Estonia runs online, and banks, buses and e-services expect an Estonian personal code (isikukood) and often a digital ID that a semester student on a D visa does not get. Apply for the code at Tartu Welcome Centre in your first days, pay by card or phone almost everywhere, and expect February to be dark, icy and often below freezing.
Money
Euro (€)
Language
Estonian
Time
UTC+2, UTC+3 from the last Sunday of March
Plugs
Type C and F; 230 V
Tipping
Not expected; rounding up for good service is welcome
112 covers police, ambulance and rescue, and people who cannot speak or hear can text it. For non-urgent questions call the state helpline 1247; for medical advice, 1220.
Set these up before you fly
The essentials that take days to arrange or have to work the moment you land.
Written for students from Azerbaijan first: where a rule depends on nationality, the rule for Azerbaijani citizens is given and labelled.
ADA University · Spring 2027
Universities and places
University of Tartu
Tartu
2 places
Applications for the spring semester run from 1 October to 1 November after nomination by your home university; the Raatuse 22 hostel keeps about 126 rooms for exchange students and opens its queue on a set date, announced 2–3 months ahead.
Places, programmes and the minimum cGPA are from ADA’s list. Confirm them with the Office of Global Outreach and Partners before you apply: exchange@ada.edu.az
Payments & banking3
Cards and phones work almost everywhere; an Estonian bank account is expensive for a D visa holder, so most semester students use an app account with a euro IBAN.
Re
Revolut
App account with a euro IBAN and a card
On arrival
Why you need it: An Estonian bank account costs a D visa holder a non-resident fee, so for one semester an app account with a euro IBAN is usually the cheaper way to pay rent and split bills.
Free, paid extrasVaries by nationalityVaries by residence status
Wait until you have an address in Estonia and your D visa in your passport
Sign up in the app as a resident of Estonia with your passport and a selfie
Upload your D visa if the app asks for proof of residence
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: Azerbaijan is not on Revolut’s list of countries you can sign up from, so try only once you live in Estonia. Non-EEA nationals are asked for a visa or permit valid for at least three more months, so do it early in the semester, and Revolut may not accept a study visa. Approval is not guaranteed; bring a Visa or Mastercard from home too.
Source: help.revolut.com · the provider or a government body · Not yet confirmed at the source; check before relying on it
LH
LHV
Estonian bank with an English-speaking office in Tartu
Optional
Why you need it: If you need an Estonian account, LHV has a documented route for international students and an office in Tartu.
Paid · Non-resident price list: €200 to open and €20 a month for clients outside the EU (2026); card free under 26Varies by residence status
Email your passport, visa and University of Tartu enrolment certificate to nonresident@lhv.ee
Visit the Tartu office with your passport to sign; allow 2–3 working days
Before you rely on itStudents are charged on the non-resident price list, which makes it expensive for one semester. Without an Estonian residence permit card you cannot log in digitally; LHV sells a PIN calculator for €50 instead, and Smart-ID needs an Estonian personal code.
Source: lhv.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Sw
Swedbank
Estonia’s largest bank, with branches in Tartu
Optional
Why you need it: Studying in Estonia counts as a connection to the country, so you can open an account in a branch with your passport and an enrolment certificate.
Paid · €250 processing fee without a residence permit of at least 12 months (2026)Varies by residence statusVaries by nationality
Bring your passport and the original University of Tartu enrolment certificate
Pay the non-resident fee and wait up to two business days for a decision
Before you rely on itA D visa is not a 12-month residence permit, so the €250 fee applies and is not refunded if the bank refuses. For one semester, compare it with an app account first.
Source: swedbank.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Essential apps4
Bolt is Estonian and does taxis and food; banks and state services run on Smart-ID, which needs an Estonian personal code.
Bo
BoltEssential
Taxis, food delivery and, in season, e-scooters
Before departure
Why you need it: Bolt is Estonian and is how people in Tartu order a car home from the station at night or get dinner delivered when it is −15 °C outside.
Install the app and sign up with your phone number before you fly
Add a card that works abroad
Use the Food tab for delivery from Tartu restaurants and shops
Before you rely on itShared e-scooters are a warm-weather service in Estonia: Tallinn has Bolt take its scooters off the streets for winter until the snow has melted, so don’t count on one in Tartu in February either.
Source: news.err.ee · a secondary source · Checked
Wo
Wolt
Delivery from restaurants, supermarkets and shops
Optional
Why you need it: Wolt covers Tartu’s restaurants and grocery stores, which helps in the first days before you know where anything is.
Add a card and order; delivery fees show before you pay
Before you rely on itDelivery and small-order fees add up; for weekly shopping, Rimi, Selver, Maxima and Lidl are cheaper in person.
