Are you looking for information on approved vaccinations and required certificates?
Information on approved vaccinations, required certificates, avoidance of close contact, COVID-19 tests, or other obligations under the Communicable Diseases Act is on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL): Travel and the coronavirus pandemic – THL.
Guidelines for border traffic during pandemic as of 17 January 2022
These instructions, based on a Government decision, are valid until 31 January 2022. It is especially important that you acquaint yourself with these instructions if you are travelling to Finland.
According to paragraph 9 of the Constitution of Finland, Finnish citizens must not be prevented from entering Finland, and everyone has the right to leave Finland.
Based on your circumstances, choose the right section in the list below. The link takes you to the right section on the website.
- Entry into Finland for persons with a complete covid-19 vaccination series, or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19, and a negative test result
- Entry into Finland from Schengen countries
- Entry into Finland from Andorra, Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Monaco, Romania, San Marino and the Vatican
- Entry into Finland from the green list countries (Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuwait, Macau, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay)
- Entry into Finland from other countries or regions (such as Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Turkey)
- Cruise ship traffic
- Interpretation guidelines for clarification (incl. special groups)
Please note that the Finnish Border Guard does not grant advance permits for entry to Finland. Decision to allow entry is always made during border checks.
1. Entry into Finland for persons with a complete covid-19 vaccination series, or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19, and a negative test result
This applies to most inbound travellers. In case you find the instructions you need in this section, you don’t need to read further.
What are the requirements for entry?
Person may be granted entry into Finland from any country if they present
- a certificate of a complete and valid vaccination series (either one or two doses depending on the vaccine). At least 7 days must have passed since the last vaccine dose has been received OR
- a single certificate that the person has recovered from covid-19 virus and has gotten one dose of vaccine. It is equated to a complete covid-19 vaccination series. OR
- EU digital COVID certificate that proves the person has recovered from covid-19 within 6 months.
- In addition to the aforementioned requirements, the person must present a negative covid-19 test result of less than 48 hours. The result of a PCR or an Antigen test is accepted.
- All the above-mentioned requirements apply to persons born in 2006 or earlier.
Persons who meet the requirements above may enter Finland accompanied by minor children. Also children are required to have a covid-19 vaccination certificate and a negative covid-19 test result. These requirements apply to minors born in 2006 or earlier. However, all passengers are required to comply with the Communicable Diseases Act and decisions made by the health authorities, such as compulsory health examinations.
The requirements above do not apply to Finnish citizens or permanent residents of Finland returning to Finland or to those who enter the country for an essential purpose. However, all passengers are required to comply with the Communicable Diseases Act and decisions made by the health authorities, such as compulsory health examinations.
Information on the coronavirus vaccines and tests
Please note that all persons arriving in Finland are still bound by the obligations stated in the Communicable Diseases Act. Make sure you read the guidelines of the Finnish institute for health and welfare on their web pages, regardless of which country or area you are travelling from: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic - Infectious diseases and vaccinations - THL.
2. Entry into Finland from Schengen countries
What are Schengen countries?
The Schengen countries include Austria, Belgium, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
What are the requirements for entry?
Person may be granted entry into Finland from any country if they present
- a certificate of a complete and valid vaccination series (either one or two doses depending on the vaccine). At least 7 days must have passed since the last vaccine dose has been received OR
- a single certificate that the person has recovered from covid-19 virus and has gotten one dose of vaccine. It is equated to a complete covid-19 vaccination series. OR
- EU digital COVID certificate or medical certificate that proves the person has recovered from covid-19 within 6 months.
- In addition to the aforementioned requirements, the person must present a negative covid-19 test result of less than 48 hours. The result of a PCR or an Antigen test is accepted.
- All the above-mentioned requirements apply to persons born in 2006 or earlier.
The requirements above do not apply to Finnish citizens or permanent residents of Finland returning to Finland. Neither does the requirement apply to those who enter the country for an essential purpose listed below.
Return to Finland
- Finnish nationals and their family members
- nationals of EU and Schengen countries residing in Finland and their family members
- third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit
- UK citizens and their family members residing in Finland who the Withdrawal Agreement applies to.
