Emergencies

The U.S. Embassy in Tallinn provides 24-hour assistance to American citizens facing emergency situations in Estonia. Any U.S. citizen involved in a crisis situation in Estonia should immediately contact the Embassy. The following list is only an example of the type of situations which constitute emergencies.

Death. If an American dies in Estonia, the Embassy will attempt to locate and notify the next-of-kin and then inform them about options and costs for disposition of the remains. Depending on the wishes of the family, the Embassy may then arrange for the burial, cremation or shipment of the remains as well as return or disposal of any personal effects. The costs for these services, however, must be borne by the family. Link
Injury/Illness. The Embassy can assist Americans with locating English-speaking doctors or arranging medical evacuation to Helsinki or the U.S. Please also see the list of hospitals and clinics in Estonia.
Destitution (ie: lack of money). Although the Embassy cannot actually give money to destitute Americans in Estonia, the consular section can assist such persons in obtaining funds from relatives, friends, or other private sources.
Emergency Housing: Information on overnight accommodations available in Tallinn, Estonia. This link is for information purposes only and does not constitute endorsement of any of the listed facilities by the United States Government or the American Embassy in Tallinn. http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/fpage/travelplanning/accommodation/facilities
Missing Persons. Given available resources, consular staff usually cannot physically search for missing Americans. However, the Embassy can coordinate with local hospitals, hotels, police, etc., in an effort to locate the missing individual. Note: Even if the Embassy locates a person who has been reported missing, that information cannot be passed on to his/her family and friends if she/he does not wish it to be.
Arrests. If an American citizen is arrested in Estonia, he/she should ask the authorities to notify the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn. Consuls cannot get people out of jail (when you are in a foreign country you are subject to its laws). However, they can work to protect the legitimate interests of Americans and to ensure that they are not discriminated against due to their nationality. They can visit the prisoner, relay messages to his family, and provide a list of local attorneys as well as general information about local laws.