After Estonia restored its independence, new rules governing citizenship, residence permits and passports shaped the legal position of many residents. UNHCR research records people's experiences in 1991–93 of arriving very early and queueing to submit or receive documents.
When a state changes, people may have to prove their status again even if they have never moved from their homes. Those waiting were not simply seeking a booklet. A passport or residence document could determine whether they could cross a border and whether the state recognized the foundations of their everyday lives.