Essential reason
- work that is significant for the functioning of society or supply security, the implementation of which requires the work performance of a person or persons coming from another country and that the work cannot be delayed
- health care and rescue service personnel (including first aid) and elderly care professionals during assignments as well as authoritative personnel performing essential work tasks
- transport and logistics personnel during assignments
- diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their duties
- state representatives participating in international negotiations and persons engaged in the work of international NGOs
- persons in need of international protection or who are travelling for other humanitarian purposes
- pressing family matters or other pressing personal reasons
- other necessary and justified purposes (such as representatives of the foreign media; transit of scheduled air services at airports; a property, a residence or a secondary residence in Finland; the arrival of a family member of a Finnish citizen living abroad; realization of economic and cultural activities based on the rights of the Sámi people) .
The essential reason for travelling is always evaluated case by case during border controls carried out by the Finnish Border Guard.
Persons who cannot be vaccinated against covid-19 for medical reasons may enter Finland given they present a medical certificate indicating this. However, the person must present a negative covid-19 test result of less than 48 hours. The result of a PCR or an Antigen test is accepted.
Exception considering border communities
Residents of the border communities on the land border between Finland and Sweden, and on the land border between Finland and Norway, need a certificate of a complete and valid vaccination series, or an EU digital COVID certificate that proves the person has recovered from covid-19 within 6 months, or a certificate of a negative covid-19 test result of less than 7 days.
Same requirements apply to the traffic between the Åland islands and the municipality of Norrtälje in Sweden. This exception is to facilitate the entry into country in situations where entry into Finland is regular, or established in other ways.
The border community includes: In Sweden, the municipalities of Haparanda, Övertorneå, Pajala, Kiruna, and in Finland, the municipalities of Tornio, Ylitornio, Pello, Kolari, Muonio and Enontekiö. In Norway, Omasvuono, Kaivuono, Raisi, Koutokeino, Kaarasjoki, Teno, Uuniemi and the municipalities of South Varangi, and in Finland, the municipalities of Enontekiö, Inari and Utsjoki.
Information on the coronavirus vaccines and tests
Please note that all persons arriving in Finland are still bound by the obligations stated in the Communicable Diseases Act. Make sure you read the guidelines of the Finnish institute for health and welfare on their web pages, regardless of which country or area you are travelling from: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic - Infectious diseases and vaccinations - THL.
3. Entry into Finland from Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Monaco, Romania, San Marino and the Vatican City State
What are the requirements for entry?
Person may be granted entry into Finland from any country if they present
- a certificate of a complete and valid vaccination series (either one or two doses depending on the vaccine). At least 7 days must have passed since the last vaccine dose has been received OR
- a single certificate that the person has recovered from covid-19 virus and has gotten one dose of vaccine. It is equated to a complete covid-19 vaccination series. OR
- EU digital COVID certificate or medical certificate that proves the person has recovered from covid-19 within 6 months.
- In addition to the aforementioned requirements, the person must present a negative covid-19 test result of less than 48 hours. The result of a PCR or an Antigen test is accepted.
- All the above-mentioned requirements apply to persons born in 2006 or earlier.
The requirements above do not apply to Finnish citizens or permanent residents of Finland returning to Finland. Neither does the requirement apply to those who enter the country for an essential purpose listed below.
Return to Finland
- Finnish nationals and their family members
- nationals of EU and Schengen countries residing in Finland and their family members
- third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit
- UK citizens and their family members residing in Finland who the Withdrawal Agreement applies to.
Essential reason
- work that is significant for the functioning of society or supply security, the implementation of which requires the work performance of a person or persons coming from another country and that the work cannot be delayed
- health care and rescue service personnel (including first aid) and elderly care professionals during assignments as well as authoritative personnel performing essential work tasks
- transport and logistics personnel during assignments
- diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their duties
- state representatives participating in international negotiations and persons engaged in the work of international NGOs
- persons in need of international protection or who are travelling for other humanitarian purposes
- pressing family matters or other pressing personal reasons
- other necessary and justified purposes (such as representatives of the foreign media; transit of scheduled air services at airports; a property, a residence or a secondary residence in Finland; the arrival of a family member of a Finnish citizen living abroad).
The essential reason for travelling is always evaluated case by case during border controls carried out by the Finnish Border Guard.
