Estonian citizen passports will have blue covers again starting from 2030. Already next year, new security elements will be added to both citizen and foreigner passports.
Interior Minister Igor Taro says that during the preparation of the new passport, the idea arose to change the cover color. According to him, the passport's appearance should reflect Estonia's national colors.
Blue covers were also on old Estonian passports before World War II and after the restoration of independence. New security elements will be added to foreigner passports in January and to citizen passports in July.
For example, a window in the shape of a granite boulder will be added to passports. Inside the window, there will be a chip in the shape of an oak leaf. The cover color will change later, as the contract for passport production is valid until 2030.
Passport data will not change. If a passport is still valid after the changes, it does not need to be replaced with a new one. Old and new passports will be valid simultaneously.
Former Interior Minister Lauri Läänemets believes that currently, it is more important to deal with other problems, such as preventing Russian hybrid attacks. MEP Jüri Ratas thinks that changing the passport color is a move before elections.