COVID-19
-
Entry into Finland from EU and Schengen countries and from Andorra, Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia and Cyprus is permitted for persons holding a certificate of an acceptable Covid-19 vaccination series completed at least 14 days before arrival in Finland or proof of having had Covid-19 infection within the last six months.
A vaccination certificate or medical certificate of having had a Covid-19 infection does not alone entitle a foreign national to enter the country from countries other than those mentioned above. A negative test result does not entitle any foreign national to enter the country. A foreign citizen must meet the requirements of normalised traffic, restriction category I or II, to enter.
The certificates stated above will influence the health and safety related measures upon entry and thereafter, for which THL is responsible. More information on said measures are available on the THL website: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic - Infectious diseases and vaccinations - THL
Updated 20.7.2021 at 16.41 -
Internal border traffic, or traffic crossing the internal border, refers to traffic crossing the border between Finland and another state that is a member of the Schengen area. The Schengen countries include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Spain, and of the non-EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
External border traffic, or traffic crossing the external border, refers to traffic between Finland and a state that does not belong to the Schengen area. To traffic crossing the border between Finland and another state, the guidelines concerning border crossing apply, if the other state does not belong to the Schengen area. This also applies to non-Schengen EU member States. Of the EU member states, Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are not part of the Schengen area. Neither is the United Kingdom part of the Schengen area.
Updated 15.12.2020 at 16.28 -
For external border traffic and to the extent that internal border controls have been restored, the transit on regularly scheduled routes is permitted. As a rule, during the transit journey, a person must remain in the transit area of the airport, but in isolated cases, a person may also be permitted to enter the country for the purpose of the transit referred to above. For example, a person may take lodging in a hotel near the airport especially if the waiting time at the airport would prove to be lengthy. Such situations include unreasonable waiting times resulting from a cancelled connecting flight.
Destination countries may also require passengers to take a coronavirus test at transit airports. Waiting for the test and the test results is not as such a ground for allowing entry during transit.
Updated 15.12.2020 at 17.37 -
To the extent that internal border controls have been restored, or to the extent that there are restriction on external border traffic, leisure travel (for example, visiting a friend's cottage) is not an essential reason for a foreign citizen to come to Finland.
Entry into Finland when crossing internal borders from EU or Schengen countries or traveling between Finland and Andorra, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus and Monaco is however permitted for those who hold a certificate of an acceptable Covid-19 vaccination series or of having had Covid-19 infection within the last six months.
Updated 12.7.2021 at 12.48 -
Receiving insurance compensation for a cancelled or interrupted journey is a matter between the customer and their insurance company. The Border Guard does not take a stand on insurance compensation matters or issue certificates related to the matter. Basic information on travel insurance can be found on the Finnish Financial Ombudsman Bureau website.
Updated 22.6.2021 at 9.32 -
If you have a residence permit issued by Finland, you can enter the country through internal and external borders. The residence permit card must be presented at the border check.
Updated 15.12.2020 at 17.30 -
In internal and external border traffic other essential reason refers particularly to work that is significant in terms of the functioning of society and, in particular, the security of supply is considered other essential reason, 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 admission of seasonal labour critical to security of supply is permitted during the growing season 2021. For seasonal workers (third-country nationals), this covers work on agricultural and horticultural farms as well as forestry. 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 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 must use a separate form to justify why the work of the employee coming to Finland is critical and cannot tolerate delay.
The Employer fills in the form entitled "Employer’s or client’s justification for the necessity of an employee entering the country" and gives it to the employee. 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 take into account the list of critical tasks and the employer's explanation when assessing a necessary reason for entry.
List of critical tasks (tem.fi)
Updated 15.2.2021 at 11.13 -
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.
However, travel documents that deviate from those required earlier are not needed for crossing an internal border. Further information on travel documents is available here:
Further information on travel documents
Updated 15.12.2020 at 17.33 -
Internal border controls have been lifted on travel by pleasure craft between Schengen countries, including pleasure craft travel between Finland and Sweden. This means that it is not necessary to pass through border controls when using a pleasure boat. In addition to the seas area, it is also possible to enter the country on a recreational boat at waterways on the border between Finland and Sweden as well as Finland and Norway.
Updated 12.7.2021 at 12.51 -
Cruise ships are allowed to visit seaports without passenger disembarkation.
Updated 16.12.2020 at 10.32 -
The Finnish Border Guard does not grant advance permits for entry to Finland. Decisions on permitting entry are always made in connection with border checks.
