Restrictions on entry into Finland extended until 17 April

Updated 18.3.2021

List of countries from which you can travel to Finland without restrictions on 19 March 2021: Iceland, the Vatican and for traffic between Finland and Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand for residents of these countries. Restrictions will now be lifted for traffic arriving in Finland from Rwanda for residents of Rwanda.

Entry from these low-risk countries is not restricted due to the low incidence of COVID-19. The lifting of entry restrictions means that recreational travel to Finland is permitted for people from these countries. In this case, it is not necessary to self-isolate upon arrival in Finland or take a COVID-19 test.

Finnish citizens and residents of Finland always have the right to return to Finland. However, the Government still recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to other countries, except for countries for which the restrictions on entry have been lifted.

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]

Further information:

Southern Finland AVI introduces compulsory Covid checks at international border crossings

Southern Finland’s regional state administrative agency (AVI) announced
passengers arriving in Finland from ‘risk countries’ will be subject to a compulsory health check at the border. The checks apply to anyone arriving at Helsinki’s sea ports, Helsinki Airport or the busy Finnish-Russian border-crossing at Vaalimaa. As a part of the check, a coronavirus test may also be carried out.

The compulsory checks will come into force on Thursday 18 March and will be in place until 31 March.

During the health examination, ach person arriving in the country will be asked for a negative coronavirus test certificate, taken in the last three days. A certificate proving a positive coronavirus test within the last six months is also accepted, if the certificate is deemed as being reliable. In this case, a person arriving into the country will avoid
a coronavirus test immediately following their entry into Finland.

According to AVI, a person arriving from a country at risk refers to a person who has stayed in a country with a coronavirus incidence rate of more than 25 infections per 100,000 inhabitants during the two weeks preceding their arrival in Finland.
This rate of incidence is exceeded by a considerable amount in almost all European countries.

Read more: avi.fi (in Finnish)

Recommendation: all passengers arriving in Finland should have a negative coronavirus test result

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfarehas recommended that all transport companies  and shipping companies transporting passengers require a negative corona test result from all passengers coming to Finland from abroad. The certificate should be presented to the operator before the journey begins.

This recommendation applies to all passengers arriving in Finland who are aged over 12.
A corresponding certificate is also recommended for 6-12 year-olds, but not as a requirement.

If the traveller holds a medical certificate confirming that they have recovered from COVID-19 disease and they completed their recovery less than 6 months ago, no negative coronavirus test certificate is required.

This recommendation does not affect the existing travel restrictions at the EU’s internal and external borders and the conditions for entry are not affected by a negative test result.

At your point of entry health authorities will ask you for a certificate on advance testing and, if necessary, direct you to get tested. In addition, they will ask for your contact information so that the communicable disease control physician in your municipality of residence or the municipality in which you are staying can contact you to provide instructions on how and where to get tested in 72 hours as well as to provide more information.

Finnish citizens always have the right to return to Finland, and everyone has the right to leave Finland unless the right is restricted by law. Family members of Finnish citizens will also be permitted to enter the country regardless of their nationality.

Due to the mutated COVID-19 strain, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommends avoiding all travel to Brazil, Britain, Ireland, Portugal and South Africa. All other domestic and foreign travel should be restricted to necessary travel only.

FINENTRY service

Travellers must be aware of the current entry and quarantine regulations of their country of destination and they must take into account the quarantine and testing recommendations for those returning to Finland. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare will provide guidance on these health security measures. Information is also available on the FINENTRY service. It provides travellers with information and instructions on coronavirus testing and self-quarantine.

Exceptions to quarantine and testing recommendations

It is recommended that travellers who do not live in Finland take a COVID-19 test less than 72 hours before arriving in Finland. A second test can be taken in Finland no earlier than 72 hours after arriving in Finland. Between the tests, self-isolation at the place of accommodation is recommended. The self-isolation period will end if the test result is negative. If a person’s test result is positive, a doctor specialised in infectious diseases may place them under quarantine. They must remain in quarantine until they have recovered.

If a traveller is staying in Finland for less than 72 hours, they do not need to self-isolate or take a second COVID-19 test.

Travellers can shorten their self-isolation period at their discretion if they take two voluntary COVID-19 tests.

Read more: Travel and the coronavirus pandemic (thl.fi)

Koronavilkku

The Koronavilkku smartphone app will allow people to participate in preventing the spread of the virus and to protect their own and their loved ones’ health. Through the app, people exposed to the virus can be reached and infection chains can be stopped faster.Koronavilkku has been published in Finnish, Swedish and English. If you are staying in Finland for a longer period of time, such as more than two weeks, we recommend that you use the Koronavilkku app. he recommendations in force in Finland apply to everyone in the country, regardless of whether they are Finnish citizens.

Further information and downloading instructions on the website of Koronavilkku.