Estonia’s remarkable success in digital governance persists as its construction permit application process demonstrates unparalleled efficiency. The average time to obtain a building permit in Estonia is an astonishing 31 days, a stark contrast to the 246 days it takes in the Czech Republic, as highlighted by Taavi Jakobson, the spokesperson for Estonia’s building authority. Notably, 98% of all permit applications in Estonia are processed seamlessly through an electronic building portal.

The Ministry of Climate in Estonia, responsible for overseeing the building authority, has set ambitious targets to further streamline the process. Their goal is to reduce the processing time to 30 days, aligning with the legal limit for handling construction permit applications. According to Jakobson, the current average processing time in 2023 is already 31 days, marking a significant improvement from the 2022 average of 37 days.

This notable progress is attributed to a strategic reduction in bureaucracy and an increase in transparency. Local authorities in Estonia have eliminated unnecessary steps in the process, making almost the entire procedure accessible online for all citizens. The electronic system automatically checks applications, promptly returning incomplete ones to the applicant. As a result, the average processing time has been reduced by nearly a week.

In contrast, the Czech Republic, under its previous building law (SSZ), faced an average processing time of 246 days. However, the introduction of the new building law (NSZ) on January 1, 2024, is expected to significantly shorten this period. The NSZ simplifies and expedites the process by consolidating it into a single procedure, compared to the existing two-step process.

While the Czech Republic is yet to adopt electronic submission for construction permits, Estonia’s example showcases the effectiveness of digital governance. Jakobson emphasized that 98% of applications in Estonia are submitted electronically, underscoring the efficiency and speed offered by the electronic method. Estonia’s digital success story not only sets a benchmark for streamlined governance but also provides inspiration for other nations to embrace and implement digital innovations in their administrative processes.

Article by Prague Forum