Conceptual framework

Regulation of the Minister of the Interior

Welcoming programme

May2014

Table of Contents

Regulation

Purpose

Objective of the adaptation programme

Target group

Definitions

Adaptation (kohanemine)

New arrivals

Welcoming programme for foreign nationals

Entering a foreign national in the adaptation programme

Entering a foreign national in the adaptation programme by the Police and Border Guard Board

Questions

Structure and components of the adaptation programme

Adaptation programme modules

Volume of the adaptation programme

Language of instruction and methodology

General competence requirements for people who have passed the adaptation programme

Requirements of the adaptation programme

Language training

Explanatory memorandum

Background

Examples of adaptation programmes in other EU Member States

Preparation of the Regulation on the adaptation programme

Annex 1

Annex 2

Regulation

Purpose

The purpose of the Regulationon the welcoming programme is

  1. to define the objective of the welcoming programme;
  2. to establish the procedure for entering a foreignerin the welcoming programme and the procedure and conditions for participating in the programme;
  3. to establish uniform requirements regarding the content and structure ofwelcoming programme offered to new arrivals, regardless of the legal status of the provider of the programme.

Objective of the adaptation programme

The objective of the welcoming programme is to support the migration process of the newly arrived immigrants (=new arrivals) byacquainting themwith matters related to the functioning of the state and society, organisation of daily life, working, studying and family life, and to promote acquiring basic Estonian language skills.

Target group

Legally immigrated foreign nationalswho have lived in Estonialess than five years constitute the target group. The reasons for immigration vary and include all the bases for granting a residence permit under the Estonian Aliens Act, the bases for staying in the country under the Citizen of the European Union Act and the bases for granting a residence permit under the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens.

The direct target group of the adaptation programme does not include:

-foreign nationals children under 3 years of age;

Definitions

Adaptation (kohanemine)is a process whereby new arrivals who have (re)located to a country adjust to the new environment and the host society. The process is characterised by acquiring knowledge and skills that help to function in the new environment in the domains of daily life (finding a place of residence, putting children to school or kindergarten, taxes, health and social services, signing up for language classes, etc.), the state (organisation of society, legislation, functioning principles of the state, rights and obligations of citizens of other countries, matters regarding residence permits and right of residence, etc.) andcultural issues (basic understanding of the principal values and cultural traditions of the host society, basic language training, etc.).

Theoretically, adaptation process (kohanemine)may be linked to the first phase of integration (lõimumine)[1] (see Figure 1), but in practical policy making adaptation precedes integration, i.e. it constitutes a basic settling into daily life that, while contributing to practical coping, might not ensure successful integration into the host society.

Short definition:a process whereby new arrivals acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for coping in the host society.

Figure 1

Newly arrived immigrants (new arrivals)are legally immigrated foreign nationals who have resided in Estonia less than five years.

Welcoming programme is an action plan supporting the adaptation of new arrivals which contains a basic information training module[2]on Estonian society, culture and state (plus on the functioning of the European Union and on the rights and obligations of the EU citizens) and complementary information modules (family, working and entrepreneurship, studying, research, international protection, children and young people).

Alongside the modules, foreign nationals are provided basic language training (level A1[3] in accordance with Appendix 1 of the Language Act) and are informed of the opportunities to continue with language training and indepth cultural orientation by participating in integration course arranged by the Ministry of Culture and using the language coursesarranged by the Ministry of Education and Research.The welcoming programme is thus made up of a variety of components contributing to adaptation.

Entering aforeign national in the adaptation programme

Entering aforeign national in the adaptation programme by the Police and Border Guard Board

A Police and Border Guard Board official informs aforeign national aboutthe welcoming programme when first issuing the residence permit card[4]or when extending the residence permit as of 2015 (see Figure 2).

When issuing the residence permit, the police and border guard official or foreign mission employee

  1. informs the foreign nationalaboutwelcoming programmeand, where necessary, gives a short overview of the programme and its modules;
  2. registers in the database thatthe person has been informed about thewelcoming programme;
  3. gives the person the relevant informative materials;
  4. answers possible additional questions (What is the purpose of the welcoming programme? How much time is there for passing the programme? What is the content of the programme like? What happens if I do not participate in the programme?, etc.);

Participation in the welcoming programme requires holding a residence card.

Questions

  1. How are EU citizens and their family members entered in the adaptation programme?

Family members of EU citizens (subsection 10 (4) of the Citizen of the European Union Act[5]).A family member who is staying in Estonia on the basis of the right of stay must within a period of three months after the date of entry to Estonia apply for a temporary residence permit, or leave Estonia before the expiration of this period if she has failed to apply for a temporary right of residence. A Police and Border Guard Board official informs the applicant about the welcomingprogramme while issuing of residence permit card.

