Border crossing points

  • The international border crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia are (from north to south) Rajajooseppi, Salla, Kuusamo, Vartius, Niirala, Imatra, Nuijamaa, Vainikkala and Vaalimaa.
    • It is not allowed to cross the border by bicycle at any of the border crossing points on the eastern border.
  • The international border crossing points for recreational watercraft are the coast guard stations of Haapasaari, Helsinki, Hanko and Åland, Santio and the port of Nuijamaa. 
  • The airports and most of the ports are also international border crossing points. The largest of these is Helsinki Airport, which handles the majority of Finland’s international air traffic all year round. 

Check the opening hours of the border crossing points: contact information  

How to cross the external border

At border crossing points, the Finnish Border Guard’s staff carry out border controls on you. This means that they check that you are allowed to enter or exit the country. Make sure that you have the necessary travel document with you and prepare to answer questions about your stay in Finland.

You should also be prepared to show documents that indicate the purpose of your stay in Finland. This would mean, for example, that if you are coming to Finland on a work trip, you have invitation documents to show that this is the case. 

For more information about the required travel document, see passports and other travel documents

How to cross the border between countries in the Schengen Area

You can cross the internal border between countries in the Schengen Area at any point, providing that you do not have any goods to declare to Customs. Internal borders are the borders between countries in the Schengen Area. You can, therefore, cross the borders between Finland, Sweden and Norway anywhere. 

If you cross the border to Norway and you have goods to declare to Customs, make sure you travel via a Customs office. There are customs offices in Kilpisjärvi, Kivilompolo, Karigasniemi, Utsjoki, Nuorgam and Näätämö. You can cross the border with Sweden at any location, even if you have goods to declare. In this case, you must contact a Customs office yourself. 

Crossing the external border at a point other than an established border crossing point

The Finnish Border Guard may grant you a permit to cross the external border of the Schengen Area at places other than an established border crossing point and at times other than the official opening hours of a border crossing point. The external border is the border between Finland and a country that does not belong to the Schengen Area. 

We will grant permission to cross the border if there is a pressing reason and if the crossing will not jeopardise border security. We may include any terms and conditions essential to maintaining border security in the permit.