A2 exam for a residence permit — the new language requirement from 2026
5 min read
Facts checked on 21 October 2026. Sources: the Aliens Act (välismaalaste seadus, Riigi Teataja, version in force from 1 October 2026), the Police and Border Guard Board guide "Residence permit for a permanent resident" (Elamisluba püsivale elanikule), Harno's page "Eesti keele tasemeeksamid" — check the official page before your exam.
If you are searching for "A2 Estonian exam", the reason is probably one: on 1 January 2026 an amendment to the Aliens Act came into force that added a new language requirement to one type of residence permit. Many people confuse it with another residence permit that requires B1 instead. Let's start there.
Two different residence permits — two different levels
| Residence permit | Estonian language requirement | Where it is written |
|---|---|---|
| Temporary residence permit for settling permanently in Estonia | at least A2 (from 1 January 2026) | Aliens Act § 210² (1) 4 |
| Long-term resident's residence permit | at least B1 | Aliens Act § 234 (1) |
On the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) website both are in the same section, "Elamisluba püsivale elanikule". In this article we talk about the first one, the A2 requirement. For B1 and the long-term resident's permit, read the article what the B1 level exam opens for you.
What exactly the law requires
Under § 210² of the Aliens Act, the additional conditions for a temporary residence permit for settling permanently in Estonia are:
- you have lived in Estonia for at least three years within five consecutive years (time spent on a residence permit for studies does not count);
- you have completed the adaptation programme (according to the PPA guide, the basic module of the adaptation programme);
- you have adapted well in Estonia;
- your activities so far have been in line with the purpose and conditions of your residence permit;
- you speak Estonian at least at A2 level.
The adaptation programme, good adaptation and A2 requirements came into force on 1 January 2026. The PPA guide adds two more conditions: sufficient income and health insurance.
How to prove A2 level
- Estonian language proficiency exam. The law says language skills are assessed in the Estonian language proficiency exam under the conditions set out in the Language Act (§ 210² (5)). The exam is organised by Harno — you register the same way as for B1, see how to register in EIS.
- Education in Estonian. If you completed basic, secondary or higher education in Estonian, you do not have to take the exam (§ 210² (6)).
- Health. If you are permanently unable to take the exam because of your health, you are exempted fully or partly. The decision is made by an expert committee (§ 210⁵), and you can appeal it to the administrative court within 30 days (§ 210⁶). For other exemptions, see the article who is exempt from the language exam.
The transition rule: who the new requirement does not yet apply to
Under § 309¹⁸ of the Aliens Act, completing the adaptation programme and A2 level are not required if:
- you have a valid temporary residence permit for settling permanently in Estonia issued before 1 January 2026 and you are applying to extend it; or
- you submitted your application before 1 January 2026 and the decision was made after 31 December 2025.
If you are not sure which group you belong to, ask a PPA migration adviser. Do not draw conclusions from this article alone.
A2 and B1 exam — what is different
The scoring principle is the same: you need at least 60% of the possible points and no part may score 0 points. What differs is the total score and the length of the parts.
| A2 | B1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total points | 80 (4 × 20) | 100 (4 × 25) |
| 60% threshold | 48 points | 60 points |
| Writing | 30 min | 35 min |
| Listening | 30 min | 30–35 min |
| Reading | 50 min | 50 min |
| Speaking | about 15 min | about 15 min |
What you do in the A2 exam (according to Harno's description):
- Writing: two tasks. First, writing details from a business card (at least 25 words), second, a note, short message, invitation or description on a given topic (at least 30 words).
- Listening: four tasks, you hear each text twice. In the short-answer task, grammar and spelling mistakes are not counted if the answer can be understood.
- Reading: five tasks, the last is a gap-fill text from a personal letter (8 gaps, three options each).
- Speaking: a conversation between the examiner and two candidates. First you describe a picture and answer questions, then you ask and answer questions with the help of an idea card.
Exams take place once a quarter in Tallinn, Tartu, Narva and Jõhvi. In Pärnu the A2 exam is in March and September if at least 12 people register.
Where to find an A2 sample
On Harno's page "Eesti keele tasemeeksamid" the A2 section has official materials: a consultation booklet (also a version you can fill in on a computer), sample audio files for the listening tasks, a commented writing sample and a video introducing the exam. Before the exam you can also attend a free consultation — you do not need to submit an exam application for it, but bring an identity document.
These are the best A2 samples because they are made from the real exam. Do at least one booklet with a timer.
How this site helps
To be honest: this site is made for the B1 exam. Our exam exercises follow the B1 structure, not the A2 one. But if you are studying for A2, it is still useful:
- the picture description exercise is the same skill the A2 speaking part starts with;
- the writing exercises help you write short notes and descriptions;
- if the B1 exercises feel too hard, start with the easier tasks and come back later — A2 is a good stop on the way to B1.
Our AI feedback is a training format with its own way of scoring. It is not the grading of the real exam and does not predict your exam result.
Sources: Aliens Act (välismaalaste seadus), Riigi Teataja (riigiteataja.ee), §§ 210¹–210⁶, 234 and 309¹⁸; PPA guide "Elamisluba püsivale elanikule" (politsei.ee); Harno "Eesti keele tasemeeksamid" (harno.ee). Facts reviewed on 21 October 2026.
An explanatory article, not legal advice. We are not an exam centre or a government authority and cannot promise that a residence permit will be granted.