Latest update 10.9.2020
The instructions of the Finnish Border Guard to passengers regarding entry to Finland
These instructions issued by the Finnish border guard provide passengers with information on the changes that apply to entry to Finland as of 24 August.
These instructions issued by the Finnish Border Guard during the pandemic use the terms Border traffic returned to normal, Restriction category 1 and Restriction category 2.
The purpose of the country based classification is to make these instructions more reliable and understandable for the citizens. These restriction categories reflect which border traffic restrictions and entry requirements are observed for passengers arriving from various countries to Finland or the citizens of these countries. Instructions are based on latest decisions of the Finnish Government.
The health safety instructions for travelers are maintained by the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). See the National Institute for Health and Welfare guidelines for up-to-date hygiene and safety distance recommendations and recommendations for voluntary quarantine: Instructions for passengers and employees arriving in Finland
Contents
- 1. General
- 2. Border traffic turned to normal
- 2. 1 Internal border traffic without restrictions: Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Slovakia
- 2.2 Lifting of restrictions on external border traffic for the Vatican
- 2.3. Lifting of restrictions on external border traffic for residents of South Korea, Georgia, Rwanda, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and New Zealand
- 3. Restriction category 1
- 3.1 Partial continuation of internal border control: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
- 3.2 External border traffic from Andorra, Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, San Marino the United Kingdom and Monaco
- 3.3 Restriction category 1, permitted traffic
- 4. Restriction category 2
- 5 Interpretation guidelines for clarification
According to section 9 of the Constitution of Finland, Finnish citizens must not be prevented from entering Finland, and everyone has the right to leave Finland. However, limitations on the right to leave the country may be provided by law if they are necessary for the purpose of safeguarding legal proceedings or for the enforcement of penalties or for the fulfilment of the duty of national defence.
Every person travelling from Finland to another state must check for themselves the restrictions on entry into the destination country. Destination countries may have in force their own restrictions and conditions on entry for travellers.
Internal border traffic, or traffic crossing the internal border, refers to traffic crossing the border between Finland and another state that is a member of the Schengen area. The Schengen countries include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Spain, and of the non-EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
External border traffic, or traffic crossing the external border, refers to traffic between Finland and a state that does not belong to the Schengen area. To traffic crossing the border between Finland and another state, the guidelines concerning border crossing apply, if the other state does not belong to the Schengen area. This also applies to non-Schengen EU member States. Of the EU member states, Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania are not part of the Schengen area. Neither is the United Kingdom part of the Schengen area.
This section applies to:
- Internal border traffic to Finland from countries for which internal border controls has been lifted: Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Slovakia, as well as travel by pleasure craft between the Schengen countries.
- External border traffic to Finland from countries for which external border traffic restrictions have been lifted: the Vatican
- External border traffic between Finland and Georgia, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay for the residents of these countries, when arriving to Finland from their country of residence.
No internal border controls are in place in traffic between Finland and Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania and Slovakia. Recreational boat traffic (travel by pleasure craft) between Schengen countries is also unrestricted by border control.
Travel between Finland and these countries would thus be possible without restrictions from the perspective of border control at all Finnish airports and in all seaports, provided that the traffic location is open to such traffic.
Recreational boat traffic between Schengen countries is unrestricted by border control, and recreational boats are not obliged to enter a border checkpoint. In addition to the sea areas, it is also possible to enter the country on a recreational boat at the river border between Finland and Sweden (the rivers Tornionjoki and Muonionjoki).
Travel between Finland and Cyprus, Ireland, San Marino and the Vatican is unrestricted at all border crossing points, however taking into account the provisions on the entry of a foreign citizen.
As of 24 August 2020, the entry of residents of South Korea, Georgia, Rwanda, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay and New Zealand into Finland, when arriving from abovementioned countries, is unrestricted while taking into account the provisions on the entry of foreign nationals into Finland.
In principle, those travelling on passports from the above-mentioned countries can be expected to reside in the country in question. If necessary, the traveller may be asked questions during the border check to determine his or her country of residence. As a rule, authorities assume that the traveller’s own notification of their country of residence is correct. If necessary, place of residence can be confirmed by presenting, for example, an ID or driving licence issued by the third country in question or another document demonstrating residence. In addition, residence and work permits of the countries concerned indicate a person’s residence in those countries. Other official documents that confirm the traveller's residence may also be used to establish residence in the country in question.
Entry into Finland from these countries for persons other than those living in these countries is permitted under the same restrictions as under restriction category 2.
Restriction category 1 applies to:
Internal border traffic to Finland from countries to which internal border controls are still applied: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
External border traffic between Finland and Andorra, Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, San Marino, the United Kingdom and Monaco
3.1 Partial continuation of internal border control: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Internal border control will continue to be in place in travel between Finland and Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, with the exception of pleasure craft travel.
Those wishing to cross the internal border must use border crossing points where border control has been reinstated. Crossing the border in other places is not permitted without a border crossing permit.