Persons who cannot be vaccinated against covid-19 for medical reasons may enter Finland given they present a medical certificate indicating this. However, the person must present a negative covid-19 test result of less than 48 hours. The result of a PCR or an Antigen test is accepted.
Information on the coronavirus vaccines and tests
Please note that all persons arriving in Finland are still bound by the obligations stated in the Communicable Diseases Act. Make sure you read the guidelines of the Finnish institute for health and welfare on their web pages, regardless of which country or area you are travelling from: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic - Infectious diseases and vaccinations - THL.
4. Entry into Finland from the EU green list countries
What are the green list countries?
This section, ie. the “Green list” countries as defined by the EU, applies to the citizens and permanent residents of the following countries and territories: Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Kuwait, Macau, New Zealand, Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay.
What are the requirements for entry?
Person may be granted entry into Finland from any country if they present
- a certificate of a complete and valid vaccination series (either one or two doses depending on the vaccine). At least 7 days must have passed since the last vaccine dose has been received OR
- a single certificate that the person has recovered from covid-19 virus and has gotten one dose of vaccine. It is equated to a complete covid-19 vaccination series. OR
- EU digital COVID certificate that proves the person has recovered from covid-19 within 6 months.
- In addition to the aforementioned requirements, the person must present a negative covid-19 test result of less than 48 hours. The result of a PCR or an Antigen test is accepted.
- All the above-mentioned requirements apply to persons born in 2006 or earlier.
The requirements above do not apply to Finnish citizens or permanent residents of Finland returning to Finland. Neither does the requirement apply to those who enter the country for an essential purpose listed below.
Return to Finland
- Finnish nationals and their family members
- nationals of EU and Schengen countries residing in Finland and their family members
- third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit
- UK citizens and their family members residing in Finland who the Withdrawal Agreement applies to.
Return to or through other EU and Schengen countries
- nationals of other EU and Schengen countries and their family members
- third-country nationals residing another EU or Schengen country with a residence permit
- UK citizens and their family members residing another EU or Schengen country who the Withdrawal Agreement applies to.
Essential reason
- work that is significant for the functioning of society or supply security, the implementation of which requires the work performance of a person or persons coming from another country and that the work cannot be delayed
- health care and rescue service personnel (including first aid) and elderly care professionals during assignments as well as authoritative personnel performing essential work tasks
- transport and logistics personnel during assignments
- diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their duties
- state representatives participating in international negotiations and persons engaged in the work of international NGOs
- persons in need of international protection or who are travelling for other humanitarian purposes
- pressing family matters or other pressing personal reasons
- other necessary and justified purposes (such as representatives of the foreign media; transit of scheduled air services at airports; a property, a residence or a secondary residence in Finland; the arrival of a family member of a Finnish citizen living abroad).
The essential reason for travelling is always evaluated case by case during border controls carried out by the Finnish Border Guard.
Information on the coronavirus vaccines and tests
Please note that all persons arriving in Finland are still bound by the obligations stated in the Communicable Diseases Act. Make sure you read the guidelines of the Finnish institute for health and welfare on their web pages, regardless of which country or area you are travelling from: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic - Infectious diseases and vaccinations - THL.
5. Entry into Finland from other countries or regions
What countries and regions does this apply to?
This section applies to entry in Finland for persons from all countries and regions not previously listed above, such as Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and Turkey.
What are the requirements for entry?
Person may be granted entry into Finland from any country if they present
- a certificate of a complete and valid vaccination series (either one or two doses depending on the vaccine). At least 7 days must have passed since the last vaccine dose has been received OR
- a single certificate that the person has recovered from covid-19 virus and has gotten one dose of vaccine. It is equated to a complete covid-19 vaccination series. OR
- EU digital COVID certificate that proves the person has recovered from covid-19 within 6 months.
- In addition to the aforementioned requirements, the person must present a negative covid-19 test result of less than 48 hours. The result of a PCR or an Antigen test is accepted.
- All the above-mentioned requirements apply to persons born in 2006 or earlier.
