If you need help abroad

Emergency number in Korea is 119.

Estonian nationals who are in trouble abroad can call the duty official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by calling +372 53 01 9999 (24h).

You can contact the Embassy by phone Mon-Fri 9-11:30 and 12:30-17:00. The Embassy is closed on weekends and on Estonian and Korean public holidays.

Losing your passport

To travel back to Estonia, you can apply for an EU Emergency Travel Document (ETD) at the Estonian Embassy in Seoul. The ETD is a standard EU travel document intended for a one-time journey back to the home country — either the country of citizenship or residence, or in exceptional cases, another destination such as a neighboring country with an Estonian embassy to apply for an identification document. It is issued when the applicant cannot use their regular travel documents due to loss, theft, destruction, or other reasons that make them inaccessible within a reasonable time.

The ETD is valid for the duration necessary to complete the specific journey, including overnight stays and transfers.

Applying for an ETD

To apply, you must book an appointment first by emailing [email protected] or calling the helpline of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs +372 53 01 9999 (24h).

For applying for an emergency travel document, you must submit:

Complete the ETD application form
Submit a digital passport photo
Pay the state fee (€20 if the travel document is lost, stolen, or unusable; €100 if the travel document is invalid; €45 for a child under one year of age born abroad who has not previously received an identity document)
If the travel document is lost or stolen, report the incident to the local police, obtain proof of the report, and submit it with the application

Please note that as a rule, ETDs are not issued outside office hours.

If applying through another EU member state’s mission, follow their instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions about the EU Emergency Travel Document (ETD).

Suspending ID card certificates

If you suspect your ID card is missing and could be misused (for example, for giving digital signatures in your name), please call the ID card helpline +372 677 3377 as soon as possible and request the suspension of your ID card certificates.

Losing your money

If you lose your money, you should contact your family or friends for assistance.

They can buy you a plane ticket and forward you the booking number, which airlines staff can then use to issue a boarding pass at the ticket office.

Estonia’s consuls or honorary consuls cannot provide you with money; however, a consul can help you contact your family and offer advice on money transfers.

Your family can send money via an international rushcard, offered by companies like MoneyGram, Western Union and Transferwise.

Being detained

If you are arrested, you have the right to contact the Estonian Embassy. If needed, the consul will make sure the rights of the detainee are protected, including the presence of an interpreter and legal assistance. The consul can visit the detainee on justified grounds.

What the consul cannot do:

give money;
pay for hotels, hospitals, plane tickets and other bills;
provide transport and accommodation;
provide legal assistance in the Republic of Korea;
provide translation services for local administration tasks;
resolve labour disputes.

If you are unhappy with the administration in the Republic of Korea, you must hire legal assistance locally. The consul and the honorary consul have no right to interfere in local administration or represent you in legal transactions.