Same-sex marriage in Estonia

Same-sex marriage became legal in Estonia on 1 January 2024. This means two people who love each other, whether they are both men or both women, can get married like other couples.

The government elected in March 2023 promised to make this change. Leaders like Prime Minister Kaja Kallas worked with their team to create new laws. These laws were discussed and voted on by the Riigikogu, Estonia's parliament. Most members voted to support the new law, and it was signed by President Alar Karis to make it official.

Estonia was the first country in the Baltic region and the first country that was once part of the Soviet Union to allow same-sex marriage. It was also the twentieth country in Europe and the 35th country in the world to do this.

Before same-sex marriage was allowed, same-sex couples could have something called registered partnerships. This gave them some of the same rights as married couples, but not all. Now, couples have the same chances to marry and share all the joys and responsibilities that come with marriage.

Registered partnerships

In 2005, a new law in Estonia talked about marriage only as being between a man and a woman. This made people discuss if same-sex couples should have the same rights as married couples.

In 2014, Estonia made a law called the Registered Partnership Act. This law let same-sex couples have some of the same rights as married couples, like sharing property and supporting each other. The law started on January 1, 2016. Some rules to make the law work were not finished for a few years. In 2023, these rules were finished, and same-sex couples could have their partnerships recorded.

By 2016, 29 same-sex partnerships had taken place, and by 2017, there were 59 agreements for couples living together.

Immigration and residency rights

In June 2017, the Estonian Supreme Court decided that same-sex couples should be protected like families. This meant Estonian law could allow residence permits for same-sex spouses. But later, a lower court said an American woman in a same-sex relationship could not get a residence permit. The couple appealed, but the Supreme Court dismissed their case in April 2018. They then entered a registered partnership, which allowed the American partner to stay in Estonia.

Later, in June 2018, a European court decision helped clarify that same-sex couples should be treated the same as opposite-sex couples when applying for residence permits. In June 2019, the Estonian Supreme Court ruled that refusing residence permits to foreign same-sex partners of Estonian citizens was unconstitutional. The court said that everyone, regardless of who they love, should have the right to live together as a family in Estonia.

Same-sex marriage

Same-sex marriage became legal in Estonia on January 1, 2024. This happened because the government, led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, promised to allow marriages for same-sex couples.

The government changed the marriage rules, and Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, approved these changes in June 2023. Now, same-sex couples can marry and have the same rights as other married couples, including adoption. The first same-sex marriages happened in February 2024.

Public opinion

Over time, more people in Estonia have started to support same-sex marriage. In 2009, about one-third of people thought same-sex couples should have the same rights as married couples. By 2023, around half of all Estonians agreed that same-sex marriage should be allowed.

Younger people and those who spoke Estonian were more likely to support it. People who spoke Russian were less likely to support it. In general, acceptance of same-sex relationships has grown in Estonia over the years.