Aliens Employed Temporarily Can Sign Up to A Family Physician’s Practice List

The Ministry of Social Affairs has prepared a draft that will allow aliens who are staying in Estonia under temporary right to stay, e.g. short-term workers to sign up to a practice list of a family physician.

According to the valid Health Services Organisation Act, only aliens staying in Estonia under a residence permit can sign up to the family physician’s practice list. Thus, in case if an alien is staying and working in Estonia based on short-term employment registration, they cannot sign up to the practice list. The practice list cannot be signed up to even if an employer has paid social tax on the employee. It is not clear if and from where such employee should obtain general medical assistance, including when they need to start a sick leave.

The Chamber of Commerce considers it very positive that the Ministry has finally started to clarify this unclarity.

The Ministry is planning to enter the amendments related to signing up to a practice list of a family physician into force on 1 April 2022.