The requirements above do not apply to Finnish citizens or permanent residents of Finland returning to Finland. Neither does the requirement apply to those who enter the country for a purpose listed below. The essential reason for travelling is always evaluated case by case during border controls carried out by the Finnish Border Guard.
Return to Finland
- Finnish nationals and their family members
- nationals of EU and Schengen countries residing in Finland and their family members
- third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit
- UK citizens and their family members residing in Finland who the Withdrawal Agreement applies to.
Return to or through other EU and Schengen countries
- nationals of other EU and Schengen countries and their family members
- third-country nationals residing another EU or Schengen country with a residence permit
- UK citizens and their family members residing another EU or Schengen country who the Withdrawal Agreement applies to.
Essential reason
- work that is significant for the functioning of society or supply security, the implementation of which requires the work performance of a person or persons coming from another country and that the work cannot be delayed
- health care and rescue service personnel (including first aid) and elderly care professionals during assignments as well as authoritative personnel performing essential work tasks
- transport and logistics personnel during assignments
- diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their duties
- persons travelling with a residence permit in Finland
- state representatives participating in international negotiations and persons engaged in the work of international NGOs
- persons in need of international protection or who are travelling for other humanitarian purposes
- pressing family matters or other pressing personal reasons
- other necessary and justified purposes (such as representatives of the foreign media; transit of scheduled air services at airports; a property, a residence or a secondary residence in Finland; the arrival of a family member of a Finnish citizen living abroad).
Information on the coronavirus vaccines and tests
Please note that all persons arriving in Finland are still bound by the obligations stated in the Communicable Diseases Act. Make sure you read the guidelines of the Finnish institute for health and welfare on their web pages, regardless of which country or area you are travelling from: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic - Infectious diseases and vaccinations - THL.
General Telephone Service and Chat
On the telephone service of the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (Tel. 0295 535 535) and on chat you can get general information on the coronavirus, coronavirus vaccines, and advice on the use of the Koronavilkku app.
Weekdays 8–18 and on Saturdays 9–15.
The chat on the website of the Finnish Government.
The service does not provide health advice. If your question concerns a coronavirus infection or your own vaccination, contact a healthcare provider.
Finentry service
It is recommended to log in to the Finentry Web service before you travel.
In the Lapland health care district, the corresponding service is Laplandentry.
Using these services facilitates significantly better health safety upon entry into the country.
6. Cruise ship traffic
Please note that regular ferry traffic between, for example, Helsinki and Tallinn or Turku and Stockholm is not regarded as cruise ship traffic. The said traffic is internal border traffic.
Cruise ships are allowed to visit seaports without passenger disembarkation. However, limited disembarkation for passengers arriving on cruise ships from other EU or Schengen countries is allowed. Passenger visitations in ports require that the cruise ship has a health safety plan that has been approved by the receiving municipality, and that the cruise ship has provided a sea health report in accordance with paragraph 22a of the Vessel Traffic Service Act (623/2005).
The municipal health authority has the right to prohibit passengers from landing on the basis of a maritime health report, for example in a situation where there are cases of covid-19 on board.
Person may be granted entry into Finland from any country if they present the required certificates.
7. Interpretation guidelines for clarification
Entry is decided during the border check
The Finnish Border Guard does not grant advance permits for entry to Finland. Decision to allow entry is always made during border checks.
Travel documents
Finnish citizens must have the required travel documents when leaving the country.
Foreign citizens must have the required travel documents and, if necessary, the required visa or a residence permit.
In traffic between the Nordic countries, it is sufficient for Nordic citizens to be able to prove their identity if necessary.
Registering an EU citizen's right of residence
EU citizen who has registered the right of residence in Finland may enter the country. The registration certificate must be presented at the border control.
Returning to Finland is also allowed if the registration request is being processed in Finland and identification with the authorities has been carried out.
The person who has registered their right of residence in Finland may enter with a child/person under his or her care.
Residence permit granted by Finland
It is possible to enter Finland with a residence permit granted by Finland. The residence permit card must be presented at the border check.
The holder of a residence permit granted by Finland entering the country may bring a child/ person under his or her care.
