The SDG consists of two primary components:
If you have ever had to take care of business in other European Union countries, you probably know how difficult it can be to find relevant information and services in a foreign country. You also know how difficult it can be to visit the relevant institutions. To make this easier, a network is created in the European Union that ensures access to:
- information important in the internal market in the official language(s) and English;
- contact points for assistance and problem solving that can assist the user;
- e-services in the network.
An EU-level single point of contact is the branded ‘Your Europe’, which is supplemented with information from the above-mentioned SDG network. You can also find national contact points from there.
In Estonia, the contact point is the state portal www.eesti.ee.
Information and contact points for assistance services have been available in the network from 12 December 2020.
The Once-Only Technical System (OOTS) – a secure cross-border document exchange network
The OOTS enables citizens or businesses to submit official documents issued in their home country to an authority in another Member State without having to send the documents physically themselves. There is also no need to search for the right contacts or ways to obtain documents from your home country’s registers and forward them to the relevant authorities in the destination country.
The technical solution for the central platform of Estonia’s OOTS is ready at this point, and several service providers (such as the Population Register, the Tax and Customs Board, the Social Insurance Board, and the Ministry of Education and Research) are preparing to integrate with it. However, its public deployment depends on an amendment to the Public Information Act.
How does the OOTS work?
For example, an Estonian going to study in Finland can begin the process of applying to start their studies and receive a student allowance on the Finnish portal, where they will be asked to provide proof of citizenship, previous educational qualifications, and other required information.
The student can now use the OOTS to request the necessary certificates from the relevant Estonian databases and submit them to the relevant Finnish authority that has requested them, all without leaving their desk.
Start your application on the portal of the other country (e.g. the Finnish study portal). Consent to the use of your data – the system will retrieve the necessary documents (e.g. proof of citizenship, previous studies) directly from Estonian registers. You can view them and submit them digitally, securely, and quickly to the authorities in the destination country.
It also works the other way around – when entering Estonia, a citizen of the European Union may apply to the Estonian authorities via the OOTS network and submit a certificate issued in their home country, thereby completing the necessary proceedings in Estonia.
If a foreign national wishes to come to Estonia and use Estonian public services, the Estonian authorities will request the necessary documentation (e.g. a birth certificate from their home country or proof of work experience).
If you consent to it, the system will retrieve this information directly from the register in your home country and forward it to the Estonian authorities. You do not need to go back to your home country or search for documents to do this.
Through the OOTS, citizens of the EU can carry out proceedings in seven areas of life events:
| Life event | Examples of where the OOTS can help |
|---|---|
| Birth | Registering the birth of a child in another country |
| Residence | Place of residence, proof of marriage |
| Studying | Certificate of studies, diploma |
| Working | Work experience, social security details |
| Entrepreneurship | Registering a company, operating licences |
| Moving house | Change of address, residence permit |
| Retirement | Entitlement to pension |
In Estonia, the Information System Authority (RIA) is responsible for implementing the OOTS; it will create a secure central platform and integrate it with Estonian databases and service providers via the X-tee service. This reduces bureaucracy, speeds up administrative procedures, and ensures data security. The Estonian authorities are working together to ensure that the system is user-friendly and is rolled out gradually.
More detailed instructions and contact details can be found on the websites eesti.ee and Your Europe.
Authorities preparing to connect to the OOTS:
- Population Register
- Business Register
- Criminal Records Database
- Register of Occupational Qualifications
- Estonian Education Information System (EHIS)
- Haridusportaal.edu.ee
- Study in Estonia
- Agriculture and Food Board
- Social Insurance Board
- Health Board
- Agency of Medicines
- Health Insurance Fund
- Estonian Tax and Customs Board
- Estonian Transport Administration
- Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority
Last updated: 27.04.2026
