Correct data in the Population Register create preconditions for people to use services smoothly and conveniently
Ministry of the Interior
25 October / Correct residence data in the Population Register have a key role throughout the life of a person – starting from birth registration to assigning a school place, extending a driver’s licence, participating in elections and receiving the necessary support. Correct data allow both the local government and the state to better care for their residents – to plan and provide public services, allocate the necessary benefits, and improve the efficiency of mutual information exchange and cooperation. Nearly 29,000 people have not stated their place of residence data in the Population Register.
According to the Minister of the Interior, Kristian Jaani, people benefit a lot from a correctly registered place of residence. “Correct data in the Population Register play an important role in the convenient organisation of everyday activities and using the necessary services, i.e. throughout the life of a person,” the Minister of the Interior said. Residence data are a basis in assigning a place in a kindergarten and school, receiving social assistance and support, using public transport free of charge, participating in the elections of the heads of the local government, extending a driver’s licence, etc. “Information about the local residence and their distribution in the local government territory allows the state and the local governments to take into account the needs of the local residents and to better care for them. For instance, local governments can provide its people better services, well-maintained roads and beautiful surroundings, while the state can plan the locations of train or bus stops on the basis of the distribution and needs of people,” explained the Minister of the Interior, Kristian Jaani.
Approximately 29,000 people do not have residence data in the Population Register. A place of residence has been terminated on the basis of the respective notice of the owner of the dwelling when the person no longer lives in that dwelling. “The people without residence data probably include many of those who have left Estonia by today but have forgotten to update their data in the Population Register upon their departure. There are several ways to register a place of residence and everyone can choose the one most suitable for them. The easiest way is to register a place of residence via the rahvastikuregister.ee portal, but an application can also be submitted at a city or rural municipality government or by post,” said Enel Pungas, Head of the Population Facts Department of the Ministry of the Interior, inviting people to choose the most suitable method for forwarding data. If a person lives in a foreign country, data can be updated via the rahvastikuregister.ee portal or at the nearest Estonian foreign mission.
In addition to residence data, the Population Register also maintains people’s contact details: e-mail addresses, additional addresses and phone numbers. “Contact details from various state authorities to which people themselves have submitted such data are entered in the Population Register. Therefore, it is extremely important for everyone to take responsibility of keeping an eye on their data and updating these, if necessary. Only this way can we ensure that the necessary information, assistance or support reaches people as quickly as possible. The most convenient way to review and update data is in the e-Population Register at rahvastikuregister.ee,” Pungas added.
Last changed 25.10.2021