Source: wolt.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
SI
Smart-ID
Phone login and signature for Estonian banks and e-services
Optional
Why you need it: Estonian banks, the state portal and many services log in with Smart-ID, so if you do open a local bank account, this is how you will use it.
Ask your Estonian bank how to register; without an Estonian ID card, the app’s own routes may not work for you
Before you rely on itIn Estonia, Smart-ID is limited to people with an Estonian personal code. Without an Estonian ID card or residence permit card, many state e-services stay closed to you even with a code.
Source: smart-id.com · the provider or a government body · Checked
IE
ILM+ (Estonian weather service)
Official forecasts and weather warnings, in English
On arrival
Why you need it: In February the difference between −2 °C and −20 °C, or freezing rain, decides what you wear and whether you walk or take the bus.
Before you rely on itIt is run by the Estonian Environment Agency; read the warnings as well as the temperature, because ice and freezing rain matter more on the walk to class than the number.
Source: ilmateenistus.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Transport4
Tartu is compact, with city buses all year and bikes from spring; Elron trains and Lux Express coaches link it to Tallinn and Riga.
TC
Tartu city buses and bus cardEssential
City buses, paid by bank card or a rechargeable bus card
On arrival
Why you need it: Buses are how you get between the bus and train stations, the dorms and Maarjamõisa campus when the pavements are icy, and the cheapest fares go on a bus card.
Paid · Hourly ticket €1.80, 30-day ticket €31.90 for non-residents of Tartu; €3 from the driver (from July 2026)Varies by cityVaries by residence status
For your first ride, tap a contactless bank card or phone on the validator to buy a one-hour ticket
Buy a bus card at an R-Kiosk or shopping centre and register it to your name at tartu.pilet.ee, which is free online and €1 at a ticket office
Load a 30-day or 90-day ticket online at tartu.pilet.ee or at a kiosk, then validate on every boarding
Before you rely on itTartu’s cheaper “Tartlane” prices are for people registered as Tartu residents, so as a D visa holder expect the non-resident fare. Youth discounts (ages 20–26) need a personalised card; ask the Tartu Information Centre whether you qualify without Estonian documents. A bank card only buys a full-price one-hour ticket.
Source: tartu.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
El
ElronEssential
National trains: Tallinn–Tartu, and Tartu–Riga direct
On arrival
Why you need it: The train is the easiest way from Tallinn Airport to Tartu: Tartu trains stop at Ülemiste, a short tram ride or walk from the terminal, and a direct line now runs on to Riga.
Paid · Tartu–Riga €19 online, €22 on board (2026); Tallinn–Tartu fares show in the ticket search
Buy online at elron.pilet.ee or in the Elron app, which is cheaper than buying on board
Board at Ülemiste if you are coming from Tallinn Airport
Keep the ticket on your phone with your ID for inspection
Before you rely on itDomestic student discounts need an ISIC card (a virtual one counts) or an Estonian student card; Riga tickets have a fixed price with no discounts and go on sale online 14 days ahead. A standard-class ticket does not guarantee a seat; first class does.
Source: elron.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
LE
Lux Express
Coaches between Tartu, Tallinn and the rest of the Baltics
Optional
Why you need it: When trains are full or you land late, Lux Express runs frequent Tallinn–Tartu coaches, including late-evening and night departures.
Create an account in the Tartu Smart Bike app or at ratas.tartu.ee
Link a credit card to the account
Unlock a bike with the app or your bus card
Before you rely on itElectric bikes come off the streets when temperatures drop below freezing; in winter only regular bikes run, so expect a thinner fleet in February.
Source: ratas.tartu.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
SIM, eSIM & internet3
Prepaid SIMs cost a few euros in supermarkets and kiosks and need no contract, and campus Wi-Fi is eduroam.
TP
Tele2 prepaid cardEssential
Contract-free SIM sold in supermarkets and kiosks
On arrival
Why you need it: You can buy it in the first Rimi, Selver or Maxima you pass and have a local number the same day, which banks, Bolt and your landlord will ask for.
Paid · Starter packs from €0.95 (1 GB) or €3.95 (5 GB, 300 minutes) for 30 days (2026)
Buy a starter pack at a supermarket, kiosk or Tele2 shop
Insert the SIM; it activates when the phone starts
Top up and pick a data bundle on the Tele2 site or at the till
Before you rely on itThe starter bundle lasts 30 days; after that data is charged at €0.04 a MB until you pick a package, and monthly packages renew only if the card has enough credit, so set a reminder. Check the roaming terms for prepaid cards before trips to other countries.
