How long does a misdemeanour stay on the record in Estonia?
One year — but that year is easier to interrupt than you think. Misdemeanour data is deleted from the punishment register and moved to the archive once one year has passed since the punishment was served — for instance since the fine was paid or the detention completed. And here is the catch: if the person commits a new misdemeanour or criminal offence before the deletion deadline arrives, the period is interrupted, and the deletion period for all the offences is then counted from the punishment for the most recent one. So a single new fine restarts the clock for the whole pile. In the archive misdemeanour data remains visible for a further ten years.
📋 The rules
- A misdemeanour clears after 1 year
- Counted from serving the punishment
- A new offence interrupts the period
- It then runs from the latest punishment
- In the archive: a further 10 years
🔓 Exceptions
- A new offence before the deadline restarts the period for all offences
- Archived data remains visible for ten years before final deletion
- Criminal offences have considerably longer deletion periods
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Deletion is not automatic oblivion — the archive remains. After one year the misdemeanour data leaves the register, but it moves to the archive, where it stays visible for another ten years. An ordinary employer has no access to the archive, but certain proceedings do. The most important practical rule is interruption: a new offence before deletion pushes all earlier punishments onto a fresh cycle — so three small fines over three years keep your record permanently open. Check your own data: an extract from the punishment register can be ordered and shows what is actually recorded — often a surprise.
📎 Official sources
- Riigi Teataja · Punishment Register Act →
- RIK · Punishment register →
- Labour Inspectorate · Legal help →
❓ Frequently asked
How long does a misdemeanour stay on the record?
Misdemeanour data is deleted from the register and moved to the archive one year after the punishment was served, for example after the fine was paid or detention completed.
Does a new offence affect deletion?
It does. A new misdemeanour or criminal offence before the deadline interrupts the period, and the deletion period for all offences then runs from the most recent punishment.
Do deleted records disappear entirely?
They do not. Deleted misdemeanour data moves to the archive, where it remains visible for ten years. An ordinary employer has no access, but certain proceedings do.
How can I check my own record?
An extract from the punishment register can be ordered and shows exactly what is recorded about you. It is worth doing before an employer or authority asks for it.
Do criminal offences clear as quickly?
They do not. Deletion periods for criminal offences are considerably longer and depend on the type and severity of the punishment, so the one-year rule does not apply to them.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “misdemeanour record one year estonia”
- “criminal record deletion estonia”
- “punishment register extract estonia”
- “does a fine stay on the record estonia”
- “punishment register archive 10 years”
- “new offence resets deletion period”