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10.10.2024 | The EU home affairs ministers will gather in Luxembourg on 10 October for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The ministers will discuss the impact of external conflicts on the EU and the development of the external border control, among other things. Minister of Transport, Communications and the Interior Lulu Ranne will represent Finland at the meeting.

24.5.2024 | The interior ministers of Finland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland met in Latvia's capital, Riga, on 23 and 24 May. The ministers discussed the countries' common security challenges, especially those concerning the EU's external borders. Finland was represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen. She briefed her colleagues about the Finnish Government's proposal on a border security act, which had just been submitted to Parliament.

2.9.2021 | A few changes will be made to the restrictions on entry at external borders based on current incidence rates. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 2 August and the decision will enter into force on 6 August. The restrictions will continue until 19 September. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full vaccine course.

7.10.2021 | Restrictions on entry will be lifted for residents of Kuwait in traffic arriving in Finland from Kuwait. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 7 October and the decision will enter into force on 11 October. No other changes will be introduced to the restrictions. The existing restrictions on entry at external borders will be extended until 24 October. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full course of vaccination.

13.2.2025 | The EU will not ask the Member States to immediately start full operation of the Entry/Exit System (EES). The Commission has drafted a proposal for a regulation that would allow for a progressive start of the system that has been in preparation for a long time. The Government informed Parliament of the Commission's proposal by submitting a Union communication on 13 February.

10.2.2022 | The European Commission wants to harmonise measures taken by the Member States at the EU’s external borders in various crisis situations. The Commission issued a proposal for amending the Schengen Borders Code in December. The aim is to develop the Member States’ joint actions at the external and internal borders and in the area of free movement. The Government expressed its position on the proposal in its communication submitted to Parliament on 10 February.

6.7.2023 | The Border Guard will enhance border security at Finland's external and internal borders on 8–15 July. The Government made a decision on the matter on 6 July 2023.

12.12.2024 | The EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on 12 December for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The topics on the agenda include issues related to border security and responding to migration. Finland will be represented by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

16.9.2021 | Restrictions on entry will be reinstated for residents of Singapore in traffic arriving in Finland from Singapore. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 16 September and the decision will enter into force on 20 September. No other changes will be introduced to the restrictions. The existing restrictions on entry at external borders will be extended until 10 October. However, people ...

5.8.2021 | Changes are being made to the restrictions on external border traffic based on COVID-19 incidence rates, as the epidemic continues to spread vigorously in many parts of the world. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 5 August. The decision will enter into force on 9 August and will remain in force until 22 August 2021. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full vaccine course.

27.10.2023 | The interior ministers of Finland, Norway, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland and Ukraine met in Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, on 27 October. The ministers discussed current security challenges facing their countries. The agenda included hybrid threats, border control, immigration, civil preparedness and resilience of critical infrastructure. Finland was represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

19.8.2021 | A few changes will be made to the restrictions on entry at external borders based on current incidence rates. The Government adopted a decision on the matter on 19 August and the decision will enter into force on 23 August. The restrictions will continue until 19 September. However, people may still enter Finland from all countries upon presenting an approved certificate of a full vaccine course.

19.12.2024 | The European Commission proposes a new EU Digital Travel application for travellers to create and store their digital travel credentials, among other things. The Government informed Parliament of the Commission's proposals by submitting a Union communication on 19 December. 

20.6.2022 | Restrictions on entry at Finland’s external borders imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic will end. As of 1 July, third-country travellers arriving in Finland will no longer be required to hold vaccination or COVID-19 test certificates, and COVID-19 tests will not be carried out at border crossing points. Health authorities have judged that no health grounds remain for restrictions at external borders.

23.7.2020 | In its meeting on 23 July, the Government decided to reinstate internal border control for traffic between Finland and Austria, Slovenia and Switzerland. These countries have seen an increase in the number of COVID-19 infections since the previous assessment. The reinstated restrictions will enter into force on Monday 27 July.

19.8.2020 | In its negotiations yesterday on 18 August, the Government decided on border traffic restrictions. Restrictions on internal and external border traffic will be reinstated based on an epidemiological assessment.

20.8.2020 | Based on the current epidemiological assessment, restrictions on entry into the country will be reinstated for traffic between Finland and the following countries: Iceland, Greece, Malta, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Ireland, Cyprus and San Marino. In addition, the restrictions will apply to Japanese residents on flights arriving in Finland from Japan. The reinstated restrictions will enter into force on Monday 24 August.

20.1.2022 | Representatives of the EU Member States, the European Commission and EU agencies will meet in Vilnius, Lithuania on 20–21 January for a conference on external border control organised by Austria, Greece, Lithuania and Poland. The conference serves as a forum where Member States can discuss ways to develop the EU’s external border control to be better equipped to respond to current and future challenges. State Secretary Akseli Koskela will represent Finland at the meeting.

2.2.2022 | EU home affairs ministers will gather in Lille, France, on 3 February for an Informal Meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers. The ministers will discuss the security of Europe’s borders and the reform of the EU’s migration and asylum policy. Another topic on the agenda will be the impact of climate change on civil protection. No decisions will be made at the informal meeting.

11.6.2020 | On 11 June, the Government outlined its proposal that border control will continue partially at internal borders and external border traffic will continue to be restricted until 14 July 2020. The restrictions will continue to the extent that they are considered mandatory due to a serious threat posed by the epidemiological situation. The Government will take the decision on this matter in its plenary session on 12 June.