Citizens of EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and the Swiss Confederation (hereinafter “EU citizens”)acquire a temporary right of residence in Estonia for five years if they register their place of residence in Estonia pursuant to the procedure provided in the Population Register Act (section 13 of the Citizen of the European Union Act). A citizen of the European Union who has acquired a temporary right of residence in Estonia must apply for an Estonian identity card within one month after registration of his or her residence in Estonia pursuant to the procedure specified in the Identity Documents Act (section 14 of the Citizen of the European Union Act). A Police and Border Guard Board official informs the applicant about the welcomingprogramme while issuing of residence permit card.

  1. How are beneficiaries of international protection entered in the adaptation programme?

An applicant with regard to whom refugee status or subsidiary protection status is established and who is recognised as a refugee or person enjoying subsidiary protection shall be granted international protection and a temporary residence permit unless circumstances precluding recognition as a refugee or person enjoying subsidiary protection or a basis for rejecting the application for asylum become evident (section 37[6]of the Act on Granting International Protection to Aliens). When issuing the temporary residence permit, the Police and Border Guard Board official informs the applicant of the welcoming programme, registers in the database that the person has been informed about welcoming programme, provides the person with the necessary informative materials.

Figure2

Structure and components of the welcoming programme

The welcoming programme consists of modules that provide information on variety of topics by taking into consideration previous knowledge and needs of new arrivals. Alongside the modules, the programme offers a language course up to level A1 (except for beneficiaries of international protection[7])[8].

New arrivals may take a minimum of one module, the basic module, and a maximum of four modules (covering family life, working and entrepreneurship, studying and research) in addition to the basic module.

Persons under 15 years of age may take the module for children and young people.

Beneficiaries of international protection may also take the module designed for the beneficiaries of international protection in addition to the basic module and the four thematic modules (covering family life, working and entrepreneurship, studying and research).

The modules contain both compulsory and recommended components, and once the instructor has gained an overview of the group’s previous knowledge and needs after an initial discussion, s/he may decide to leave out some or all recommended components. The written study aids must cover, however, both the compulsory and recommended components.

Welcoming programme modules

Basic information module
The Estonian state
Compulsory
  1. Estonia as an independent and sovereign democratic republic
  2. Parliamentary democracy
  3. The Constitution
  4. Public authorities and their roles, administrative division
  5. Estonia as a European Union member state
  6. Legal status of new arrivals in Estonia (rights and obligations of EU citizens and thirdcountry nationals in Estonia and in Europe)
  7. The role of civil society, different forms of civil society organisations and the main umbrella organisations (including the procedure of establishing a civil society organisation and examples of how civil society functions, volunteering,local social networks and civil society organisations and relevant events)

Recommended

  1. Main facts: short overview of Estonian history (basic facts), Estonia’s geographical location, the capital and major towns, official language and languages spoken by Estonian residents,different religions in Estonia, neighbouring countries, population (size and composition by ethnic groups), currency used, time zone
  2. Different legal statuses of foreign nationals in Estonia (including longterm resident residence permits, opportunities for acquiring citizenship)
  3. Common misdeeds of public order that vary considerably in different countries, e.g. using alcohol in the public space, age and time limits for buying alcohol.
Daily life

Compulsory

  1. Emergency Call Number112, instructions in case of an accident, various internal security institutions (Police and Border Guard Board, Rescue Board, Alarm Centre)
  2. E-ID and its usage range (including Eesti.ee and registering a place of residence in the population register, eschool, etaxes, eservices of the police, eelections, ehealth, including epatient and digital prescription)
  3. Bank account (creating a bank account, daily banking)
  4. Recognition of vocational and academic education (ENIC/NARIC Centre) and opportunities offered by the VÕTA (Consideration of Previous Studies and Work Experience)
  5. Healthcare system (family doctors and medical specialists, health insurance fund, dental care, emergency medicine, special needs)
  6. Transportation: traffic management (including traffic safety), driving licences (Estonian Motor Vehicle Registration Centre), traffic insurance, parking, bicycle tracks and bicycle traffic, public transportation
  7. Services offered to new arrivals (language classes, integration training, support person services, counselling centres, legal counselling, including freeofcharge legal assistance, relocation VIP services provided by the private sector, services provided by civil society organisations)

Recommended

  1. Place of residence
  2. Looking for a place (including using search words in real estate portals, real estate agents)
  3. Transactions related to renting, buying and selling real estate (including contracts)
  4. Addresses
  5. Housing expenses: utilities services and costs (including waste management)
  6. Telecommunications services
  7. Maintenance requirements of rental spaces and purchased real estate
  8. Local government services (provided by the local government of the town in question)
  9. Public holidays
  10. The media and other sources of information
  11. Volunteering opportunitiesin different fields
  12. Services related to the organisation of daily life: domestic help and babysitting services
  13. Moving house (including pets, cars, furniture and moving within Estonia)
  14. Getting around town (local government of the town in question)
  15. Food and drink (traditional estonian food and eating habits)
  16. General climate conditions, including the four seasons, weather portals
  17. Domestic tourism
  18. Postal services
  19. Pets (legislation, veterinarians)
  20. Cost of living
  21. Essential websites
Cultural environment