It is possible to wait in Finland for a decision on an application for a residence permit that was submitted in Finland, and staying in Finland is legally allowed while the application is being processed. Returning to Finland is also allowed. However, if you are required to have a visa, you must apply for a valid visa in order to enter Finland if the residence period allowed by the visa has expired. A person who is not required to have a visa for Finland can return from outside the Schengen zone directly to Finland if the stay period allowed by the visa has expired. Staying in Finland with a residence permit is not considered short-term residence.
Compelling family matters
Persons may be granted entry into Finland for compelling family reasons. Pressing family matters include, for example, the birth of one’s own child, serious illness of a close relative, or one’s own wedding, meeting a relative, or courting relationship.
Meeting relatives
For the purpose of meeting a relative, the entry into the country is applied to the following persons:
- Relatives of Finnish citizens residing or staying in Finland arriving in the country
- Relatives of EU/Schengen citizens residing in Finland (registered right of residence) and their family members arriving in the country
- Relatives of third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit by Finland arriving in the country.
Relatives include spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, and grandparents, including the family members (spouses and minor children) of the above-mentioned persons. As a rule, authorities assume that the traveller’s own notification of the kinship is truthful. The guardian or trustee of a dependent person is also treated as a relative in this purpose of entry.
Relationship
Persons may be granted entry into Finland on the basis of a steady personal relationship.
Relationship refers to a marriage or people living continuously in a marriage-like relationship within the same household regardless of their sex. In this case, it is not mandatory that the couple has lived together continuously for two years. Additionally, relationships between people who live in different countries (“long-distance relationships”) are accepted, as are other committed ways of being together.
Fundamentally, border inspectors trust the words of travelers. More detailed information may be inquired in isolated cases. The regulations for entering Finland on a basis of a dating relationship apply to partners of Finnish citizens and to partners of EU/Schengen citizens residing in Finland (registered right of residence) and their family members as well as partners of third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit. A dependent of a person who is entering the country on the basis of a dating relationship may also enter Finland.
Pressing personal reasons
Persons may be granted entry into Finland for compelling personal reasons.
A pressing personal reason should involve a compulsory 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 pressing personal reason can be, for example, participation in the funeral of next of kin. Compulsory personal reasons are assessed on a case-by-case basis in connection with the border check.
If the person can bring documents with him or her that prove the situation, this may streamline the border check.
In addition, participation in an entrance examination of an educational institution, if such participation requires physical presence, is considered a justified personal reason to enter the country.
Entry of a person who owns property in Finland
A person who owns property, a residence or a secondary residence in Finland may also arrive in Finland. The owner's family (spouse and minor children) may also enter the country.
Work significant to the functioning of society and the security of supply
In internal and external border traffic from third countries an essential reason is considered to be work that is significant in terms of the functioning of society and the security of supply, if the implementation of the work requires that the work be performed by a person or persons arriving from another country and the performance of the work cannot be delayed.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has overseen the process of defining the types of work that are important for the functioning of society or security of supply and cannot tolerate delay. This list of critical tasks does not constitute an advance decision granting entry into the country. The employer or the client must use a separate form to justify the necessity of an employee entering the country. In addition to the other documents required for border crossing, the employee seeking to enter Finland presents this form at the border check.
The border control authority will consider the list of critical tasks and the employer's explanation when assessing a necessary reason for entry.
Seasonal workers (third-country nationals)
The seasonal work permit must be granted before entering the country, so that the employee has a real opportunity to carry out work that is critical to security of supply that cannot be delayed.
The employer must fill in the employer's justification form with the reasoning for the seasonal worker’s entry to the country. In addition to the other documents required for border crossing, the seasonal worker seeking to enter Finland must present this form at the border check. The border inspection authority takes into account the employer's justification when assessing the entry of a seasonal worker.
A minor child of a third-country national may accompany a seasonal worker arriving in the country for seasonal work, if the best interests and care of the child so require.
For seasonal workers arriving on a seasonal work certificate or a seasonal work visa (third-country nationals), work critical to the security of supply covers work on farms, gardens and in farm forestry. Work carried out at fur farms is not considered as critical to the security of supply.
Persons who have a residence permit for seasonal work may arrive in Finland in a similar manner as persons who have a residence permit.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry instructs employers on health-secure entry into Finland of seasonal workers, and seasonal workers on health security: Instructions for health-secure entry of seasonal workers in primary production.