Source: tele2.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
ST
Super (Telia)
Telia’s prepaid brand, with eSIM through its app
On arrival
Why you need it: Super runs on Telia’s network and can be downloaded as an eSIM in its app, handy if you want a number before you reach a shop.
Buy a starter kit in a shop, or download an eSIM in the Super app
Top up and pick a data package in the app; prices are on the plans page
Before you rely on itEU roaming is at Estonian prices, but packages expire if you stop topping up; check the current plans page before you buy.
Source: super.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Ed
eduroam
Free campus Wi-Fi with your university login
On arrival
Why you need it: University of Tartu buildings and libraries run eduroam, so set it up once and you are online across campus and at other universities you visit.
Download the installer from cat.eduroam.org and choose University of Tartu
Log in as username@ut.ee
Before you rely on itIf your home university is part of eduroam, its login may already work on arrival; switch to the Tartu account once you have it.
Source: wiki.ut.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Visa, registration & legal4
A D visa from an Estonian embassy abroad, insurance for the whole stay, then an isikukood from Tartu Welcome Centre in your first days.
LS
Long-stay (D) visa for studiesEssential
Entry visa for a study stay of more than 90 days
Before departure
Why you need it: A spring semester runs past 90 days, and exchange students are not given a temporary residence permit, so a D visa is the document you study on.
Wait for the University of Tartu admission letter after ADA nominates you
Fill in the D visa form online at eelviisataotlus.vm.ee, print and sign it
Email the embassy that will take your application before you book, then book at broneering.mfa.ee
Apply in person with your passport, photo, insurance, original bank statements, admission letter, housing booking and ticket booking
Before you rely on itFor citizens of Azerbaijan: the Estonian Embassy in Baku does not process D visas, so you can apply at any Estonian embassy that handles visas. The nearest is Tbilisi, which says applicants coming from abroad must contact it by email before booking. The University of Tartu asks you to show about €880 a month, with income for the three months before you apply. Tbilisi decides within 30 days, usually 7–10, and wants foreign official documents translated into English and apostilled or legalised.
Source: ut.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
HI
Health insuranceEssential
Medical cover of at least €30,000, required for the D visa
Before departure
Why you need it: The embassy will not issue a D visa without a policy for the whole stay, and as a visa holder you are not covered by Estonia’s public health insurance.
PaidVaries by nationalityVaries by residence status
Buy a policy covering at least €30,000 for the full validity of the visa
Make sure it pays for treatment of illness and injury in Estonia and the Schengen area
Bring a copy to the visa appointment and keep the policy number on your phone
Before you rely on itWithout Estonian public insurance (Tervisekassa) you pay a clinic directly and claim back, so check how your insurer handles payments before you need a doctor.
Source: ut.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
IP
Isikukood (personal identification code)Essential
The 11-digit Estonian code that unlocks local services
On arrival
Why you need it: D visa holders do not get one automatically, but the University of Tartu strongly advises it: banks, Smart-ID and many services ask for it.
Fill in the application for a personal identification code in advance, in capital letters (form on the Tartu city page)
Take it with your passport to Tartu Welcome Centre, Ülikooli 17, or the population register office at Küüni 5
Give the code to the University of Tartu if it does not appear in SIS automatically
Before you rely on itIt is a number, not an ID card: as a D visa holder you do not get an Estonian ID card, so e-services that need one stay closed. The code itself does not give you any right to stay.
Source: ut.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
TW
Tartu Welcome Centre
City office for your ID code and newcomer questions
On arrival
Why you need it: It is where Tartu’s exchange students get their isikukood and ask about doctors, housing and paperwork, in English, in one place.
Go to Ülikooli 17 in the centre with your passport
Check the opening hours first: Monday to Friday 9:00–16:00, Thursday until 18:00
Before you rely on itRules on registering your place of residence differ for visa and residence-permit holders, so ask here whether you need to; the Küüni 5 population register office also issues codes and takes booked appointments.
The Raatuse 22 Student Hostel keeps rooms for exchange students but offers them in order of application, so apply the day the queue opens.
R2
Raatuse 22 Student HostelEssential
The dorm with rooms set aside for University of Tartu exchange students
Before departure
Why you need it: About 126 rooms here are kept for one- and two-semester exchange students, offers go in order of application, and the D visa needs a housing booking, so applying the day the queue opens matters.
