Australia investigates Estonians’ fraud schemes

Photo: Välisministeerium

Australian authorities are investigating a growing number, currently 30, of cases of young Estonian citizens allegedly involved in identity fraud in order to acquire a new visa by changing names, thereby prolonging their stay in Australia.

With a relatively simple-to-obtain work and holiday visa, Estonian youth are able to stay in Australia for two years, the longest. As the visa expires, they apply for a new name in Estonia (surname, usually) and fill in the papers for travelling to Australia, pretending they have never been there before.

According to latest info provided to consul of Estonia in Sidney Triinu Rajasalu, the cases of name change already amount to 30, and could be set to rise.

Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Population Facts Department advisor Eve Mitin told Postimees that, at her estimation, procedure of changing names is not overly simplified in Estonia.

Last year, 1631 name-changes were registered in Estonia, in 322 instances the cases were somewhat more complicated – not marriage of retrieving an ancestral name etc. In 117 cases, only the surname was requested to be changed.

According to Names Act, an Estonian citizen or stateless person, desiring to change his or her name, is required to substantiate it. Cases needing consideration will be submitted to a nine member committee at the Ministry of Interior Affairs.

The committee is chaired by Enel Pungas, director of the Population Facts Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The final decision, however, is up to Minister of Regional Affairs Siim-Valmar Kiisler. Last year, name-change was denied 21 times.

Ms Mitin was not yet prepared to give an assessment on whether Estonian citizens, having substantiated their request according to law but actually attempting to trick Australia into issuing a visa, have thus violated Estonian law as well.

«Forwarding false information is punishable,» she hinted, however. Section 280 of Penal Code provides that the submission of false information to an administrative agency, if committed in order to obtain an official document or any other benefit or gain, is punishable by a pecuniary punishment or up to one year of imprisonment.

«I would, of course, desire that Estonians conduct themselves decently and in an exemplary fashion while abroad, not transgressing the law,» said Ms Mitin.

For the said offences, imprisonment is also possible in Australia.