Constitution and Citizenship Act knowledge exam · for Estonian citizenship
What the exam on knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and the Citizenship Act is, who has to take it, how it is structured and scored, how to register through EIS, and how to prepare. It is a separate exam from the B1 language exam — and it is free of charge.
The exam is free — and so is our practice
Like the Estonian language proficiency exams, the Constitution and Citizenship Act exam costs nothing. You register in EIS, sit it at a state exam centre, and pay no fee. The official preparation materials — the full list of possible questions, the Constitution and the Citizenship Act — are also published free online.
No sign-up. Multiple-choice practice with instant answers.
To become an Estonian citizen by naturalisation, the Citizenship Act (kodakondsuse seadus) requires an applicant aged 15 or over to prove knowledge of the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia and of the Citizenship Act. This is checked by a dedicated written exam run by the Education and Youth Board (Haridus- ja Noorteamet / Harno).
- It is one of several citizenship conditions, alongside long-term residence, a settled legal status, a permanent legal income, loyalty to the Estonian state, and Estonian language skills at least at level B1.
- The Constitution exam and the B1 language exam are separate exams with separate registrations and separate certificates. You can take them on different dates and in either order.
- The Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) processes the citizenship application itself and checks that both certificates are on file. politsei.ee
It is only for citizenship
You do notneed the Constitution exam for a residence permit, a long-term resident's permit, or for work — those need only the relevant language level (A2 or B1). The Constitution exam applies specifically to naturalisation as an Estonian citizen.
- Applicants who have acquired their basic, secondary or higher education in Estonian and have passed the relevant civic-studies / social-studies component are generally released from the exam.
- People with a medically certified condition that prevents them from meeting the requirement (for example certain disabilities, or restricted active legal capacity) may be exempted or have the exam adapted.
- Some older applicants and other special categories are covered by separate rules in the Citizenship Act.
Exemptions are decided by PPA on your individual application — do not assume you qualify. Confirm your own case with PPA before you register for the exam.
- It is a written test, usually taken on a computer at the exam centre. The questions are mostly multiple choice — you pick the correct statement about the Constitution or the Citizenship Act — with some questions asking you to complete or match a provision.
- The questions are drawn from a publicly available question set. Harno publishes the full list of possible questions with the correct answers, so you can prepare from the exact material the exam uses.
- You pass by answering enough questions correctly (a set threshold of the total). The exact number of questions, time limit and pass mark for the current version are given by Harno — check the official page before your sitting, as they are revised from time to time.
- The exam is held in Estonian. There is no separate speaking or listening part — it is a knowledge test, not a language test.
Cost
Free. No exam fee, and the preparation materials are free online.
Language
The exam and all questions are in Estonian.
Format
Written, computer-based, multiple-choice from a published question bank.
Result
Pass / fail against a fixed threshold; the certificate is electronic.
- 1Go to the Examinations Information System (EIS) at eis.harno.ee and log in with ID-card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID. You need an Estonian personal ID code and a valid email address.
- 2Open "Registration", click Register, and choose the exam on knowledge of the Constitution and the Citizenship Act (not a language level).
- 3Pick your region / exam centre and a date from the list, check your details, and click "Confirm application". You get an email confirmation with the venue.
- 4No Estonian ID code, or need adapted conditions? Contact Harno and submit a paper application instead.
Deadline
Registration usually closes on the 1st day of the month before the exam month. The open dates are shown in EIS.
Tip
You can register for the Constitution exam and the B1 language exam separately — do not wait for one to book the other.
The exam runs at the same state exam centres used for the language exams — usually Tallinn, Tartu, Narva and Jõhvi, with other locations on some dates. You choose the centre when you register.
Tallinn
Runs on most Constitution exam dates through the year.
Tartu
Runs on most dates; check EIS for the exact schedule.
Narva / Jõhvi
Regular dates for Ida-Viru applicants.
Start time
Typically begins in the morning (around 10:00). Arrive 20–30 minutes early.
Bring
A valid photo ID (ID-card, residence-permit card or passport). No ID, no exam.
In the room
No phones, notes or materials. Everything you need is on screen.
Centres, dates and start times change between sessions — always follow the venue and time on your EIS confirmation. harno.ee
- Your result (pass / fail) is published in EIS after the sitting.
- A pass produces an electronic certificate — there is no paper document. You and PPA can retrieve it from eesti.ee and from eis.harno.ee.
- The certificate does not expire, but keep a downloaded copy for your citizenship file. PPA verifies it directly in the state systems.
- You can re-register and retake the exam. There is no limit on the number of attempts.
- As with the language exams, being absent without a valid reason or a very low score can trigger a waiting period before you may register again — check the current rule on the Harno page.
- You may ask to review your exam and, within the stated deadline, submit a challenge to Harno if you believe a question was marked wrongly.
Because the question set is public, preparation is mostly memorisation and understanding — not language practice.
- Work through Harno's official list of exam questions and answers for the Constitution and the Citizenship Act. harno.ee — exam on knowledge
- Read the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia itself — it is short. riigiteataja.ee (English)
- Skim the Citizenship Act, focusing on the chapters on acquiring, losing and restoring citizenship, and the rights and duties of a citizen. riigiteataja.ee (English)
- Free preparation courses on the Constitution and Citizenship Act are offered periodically for citizenship applicants — ask Harno or the Integration Foundation about the current schedule.
Your language side of citizenship
Citizenship also needs B1 Estonian. Practise all four parts of the B1 language exam here with exam-format mock papers, then use the B1 guide for registration and exam-day detail.
- Harno (exam): exam on knowledge of the Constitution and Citizenship Act · info@harno.ee · +372 735 0500
- Registration: EIS – eis.harno.ee
- Citizenship (PPA): applying for Estonian citizenship
- Legal texts: Constitution of the Republic of Estonia · Citizenship Act
- Language exam: Estonian language proficiency examinations · our B1 guide
- Certificates: eesti.ee
ExamsPoint is an independent study service and not an official source. Citizenship rules, the question set, the time limit and the pass mark are set by the Estonian authorities and change from time to time — always confirm the current details on harno.ee and politsei.ee before you rely on this page.