Paid · €276 a month for a place in a shared twin room, €431 for a twin room alone; deposit of two months’ rent (from July 2026)Varies by university
Watch the site for the spring application date, announced 2–3 months before the queue opens
Apply online on the opening day; applications sent earlier are cancelled
Pay the deposit invoice within 7 calendar days of the offer
Collect keys at Raatuse 22 reception, open 24 hours, from your contract start date
Before you rely on itA room is not guaranteed. You pay rent for the whole agreement even if you leave early, the deposit is returned in full (minus bank fees) only if you cancel before the contract starts, and a booking is cancelled if you do not arrive within 14 days. Rent includes utilities, Wi-Fi, bedding and cleaning.
Why you need it: If the hostel has no room for you, these are the sites Tartu landlords use, and sharing a larger flat with other students is how most people keep the cost down.
Cost varies · About €350–750 a month for a private flat, according to Study in Estonia (2026)Varies by city
Search kv.ee and city24.ee for Tartu, filtering for short leases
Ask your Tartu tutor or a local student to look at the flat and the contract with you
Pay nothing before you have seen the flat or someone you trust has
Before you rely on itStudy in Estonia warns that rents can be inflated for foreigners and says to expect up to three months’ rent paid upfront. Many landlords prefer long leases, which are hard to fit into one semester.
Source: studyinestonia.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Student life4
Arrive on 3 February 2027 for orientation, register your courses in SIS within two weeks, and use ISIC as your student card.
UO
University of Tartu orientation courseEssential
Two days of briefings for new international students
On arrival
Why you need it: It covers migration, health care, safety and study rules in one go, and it is where you meet the other exchange students in your first week.
Attend on 4–5 February 2027 at the Jakobi 2 study building
Register in advance for the activities that ask for it, such as museum tours
Before you rely on itIf you arrive late, collect the welcome bag from Tartu Welcome Centre at Ülikooli 17 and ask the international office what you missed.
Source: ut.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
SS
SIS (Study Information System)Essential
Course registration, timetables and grades
On arrival
Why you need it: Your learning agreement is only real once the courses are registered in SIS, and first-semester students have two weeks from the start of term to do it.
Activate the University of Tartu username the IT department sends before term
Log in to SIS and register for the courses in your learning agreement
Check the university email (firstname.lastname@ut.ee) every day: official messages go there
Before you rely on itThe registration deadline is two weeks after term starts; ask your Tartu coordinator about any change after it. Compare course codes with the ADA learning agreement before you confirm.
Source: ut.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
IS
ISIC student card
The student card Estonia uses for discounts
On arrival
Why you need it: The University of Tartu does not issue a physical student card, so ISIC is how you prove you are a student, including for Elron’s student fares.
Paid · €8.50 (2026)Varies by residence statusVaries by university
Wait until you appear in SIS as a University of Tartu student
Order it through the EDUID environment linked from isic.ee; your status is checked against the Estonian education database
If the order will not go through without an Estonian personal code, ask the university’s international office
Before you rely on itBanks issue ISIC-design cards too, but only to their own clients. Rules for exchange students differ between Estonian universities, and an ISIC alone may not lower your Tartu bus fare, which depends on age and residence.
Source: ut.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
ET
ESN Tartu
Student network for trips, events and the ESN card
Optional
Why you need it: ESN runs the trips and parties where exchange students meet, and the ESN card gives discounts that suit a one-semester budget.
Follow ESN Tartu’s channels from the university’s arrival page
Buy the card at Pikk 20, room 206, on Tuesday or Thursday evenings, 19:30–20:30
Before you rely on itOffice hours may change during the semester; check the latest before you go.
Source: ut.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Communication & language3
Estonian is the official language and English is widely spoken in Tartu; Russian is common in Tallinn and the north-east.
NT
Neurotõlge (TartuNLP translator)
Estonian machine translation built at the University of Tartu
On arrival
Why you need it: For leases, letters from the city and bank terms in Estonian, a translator trained on Estonian is a good second opinion next to Google Translate, and it also translates into Russian.
Paste the text and pick only the target language; it detects the source
Before you rely on itMachine translation is fine for understanding a document, not for signing one: ask for an English version of any contract.
Source: kratid.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Sõ
Sõnaveeb
The Estonian Language Institute’s free dictionary
Optional
Why you need it: Estonian words change form a lot, and Sõnaveeb finds the base word from the form you saw on a sign, with English and Russian equivalents and a learner version.
Use the language learner version (Keeleõppija Sõnaveeb) for simpler entries
Before you rely on itIt is a dictionary, not a translator for whole sentences.
Source: sonaveeb.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Ke
Keeleklikk
Free online Estonian course for beginners (0–A2)
Before departure
Why you need it: A few weeks of Keeleklikk before you fly gives you greetings, numbers and shop Estonian, and the course is taught through English or Russian.
Create an account and choose English or Russian as the course language
Do a lesson a day from December
Before you rely on itEnglish is widely spoken in Tartu, especially at the university, so the course is for courtesy, signs and labels rather than survival.