Updated 15.12.2020 at 17.32 -
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 kind of tasks include activities essential for ensuring the revitalisation, new growth or long-term operating conditions for a field of activity.
Applications relating to special groups should be sent by email directly to the Finnish Border Guard ([email protected]). The application is made by the party extending the invitation.
The applications must include justification regarding the national significance of the activities and the reasons why other procedures cannot be observed as well as the procedures that will be used to ensure the implementation of health security. The employer or other such party inviting the person or persons to enter the country must present them with a health security action plan that complies with the national instructions.
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. However, the final decision on entry to the country is made during the border check.
e border check.
Updated 15.12.2020 at 9.48 -
The constitutional right to enter and leave the country also applies to you. If you do not have a passport or driving licence, Finnish citizenship can be proven, for example, by some other document granted by a Finnish authority or by a Finnish identity number.
Updated 22.6.2021 at 9.45 -
Read the up-to-date health safety instructions and recommendations concerning quarantine in the guidelines of The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL): Travel and the coronavirus pandemic
Updated 19.7.2021 at 13.10 -
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. 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.
Updated 22.6.2021 at 9.51
COVID-19 - Border traffic turned to normal
-
The entry of residents of Azerbaijan, Albania, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Kosovo, Macau, Moldova, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan into Finland, when arriving from abovementioned countries, is unrestricted while taking into account the provisions on the entry of foreign nationals into Finland. With regard to China, the Council of the European Union establishes that there is sufficient reciprocity.
In principle, a person travelling with a passport issued by one of these countries can be assumed to live in that country. As the place of departure for a third-country national must be determined in connection with the border check, questions may also be asked during the border check in order to determine the country of residence. As a rule, authorities assume that the traveller’s own notification of their country of residence is correct.
If necessary, place of residence can be confirmed by presenting, for example, an ID or driving licence issued by the third country in question or another document demonstrating residence. In addition, residence and work permits of the countries concerned indicate a person’s residence in those countries. Other official documents that confirm residence may also be used to prove residence in the said country.
Entry into Finland from these countries for persons other than those living in these countries is permitted under the same restrictions as under restriction category 2.
Updated 19.7.2021 at 13.39 -
This section applies to:
-
Internal border traffic to Finland from countries for which internal border controls has been lifted: travel from Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland and by pleasure craft between the Schengen countries.
-
External border traffic to Finland from countries for which traffic restrictions have been lifted: Bulgaria, Romania, San Marino and the Vatican
-
External border traffic between Finland and Albania, Azerbaijan, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Kosovo, Macau, Moldova, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Serbia, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan for the residents of these countries, when arriving to Finland from their country of residence (only direct flights)
-
Persons who have completed a full vaccination series or had a Covid-19 infection within the last six months when crossing internal borders or traveling between Finland and Andorra, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus and Monaco.
Updated 19.7.2021 at 13.28 -
COVID-19 - Restriction category 1
-
This section applies to:
-
Internal border traffic to Finland from countries to which internal border controls are still applied: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
-
External border traffic between Finland and Andorra, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus and Monaco
Updated 19.7.2021 at 13.31 -
COVID-19 - Restriction category 2
-
Under restriction category 2, it is possible to enter Finland based on 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 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.
Updated 15.12.2020 at 10.06 -
Under restriction category 2, it is possible to enter Finland for a compulsory personal reason. A compulsory 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. Compulsory personal reasons are assessed on a case-by-case basis in connection with the border check. A dependent of a person who is entering the country on the basis of a dating relationship may also enter Finland.
A pressing personal reason in restriction class 2 may also be the arrival of a person who owns property in Finland if that person is entering the country for the purpose of essential maintenance work on the property, or measures related to maintenance that cannot be delayed, and if the failure of the person to come would lead to significant damage to the property considering the circumstances.
Updated 15.12.2020 at 9.59 -
Under restriction category 2, it is possible to enter Finland for pressing family matters. 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.
For the purpose of meeting a relative, the entry into the country is applied not only to the relatives of Finnish citizens residing or staying in Finland, but also to the relatives of EU/Schengen citizens and their family members residing in Finland, and to the relatives of third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit by Finland.
Relatives include spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, and grandparents, including the family members (spouses and minor children) of the above-mentioned persons. The guardian or trustee of a dependent person is also treated as a relative in this purpose of entry. As a rule, authorities assume that the traveller’s own notification of the kinship is correct.
Updated 22.6.2021 at 10.20