Welcoming programme’s spring trainings launch in April
The spring season of the Welcoming programme meant for foreigners who have recently arrived in Estonia launches in April. Moving to a new country is an exciting journey, however, full of challenges. For the settling to be as smooth as possible, Estonia offers foreigners to participate in a free welcoming programme.
The programme consisting of different trainings provides foreigners with an overview of the main subjects that they need to know about when settling in Estonia. For example, the trainings introduce the general way of life in Estonia, different aspects of working or doing business, studying or carrying out scientific work in Estonia. There are also courses to teach the basic level of the Estonian language. In addition, the trainings provide foreigners with practical advice regarding settling in Estonia with a family. Altogether, the welcoming programme has seven one-day trainings on various subjects and a two-months Estonian language course. The teaching languages are English and Russian, and the trainings take mostly place in Tallinn, Tartu and Narva.
Who can participate?
All foreigners who have been living in Estonia for less than five years, have received a temporary living permit or hold a temporary residence right (E.g. the citizens of the European Union), are eligible for the free trainings of the welcoming programme.
Support for the employer
A large proportion of the foreigners arriving in Estonia come here for professional purposes. Helping a foreign specialist to settle in Estonia might be challenging for the local businesses for several reason. For example, foreigners may neither be familiar with Estonian working culture, everyday life, rights and obligations nor have any command of the local language. Hence, both businesses that employ foreigners and foreign specialists need some help. The welcoming programme is proving support for the companies by reducing their workload in helping the foreigners to settle in as well as teaching the Estonian language. If a study group is sufficiently large, and in agreement with the tutor, companies may have trainings organised at their premises.
Why participate?
All welcoming programme trainings are free of charge. Trainings are practical; cover many real life examples that enable participants to understand the content better and put it into practice. All trainings take place in an open and supportive learning environment with professional tutors. In addition to gaining new knowledge and experience, participants have a great opportunity to meet new people and start building their Estonian network at the trainings. All trainings are carried out by Expat Relocation Estonia. The welcoming programme is funded by the European Union via the European Social Fund and by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Estonia.
Read more about the welcoming programme: www.settleinestonia.ee
Training calendar
| Time | Subject | Language |
| Starting on Tuesday, April 3rd | Estonian language training | English |
| Starting on Tuesday, April 3rd | Estonian language training | Russian |
| Saturday, April 7th | Basic module – Introduction to life in Estonia | English |
| Sunday, April 8th | Basic module – Introduction to life in Estonia | Russian |
| Saturday, April 21st | Working and entrepreneurship | English |
| Sunday, April 22nd | Working and entrepreneurship | Russian |
| Starting on Tuesday, April, 24th | Estonian language training | English |
| Saturday, May 5th | Family | Russian |
| Saturday, May 5th | Children and youth | Russian |
| Sunday, May 6th | Children and youth | English |
| Sunday, May 6th | Family | English |
| Time | Subject |
| Starting on Monday, April 9th | Estonian language training |
| Saturday, April 14th | Basic module – Introduction to life in Estonia |
| Saturday, April 28th | Working and entrepreneurship |
| Saturday, May 12th | Family |
* All trainings are in English
| Time | Subject |
| Saturday, April 14th | Basic module – Introduction to life in Estonia |
| Starting on Monday, April 23rd | Estonian language training |
| Saturday, April 28th | Working and entrepreneurship |
| Saturday, May 12th | Family |
** All trainings are in Russian
Martin Tulit, Ministry of Interior