Compulsory

  1. The main behavioural traits and peculiarities of Estonians, including culture shock
  2. Basic values in Estonian society
  3. Human rights
  4. Gender roles
  5. Leisure: portals providing information on cultural and sports events: theatre, music, cinema, museums, sports, including opportunities for buying tickets of cultural and sports events

Recommended

  1. Useful expressions
  2. Main cultural traditions in Estonia and cultural peculiarities
  3. Ethnic groups and cultural minorities in Estonia
  4. A socialising event preferably with the local community
  5. Cultural and sports establishments providing programmes in several languages
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Thematic modules
Working and entrepreneurship

Compulsory

  1. Legal information corresponding to the type of migration (residence permit requirements, extensions, etc.)
  2. Labour mobility within the European Union (services provided by EURES and the Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund)
  3. Social networks for entrepreneurs and highly skilled specialists, including trade unions and associations (Service Industry Association, Estonian Trade Union Confederation, Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Finance Estonia, etc.)
  4. Labour law (including contracts of employment, discrimination)
  5. Tax system: income tax, including refunds, social tax, value added tax
  6. Unemployment insurance, health insurance
  7. Work culture
  8. Overview of services for supporting adaptation process offered to those arriving in Estonia in connection with work or business

Recommended

  1. Special cases of labour migration within the European Union (EU)
  2. Working in Estonia while living in another EU Member State
  3. Working in several Member States at once
  4. Working in several EU Member States for a thirdcountry employer, while most of the work takes place outside the EU country of residence
  5. Economic and business environment and taxes (starting a business, including start-ups, enterprise support, business law and taxes,Company Registration Portal)
  6. Activity licences
  7. System of pensions
  8. Inservice training opportunities
  9. Maternity and paternity allowance and leave
  10. Participating in a relevant social network event
Studying
Compulsory
1.Legal information corresponding to the type of migration (residence permit requirements, extensions, etc.)
2.Student networks, academic networks and organisations
3.Structure of the Estonian education system (including general education, vocational education, professional higher education)
4.Structure of the research and higher education system
5.Learning culture
6.Traineeship opportunities while studying and after completing studies
7.Working while studying and after completing studies
8.Labour market services for finding employment after completing studies, including employment mediation portals
9.Overview of support services for those who have arrived in the scope of learning mobility
10.Libraries
Recommended

1.A tour around town or other similar interactive activities

Research

Compulsory

  1. Legal information corresponding to the type of migration (residence permit requirements, extensions, etc.)
  2. Academic networks and organisations
  3. Structure of the research and higher education system (including institutions and organisational culture)
  4. Research funding
  5. Intellectual property rights
  6. Teaching practices, structure of courses and grading
  7. Employment mediation portals
  8. Overview of support services for those who have arrived in the scope of research mobility
  9. Libraries

Recommended

  1. A tour around town, a tour of a research institution, profiling a known Estonian scientist or other similar interactive activities
Family life

Compulsory

  1. Legal information corresponding to the type of migration (residence permit requirements, extensions, etc.)
  2. Family allowances, including birth allowance, child allowance, child care allowance, single parent’s child allowance
  3. Information regarding children (babysitting services, hobby groups, social networks, etc.)
  4. Parental benefit and parental leave
  5. Inservice training opportunities
  6. Overview of support services for those who have arrived in the scope of family migration
  7. Spending free time

Recommended

  1. Various local cultural, sports and other opportunities[9]
  2. System of pensions
  3. Structure of the Estonian education system (including general education, vocational education, professional higher education)
  4. Social welfare (services and benefits provided by the state and by local governments)
  5. Labour market services for finding employment or retraining, including employment mediation portals
  6. Libraries
  7. A tour around town, participating in a social network event or other similar interactive activities
Beneficiaries of international protection

Compulsory

  1. Legal information corresponding to the type of migration (residence permit requirements, extensions, etc.)
  2. Social welfare (services and benefits provided by the state and by local governments)
  3. Communal rules, e.g. in an apartment building
  4. Financial literacy[10]
  5. Access to education, opportunities for continuing education
  6. Work culture
  7. Overview of complementary services offered to beneficiaries of international protection

Recommended

1.A tour around town, participating in a social network event or other similar interactive activities

Children and young people
  1. Estonian history, geography, nature
  2. Estonian traditions and customs
  3. Estonian way of life
  4. Learning culture
  5. The habits and opportunities of Estonian children and young people in terms of spending free time

Volume of the adaptation programme

In the cases of family, learning, research, labour and business migration, the planned duration of the adaptation programme per person is estimatedminimum of 8 hours and at the most 40 hours, depending on the modules taken (basic information module being estimated8 hours long and the four thematic modules 5–8 hours each). In the case of recipients of international protection, the maximum duration of the adaptation programme isestimated 48 hours (basic information module being 8 hours long and the five thematic modulesestimated 5–8 hours each).