About entering conscription
More detailed information about conscription and the different units will be provided to you by the client consultant during your health evaluation. The basic soldier course, that is, the first two months, is completed on the same terms in all units. Further service depends on your skills, knowledge, and experience. Be sure to mention your unit preferences during the health evaluation — generally, efforts are made to find a suitable service position for everyone, and your wishes are considered whenever possible.
Conscripts are called up three times a year.
When planning to enter conscription, keep in mind that call-ups occur three times a year, and before service you must undergo a health assessment.
Studies among conscripts confirm that the best time to start conscription is immediately after finishing high school. This way, after service, you can focus on further education, career, and starting a family.
The final decision about where and when you are assigned to conscription is made by the Defence Resources Agency.
- Leaders and specialists in January and July – DURATION 11 MONTHS
- Soldiers in October – DURATION 8 MONTHS
Voluntary entry into conscription
You may enter conscription voluntarily, which allows you to consciously plan your life and complete the service early.
To do this:
- Visit the conscription service website and choose a suitable time and place for your health evaluation.
- Fill out the application form for entering conscription.
- If you cannot use the conscription service website, you may also submit the application by email, regular mail, or in person.
After submitting the application, you will be called for a health evaluation at the earliest opportunity and then to conscription.
Calling up for conscription
The Defence Resources Agency calls up conscripts, determining the time, place of service, and assembly point. The conscription decision is personally delivered to you, and attending service at the designated time and place is mandatory.
Conscription depends on the needs of the Defence Forces, as well as your education level and possession of a driving license. Whenever possible, the preferences of conscripts are also taken into account.
If you do not have a time extension, you may be called up with the next upcoming conscription. In this case, a notice of conscription will be sent at least 30 days in advance. If you wish, you can also enter conscription with a shorter notice period based on your application.
The Defence Resources Agency arranges transportation for conscripts from the gathering point to the place of service, where the service begins on the same day.
Benefits and Allowances
A conscript is paid a monthly allowance from the day of arrival at the service location until the end of the conscription service.
The allowance is paid according to the conscript’s rank:
- Private, Seaman – 115 euros per month
- Corporal, Senior Seaman – 140 euros per month
- Junior Sergeant, Junior Corporal – 200 euros per month
- Sergeant, Corporal, Ensign – 230 euros per month
An increased allowance is paid starting from the ninth month of service:
- Private, Seaman – 170 euros per month
- Corporal, Senior Seaman – 170 euros per month
The conscript’s allowance is paid to the bank account you have provided on the Defence Service website on the last working day of the month.
If you are sent on a foreign mission for more than 14 days, you will receive an additional allowance of 10 euros per day until the end of the mission.
Conscripts may apply once during their service for travel expense reimbursement to go on leave via the Defence Service website. The application for reimbursement must be submitted within seven days after returning from leave to the service location.
Travel expense reimbursements are paid as follows:
- 40 euros if you live in Estonia according to the Population Register;
- 125 euros if you live abroad.
The conscript’s allowance is not paid for the period during which the conscript:
- is absent without permission from the service location (or training gathering point);
- is in disciplinary arrest.
Substitute servicemen receive a monthly allowance from the day they arrive at the service location until the end of substitute service. The monthly allowance equals the minimum monthly wage.
Conscripts and substitute servicemen have health insurance. Substitute servicemen do not have the following benefits: guaranteed accommodation and meals, the right to suspend student loan principal repayments, housing loan interest compensation, and driving license compensation.
What to bring to conscription?
Be sure to bring the following to conscription:
- ID card or passport valid until the end of conscription
- Driver’s license (if available)
- Personal bank account number
- Hygiene items (toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, shower gel, shaving supplies)
- Underwear, as these are not provided by the Defence Forces