In accordance with a government resolution, the entry of Russian citizens will be restricted. This applies to entry with a visa in Finland and transit to Schengen area, where the purpose of the stay is a short tourist’s journey.
Those who have a residence permit in Finland, in an EU member state, in an European Economic Area member state or in Switzerland, or have a long-stay visa to a Schengen country (type D visa), can still arrive in Finland.
On this page are all the special groups whose entry into the country will not generally be restricted.
Decisions on permitting entry will always be made in connection with border checks. Refusal of entry may lead to revocation of a visa. The Finnish Border Guard does not grant advance permits for entry to Finland.
Special groups
- Family members of citizens of Finland and family members of foreigners with a permanent residency in Finland
- Family members of citizens of a Member State of the European Union, a Member State of the European Economic Area or Switzerland
- Employment
- Logistics and transport industry personnel exercising their duties
- Business travellers
- Students
- People arriving in Finland for treatment
- Owners of an apartment or property
- Personnel of diplomatic missions and consular representations
- Other special reasons (necessities)
1. Family members of citizens of Finland and family members of foreigners with a permanent residency in Finland
In accordance with the Government guidelines, family members of citizens of Finland and family members of foreigners with a permanent residency in Finland (spouses, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren and dependants, and those in an established partnership).
The admission of family members, as stated in this chapter (1), is only allowed in connection with travel to Finland.
The section 37 of the Aliens Act shall be applied, where applicable, to the definition of a spouse or an established relationship. Persons living in marriagelike circumstances shall be treated as spouses regardless of their gender. It is required that these persons have lived together for at least two years. The two-year requirement does not apply if the persons have a child in their joint custody. However, a family member of a Finnish citizen may be a family member of a Finnish citizen living in Finland or abroad. The family member must also have the required travel documents and, if required, a visa.
Passengers must provide acceptable proof of kinship at the border check. The guardian or trustee of a dependent person is also treated as a relative in this purpose of entry.
See also: Who are considered as family members of an EU citizen?
2. Family members of citizens of a Member State of the European Union, a Member State of the European Economic Area or Switzerland
In accordance with the Government guidelines, family members of citizens of a Member State of the European Union, a Member State of the European Economic Area or Switzerland as outlined in Directive EC/2004/38.
The entry of Russian citizens is allowed if they are family members of an EU citizen who is exercising his or her right to freedom of movement in accordance with the directive EY/2004/38. The directive is implemented nationally by Foreign Nationals Act.
Passengers must be able to verify their status as a family member during the border check, and, when travelling otherwise than together with an EU citizen, that he or she is following an EU citizen who is exercising his or her right to freedom of movement.
The aforementioned instructions for EU citizens also apply to citizens of European Economic Area Member States and citizens of Switzerland and their family members.
See also:
- Who are considered as family members of an EU citizen?
- When do I exercise the right to freedom of movement as an EU citizen?
- Can I travel via Finland to meet a family member in another Schengen country?
3. Employment
In accordance with the Government guidelines, persons arriving to Finland for seasonal work or work as outlined in section 81 b of the Aliens Act (Working with a visa in Finland).
A visa issued for seasonal work can be used to enter Finland to carry out the work referred to in the visa. Persons who have a residence permit for seasonal work may arrive in Finland in a similar manner as persons who have a residence permit.
Section 81 b of the Aliens Act lays down the grounds for an alien's right to gainful employment without a residence permit. In all the above-mentioned cases: during the border check, the person must prove that their purpose for entry is work.
4. Logistics and transport industry personnel exercising their duties
In accordance with the Government guidelines, logistics and transport industry personnel exercising their duties.
The entry of transport and logistics personnel in their duties is permitted. Persons arriving in the country must be exercising their duties or on transit in the exercise of their duties (e.g., a seafarer travelling to their vessel).
Crew changes of seafarers shall be permitted as transport and logistics personnel as crew changes are part of a seafarers’ duties. There is no restriction on the seafarers’ rights to shore leave in the area of the ship’s port area as laid down in the Aliens Act.
5. Business travellers
In accordance with the Government guidelines, business travellers who have an essential reason for travelling to Finland or the EU and Schengen area for business purposes.
Business travellers arriving with a visa must provide proof of their reason for entering the country at the time of entry. This reason must be related to business. The necessity of entry will be assessed on a case-by-case basis based on the information gathered in connection with the border check. The existence of a business meeting can be verified with a phone call or by other reliable means.
6. Students
In accordance with the Government guidelines, students arriving in Finland for short-term studies (less than 90 days), including taking an entrance exam.
The purpose of entry must be connected to studying. Persons must verify the purpose of their entry in connection with the border check with an invitation from the educational institution or a similar document. If necessary, the authenticity of the invitation may be checked with the institution’s representative.
7. People arriving in Finland for treatment
In accordance with the Government guidelines, persons whose entry into the country is based on an established patient care relationship in a care institution located in Finland.
Persons must verify the purpose of their entry in connection with the border check. If necessary, the existence of a patient care relationship will be checked with the company providing the care. The patient care relationship must have started before the current restrictions entered into force.
8. Owners of an apartment or property
In accordance with the Government guidelines, persons who own an apartment or property in Finland to the extent that the purpose of their trip is to service or maintain the apartment or property.
Persons must justify why it is necessary to service or maintain the apartment or property. The necessity of the situation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in connection with the border check. Entry to the country may be allowed on the above-mentioned basis for one person listed as an owner of the property. It is not permitted to bring along family members or a group when travelling because of the necessary service or maintenance of a property.
9. Personnel of diplomatic missions and consular representations
In accordance with the Government guidelines, the personnel of diplomatic missions and consular representations of the Russian Federation who are accredited by Finland or sent to Finland, as well as their family members, diplomatic couriers, and the personnel of diplomatic missions and consular representations of the Russian Federation who use the territory of Finland for transit to carry out their official duties, as well as their family members.
Entry to the country is also permitted for diplomats of the Russian Federation and holders of diplomatic and service passports, who are on their way to a short-term business trip to Finland or the Schengen area.
10. Other special reasons (necessities)
In accordance with the Government guidelines, other persons travelling for special reasons on the basis of individual consideration.
Other special reasons may include humanitarian reasons, compelling personal reasons, reasons related to the best interests of a child or other justified reasons. The reasons will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in connection with the border check
a) persons in need of international protection or who are travelling for other humanitarian reasons
b) other necessary and justified reasons (e.g., representatives of foreign media).
The Finnish Immigration Service is a decision-making organisation in matters related to immigration, asylum, refugee status and citizenship and maintains the reception system. Read also: Frequently asked questions about Russia's attack on Ukraine and its effects on Russian citizens (migri.fi).
In external border traffic, persons may also arrive in Finland for a compelling personal reason. A compelling personal reason should involve a pressing or unpredictable cause which requires personal attendance, which cannot tolerate delay, and which would cause undue harm within the context in question if the person concerned would not tend to it. A compelling personal reason can be, for example, participation in the funeral of next of kin, serious illness of next of kin, or an invitation from a Finnish authority to visit said authority. Compelling personal reasons will be assessed on a case-by-case basis in connection with the border check.
Revocation of a visa
If the Finnish Border Guard assess the decision on refusal of entry and the Schengen visa was issued by Finland, the visa will usually be revoked.
If the visa was issued by another EU or Schengen state, the Finnish Border Guard contacts the competent authorities of the issuing Member State when considering the revocation of a visa.