In the first three months of this year 430 individuals were naturalized in Estonia, more than twice the number for the same period of the previous year, it appears from the data of the Police and Border Guard Board.
Naturalization shows considerable growth this year
8th April 2013, 15:07
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During the first quarter of 2012 the government granted citizenship by naturalization to 166 applicants. The corresponding figures for the first quarter of 2011 and 2010 were respectively 366 and 229.
Of the persons naturalized during the January-March period, 377 were stateless before obtaining Estonian citizenship and 48 previously carried Russian passports. Three new citizens previously held Ukrainian citizenship, one was citizen of Lithuania and one of Tajikistan, spokespeople for the Police and Border Guard Board said.
As of April 1 this year 93,401 persons of undefined citizenship held a valid Estonian residence permit or residency right but the board lacks information on how many of them actually live in Estonia. Compared to the beginning of April 2012, the number of stateless residents has declined by 3,537.
The government last year granted citizenship by naturalization to 1,332 individuals, 166 fewer than the year before.
The share of residents with undefined citizenship has steadily declined since Estonia regained independence. In 1992 stateless residents made up 32 percent of the population, in 1999 their share was 13 percent and now they account for 6 percent.