Source: keeleklikk.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Words for the first week
Tere!
Hello (any time of day)
AitähAI-tah
Thank you
Palun
Please; also “here you are” and “you’re welcome”
Vabandust
Sorry; excuse me
Jah / Eiyah / ay
Yes / No
Kas te räägite inglise keelt?kas te RAA-gi-te ING-li-se kelt
Do you speak English?
Kui palju see maksab?
How much does this cost?
Ma ei saa aruma ay saa A-ru
I don’t understand
Väljapääs / SissepääsVAL-ya-paas / SIS-se-paas
Exit / Entrance
Head aega!heh-ad AI-ga
Goodbye
Emergency & safety4
112 for police, ambulance and fire; 1220 for medical advice; the Embassy of Azerbaijan is in Tallinn.
EO
Embassy of Azerbaijan in EstoniaEssential
Lost passports, consular help and emergencies for citizens
Before departure
Why you need it: If your passport is lost or stolen in Estonia, the embassy in Tallinn is who issues a replacement document, and its hotline is the number to call in a crisis.
Save the hotline +372 5360 6698 and the consular line +372 640 5056 (weekdays 14:00–17:00)
Note the address: Pirita tee 20/2, Tallinn, a long day trip from Tartu
Book consular appointments through the embassy’s electronic appointment system
Before you rely on itNot from Azerbaijan? Your own embassy’s page is the one to save.
Source: mfa.gov.az · the provider or a government body · Checked
ER
Emergency Response Centre (112)
One number for police, ambulance and rescue
Before departure
Why you need it: 112 is the only number you need for police, ambulance or fire in Estonia, and the 1247 state helpline answers non-urgent questions round the clock.
Learn your Tartu address in Estonian spelling, to give it on the phone
Before you rely on itPeople with hearing or speech impairments can text 112 in English, Estonian or Russian; messages from numbers registered for the SMS service arrive fastest. 1247, the state helpline, is free and open 24 hours, for situations that are not emergencies.
Source: 112.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
FD
Family doctor advice line (1220)
Medical advice by phone, day and night
On arrival
Why you need it: As an exchange student you will not have an Estonian family doctor, so 1220 is how you ask whether a fever or an injury needs a clinic, in English or Russian.
Save 1220, and +372 634 6630, the number for calling it from abroad, in case the short number does not connect on a foreign SIM
Call 112 instead if it is life-threatening
Before you rely on itOpen 24 hours in Estonian and Russian; English daily 9:00–17:00. Your operator may charge the standard rate for a service number. It cannot prescribe antibiotics or strong painkillers.
Source: terviseportaal.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
TU
Tartu University Hospital emergency department
Emergency care for acute illness, injuries and poisoning in Tartu
Optional
Why you need it: If you slip on the ice and need an X-ray, this is where you go in Tartu; bring your passport and insurance policy.
Cost variesVaries by cityVaries by residence status
Show your passport and insurance policy at reception
Before you rely on itWithout Estonian public insurance you may be billed, so keep the receipt and claim from your insurer. For anything life-threatening, call 112 rather than travelling yourself.
Source: kliinikum.ee · the provider or a government body · Checked
Culture & practical tips
Quiet, punctual and reserved at first; the dark, the ice and the sauna shape everyday life in winter.
01February days are short and icy
In early February it is dark by late afternoon and pavements are often icy. Bring winter boots with a real grip, a hat and gloves, and buy shoe spikes locally if you walk a lot.
02Wear a reflector after dark
Estonians pin a small reflector (helkur) to coats and bags, and on unlit roads pedestrians are required to wear one in the dark. Supermarkets sell them for a euro or two.
03Return bottles for cash
Most drinks bottles and cans carry a deposit. Feed them into the machines at supermarket entrances and you get a voucher for the till.
04Alcohol sales stop at 22:00
Shops do not sell alcohol between 22:00 and 10:00, so a late supermarket run will not include a bottle of wine.
05Sauna is social, and taken seriously
Saunas are everywhere, from dorm basements to lakeside huts. Shower first, sit on a towel, and expect people to be quiet and matter-of-fact about it.
06Silence is not unfriendliness
Estonians tend to be reserved with strangers and comfortable with silence, and small talk is short. People warm up once they know you; be punctual and direct.
07Shoes off at the door
In homes and many dorm rooms you take your shoes off at the entrance, which makes sense with snow and grit outside. Bring slippers.
0824 February is Independence Day
It is a public holiday, with flags, a parade in one city and a reception broadcast in the evening. Offices close, so do not plan paperwork for that day.
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