Internal border control will continue until 25 July - changes to external border control as well

The Government has decided to continue internal border control until 25 July to ensure the introduction of health security measures at borders. After this short transitional period, internal border control and entry restrictions at internal borders will be lifted. Internal border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and other Schengen countries. Changes will be made to external border control as well.

Internal border control will be restored for the period between 12 and 25 July to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus varieties in traffic between Finland and Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Greece, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. However, leisure boating from these countries is still allowed. 

Based on an epidemiological assessment, internal border controls will be lifted from travel between Finland and Lithuania, Finland and Slovenia and Finland and Switzerland.

Under the Constitution of Finland, Finnish citizens and residents of Finland always have the right to return to Finland, and everyone has the right to leave Finland if they so wish, provided that there is no legal impediment to this.

The accepted criteria for entry at the border crossing points that are open to passenger traffic from countries still covered by internal border control are the return of persons living in Finland or in another EU or Schengen country, work-related travel and other essential reasons.

In addition, entry into Finland from EU or Schengen countries will also be permitted if the person has a certificate of a completed COVID-19 vaccination series received before arriving in Finland or a certificate stating that they have recovered from COVID-19 less than six months prior to entry. This means that, under these conditions, recreational travel to Finland will also be permitted.

This refers to the following situations: 1) you have received a full vaccination series (one dose or two doses depending on the vaccine) and at least two weeks have passed since the last dose of vaccine, or 2) you have had COVID-19 less than six months prior to entry.

Certificate of a negative COVID-19 test result or one dose of vaccine not enough to allow entry to the country

As announced by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health on Tuesday 6 July, with respect to health security measures a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test prior to the entry or of the first dose of vaccine at least 14 days prior to the entry will be enough to allow a person to enter Finland. However, persons travelling to Finland should remember that, with respect to countries that continue to be subject to internal border control and entry restrictions, such a certificate will not be enough to allow entry during the transitional period 12-25 July.

The health authorities recommend that in both of the above cases the person should also take a test within 3 to 5 days from the entry to the country. The person should avoid contacts and stay at home or other accommodation until the negative test result has been confirmed.

Persons travelling to Finland are advised to follow the websites of the health authorities and Border Guard on a regular basis.

Validity of the decision on external border traffic extended

The decision on external border traffic will be extended until 22 August 2021 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 virus varieties. External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen third countries.

Based on an epidemiological assessment, the restrictions on entry will be lifted as of 12 July from the residents of Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Kosovo, Moldova and Serbia in traffic arriving in Finland from those countries. Restrictions on entry have already been lifted earlier for traffic arriving in Finland from Bulgaria, Romania, San Marino and the Vatican, and for traffic between Finland and Albania, Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macao, North Macedonia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan for residents of these countries. Entry from these low-risk countries is not restricted due to the low incidence of COVID-19. Restrictions on entry will be reinstated for residents of Lebanon arriving in Finland from Lebanon.

As of 26 July 2021, the restrictions on entry will be lifted in all traffic arriving in Finland from Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Monaco, Romania, San Marino and the Vatican because, in line with the EU recommendations, these countries are comparable to Schengen countries.

At the border crossing points that are open to passenger traffic, the accepted criteria for entry are the return of persons living in Finland or in another EU or Schengen country and other essential reasons. However, non-Finnish citizens living in another EU or Schengen country are not allowed to return to their country of residence through Finland if the transit is related to recreational travel. This does not apply to air traffic.

The entry into Finland by residents of EU or Schengen countries will be permitted if the person has a certificate of a completed COVID-19 vaccination series received before arriving in Finland or a certificate stating that they have recovered from COVID-19 less than six months prior to entry. 
Cruise vessels are permitted to call at ports but passengers are not allowed to come ashore.

Inquiries:
The Finnish Border Guard gives people advice on cross-border traffic by phone and email. The service is available in Finnish, Swedish and English on weekdays between 8.00 and 16.00 at +358 295 420 100. Questions can also be sent by email to [email protected]. The advisory service is very busy and it may take longer than usually to receive a reply. Travellers are advised to first check the up-to-date guidelines on border traffic on the Border Guard’s website.

See the websites below for existing entry restrictions and health security requirements.