Visa-free entry is allowed before the seasonal work permit already issued becomes effective in order to conduct self-quarantine.
Picking of natural products
The entry of wild berry pickers, wild produce pickers and related workers into the country is allowed on the basis of an invitation from a company that is committed to a letter of intent.
Holders of service and official passports
In addition to diplomats, holders of service and official passports are allowed entry in the exercise of their duties.
Border crossing outside the opening hours of border crossing points in some cases
The opening hours of the border crossing points of Vartius, Niirala, Nuijamaa and Vaalimaa are restricted. The Vartius border crossing point is open for passenger traffic from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Niirala border crossing point is open for passenger traffic from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the Nuijamaa and Vaalimaa border crossing points is open for passenger traffic from 7 a.m. to 9.30 p.m. The border crossing point of Imatra is closed for passenger traffic. The restrictions on opening hours do not apply to freight traffic or persons who have a necessary and urgent need to cross the border outside the opening hours. In addition to goods transports, the following cases are considered necessary and urgent:
- The movement of winter maintenance personnel working in accordance with the obligations included in the State agreement on the Saimaa Canal lease area:
- A pressing and surprising work task that cannot be delayed (e.g. to prevent significant additional damage or harm);
- Urgent medical transport or other rescue personnel tasks;
- The necessary and urgent professional tasks of authorities;
- Other, case-by-case, particularly pressing, necessary and urgent reason that cannot be delayed.
Contact information of the border crossing points.
Family member of a Finnish citizen
A family member of a Finnish citizen may enter Finland if they fit the definition of a family member as laid down in Section 37 of the Aliens Act. 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 or residence permit.
The provisions on freedom of movement will apply to a family member of a Finnish citizen if the Finnish citizen has exercised their right of movement under the Directive on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States by settling in another Member State and the family member comes to Finland with them or follows them later. A family member of a Finnish citizen may arrive in the country if they have the required document proving their right of residence in Finland or another EU or Schengen country.
Transit of regular scheduled air services at an airport
Transit on regularly scheduled routes is permitted. During the transit journey, a person must remain in the transit area of the airport. Entry into the country for transit, or for example, for hotel accommodation that is not in the transit area, is allowed only for a grave reason. In this case, passengers entering the country will be bound by the obligations stated in the Communicable Diseases Act.
Destination countries may also require passengers to take a coronavirus test at transit airports. Waiting for the test and the test results is not in itself a ground for allowing entry during transit.
Persons who are not Finnish citizens and reside in other EU and Schengen country may not return to their country of residence through Finland, except by flight, if the passage is related to leisurely travel.
Special groups
Entry to Finland may be permitted for special groups, such as representatives of culture, sports and business life if entry is justifiable for those persons or groups of persons. These kinds of tasks include activities essential for ensuring revitalization, new growth, regional economy or long-term operating conditions as well as arrangements based on reciprocity.
Applications relating to special groups should be sent by email directly to the Finnish Border Guard ([email protected]raja.fi). Name the email "special group application". The application is made by the party extending the invitation.
If you meet the following requirements, there is no need to apply for a special group permit: Entry into Finland for persons with a complete covid-19 vaccination series, or a certificate of recovery from Covid-19, and a negative test result.
The applications must include justification regarding the national significance of the activities as well as the reasons why other procedures cannot be observed and a description of the procedures that will be employed to ensure health security. The employer or other such party inviting the person or persons to enter the country must be able to present a health security action plan that complies with the national instructions for them.
If the health security measures are at least in accordance with currently valid national recommendations from the health authorities, the application does not require a separate statement from the health authorities on these measures. In cases where the health security measures presented in the application contain deviations from the current recommendations or an application is otherwise different (e.g. a large group size or several separate groups), a separate statement from the local infectious disease authority (municipality or hospital district) must be included in the application.
The applications are sent from the Finnish Border Guard to the relevant government ministries and, if necessary, also the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, who then issue a statement on them. After receiving the statement, the Finnish Border Guard will prepare a policy concerning the necessity of entry to Finland and inform the applicant of that policy. The processing time of the application is estimated to be 2 weeks. However, the final decision on entry to the country is made during the border check.