Same-sex marriage in Estonia

Same-sex marriage became legal in Estonia on 1 January 2024. This means that two people who love each other, no matter if they are both men or both women, can get married just like other couples.

The government that was 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 about families in Estonia started talking about marriage only as being between a man and a woman. This caused many people to talk about whether 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 financially. The law started on January 1, 2016. Even though the law existed, some rules to make it work properly were not finished for a few years. In 2023, these rules were finally finished, and same-sex couples could now have their partnerships officially 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 as families. This meant that Estonian law could allow residence permits for same-sex spouses. However, a lower court later 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 change happened after the government, led by Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, promised to allow marriages for same-sex couples.

The government introduced laws to change marriage rules, and these laws were approved by Estonia's parliament, the Riigikogu, in June 2023. The laws let same-sex couples marry and have the same rights as other married couples, including adoption. The first same-sex marriages took place in February 2024.

Public opinion

Over the years, people's views on same-sex marriage in Estonia have changed. In 2009, about one-third of people thought same-sex couples should have the same rights as couples who are married. By 2023, more people supported same-sex marriage, with around half of all Estonians agreeing it should be allowed. Younger people and those who spoke Estonian were more likely to support it.

The surveys also showed that opinions differed among ethnic groups, with Estonian speakers generally more supportive than Russian speakers. Overall, acceptance of same-sex relationships has grown over time in Estonia.