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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.

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.

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.

19.12.2024 | 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. 

26.9.2024 | Finland is applying for additional funding for its programme under the EU Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (BMVI) to strengthen surveillance at the eastern border. Finland is seeking the maximum amount defined by the Commission, EUR 50 million. The Government decided to apply for funding on 26 September 2024.

18.4.2024 | On 18 April, the Government submitted to Parliament a proposal for introducing a new border procedure. The Aliens Act will be amended in line with the EU Asylum Procedures Directive to introduce the new border procedure in Finland. The purpose of the border procedure is to enhance the examination of unfounded applications and the return of applicants whose application has been rejected. In addition, this will prevent secondary movements of asylum seekers to other EU countries. 

4.3.2024 | The EU home affairs ministers will gather in Brussels on 4 March for a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The ministers will discuss issues related to border management, migration and the situation in Ukraine. Finland will be represented at the meeting by Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen.

18.4.2024 | The Government proposes that the Border Guard be allowed to use more modern technology in its key statutory duties, such as border control and the maintenance of border security and order along the border. The government proposal for amending the Border Guard Act and certain related acts was submitted to Parliament on 18 April.

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.

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.

20.2.2025 | The Czech Republic's Minister of the Interior Vít Rakušan will visit Finland between 19 and 21 February. Minister Rakušan will meet Finland's Minister of the Interior Mari Rantanen and travel with her to Vaalimaa border crossing point, where the ministers will be hosted by the Southeast Finland Border Guard District. The topics on their agenda will include discussions on Finland's action to combat the instrumentalisation of migrants. 

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.

14.12.2023 | The Government has decided to close border crossing points at the land border between Finland and Russia up to 14th of January 2024. The decision will take effect on the 15th of December 2023 at 20.00. Applications for international protection will not be accepted at the crossing points on the Finnish-Russian border. A decision to this effect was made by the extraordinary session of the Government on the 14th of December.

8.4.2024 | The interior ministers of Finland and Estonia visited the Pelkola border guard station and the Imatra border crossing point on 8 April. The exceptional circumstances at Finland's eastern border continue. The ministers were briefed on the current situation at the border and the project to build a fence on the border.

28.11.2023 | The Government has decided to close the border crossing point of Raja-Jooseppi during the night between Wednesday and Thursday, that is, as of 30 November 2023. The decision means that all border crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia will be closed until 13 December.  It will not be possible to submit applications for international protection at any border crossing points on the land border between Finland and Russia.

2.6.2022 | The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. To safeguard the capacity of the healthcare system, restrictions on external border traffic will continue until 30 June. The Government decided to extend the existing restrictions at its session on 2 June.

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.

5.5.2022 | The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. To safeguard the capacity of the healthcare system, restrictions on external border traffic will continue until 5 June. The Government decided to extend the existing restrictions at its session on 5 May.

7.4.2022 | The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. To safeguard the capacity of the healthcare system, restrictions on external border traffic will continue until 8 May. The Government decided to extend the restrictions at its session on 7 April and they will enter into force on 11 April.