Travel between Finland and Andorra, Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Romania, San Marino and the United Kingdom and Monaco is allowed with similar restrictions as at internal borders.
- Return to Finland
- Finnish nationals and their family members
- nationals of EU and Schengen countries residing in Finland and their family members
- third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit
- Return to or through other EU and Schengen countries
- nationals of other EU and Schengen countries and their family members
- third-country nationals residing another EU or Schengen country with a residence permit
- Work related travel or essential travel
- work related travel based on employment or assignment
- diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their duties
- persons studying in Finland
- persons with a Finnish residence permit and EU/Schengen citizens who have registered their right of residence
- in internal border traffic, cross-border traffic at the land border between Finland and Sweden and between Finland and Norway between the local border communities (such as Haparanda–Tornio, Övertorneå–Ylitornio, Pello–Pello, Pajala/Kolari–Kolari, Muodoslompolo–Muonio, Karesuvanto–Karesuvanto, Skibotn–Kilpisjärvi, Kautokeino–Kivilompolo, Karasjok–Karigasniemi, Tana–Utsjoki/Nuorgam, Neiden–Näätämö)
- persons travelling for family matters (e.g. meeting a relative, relationship, funerals, weddings, illness)
- persons in need of international protection or who are travelling for other humanitarian reasons
- other necessary and justified reason (e.g. necessary personal reasons, representatives of foreign media, scheduled air services at airports, property, residence or secondary residence in Finland, property arrangements in Finland and in internal border traffic pursuit of the Sámi livelihood and culture).
The purpose and requirements of a work trip based on employment relationship or assignment are determined during the border check. During border checks, the person on a work trip may be asked to present documents to verify that the entry requirements are fulfilled. Such documents may in particular relate to information on the employment relationship and assignment. The entry of EU citizens as foreign seasonal labour is permitted in the same way as work related travel.
Traffic between the local border communities at the land border between Finland and Sweden and between Finland and Norway (such as Haparanda–Tornio, Övertorneå–Ylitornio, Pello–Pello, Pajala/Kolari–Kolari, Muodoslompolo–Muonio, Karesuvanto–Karesuvanto, Skibotn–Kilpisjärvi, Kautokeino–Kivilompolo, Karasjok–Karigasniemi, Tana–Utsjoki/Nuorgam, Neiden–Näätämö) is permitted. Border communities refers to people who live in the border areas and use services in both countries. Persons crossing the border must prove their place of residence with a document that indicates their place of residence.
In addition to diplomats, holders of service and official passports are allowed entry in the exercise of their duties.
Other essential traffic is assessed on a case-by-case basis based on information gathered during the border check.
For more detailed interpretation, see Section 5.
Restriction category 2 applies to all external border traffic other than that referred to in Section 3. This category includes entry from Russia, Canada, the United States, Australia, Japan and Turkey, for example.
4.1 Permitted traffic in restriction category 2: third countries, for example Russia and the United States
- Return to Finland
- Finnish nationals and their family members
- nationals of EU and Schengen countries residing in Finland and their family members
- third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit
- Return to or through other EU and Schengen countries
- nationals of other EU and Schengen countries and their family members
- third-country nationals residing another EU or Schengen country with a residence permit
- Essential reason
- health care and rescue service personnel (including first aid) and elderly care professionals during assignments
- freight transport and logistics personnel during assignments
- diplomats, staff of international organisations, military personnel and humanitarian aid workers in the exercise of their duties
- Persons travelling on a Finnish residence permit
- persons in need of international protection or who are travelling for other humanitarian reasons
- pressing family matters (for example, the birth of one's own child, a serious illness of a close relative, one's own wedding, dating relationship) or other pressing personal reasons
- other necessary and justified transport such as work that is significant for the functioning of society or supply security, the implementation of which requires the work performance of a person or persons coming from another country and the work cannot be delayed; representatives of the foreign media; transit of scheduled air services at airports and the arrival of a family member of a Finnish citizen living abroad
In addition to diplomats, holders of service and official passports are allowed entry in the exercise of their duties.
With regards to external border traffic, other essential traffic refers particularly to border traffic which is related to work that is important for the functioning of society or security of supply, requires work tasks to be carried out by persons from another country, and cannot tolerate delay.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has overseen the process of defining the types of work that are important for the functioning of society or security of supply and cannot tolerate delay. This list of critical tasks does not constitute an advance decision granting entry into the country. The employer must use a separate form to justify why the work of the employee coming to Finland is critical and cannot tolerate delay. The Employer fills in the form entitled ‘Employer's explanation of the employee’s need to enter the country during the state of emergency’ and gives it to the employee. In addition to the other documents required for border crossing, the employee seeking to enter Finland presents this form at the border check.
The border control authority will consider the list of critical tasks and the employer's explanation when assessing a necessary reason for entry. The decision to allow entry is made by the border control authority on the basis of a case-by-case consideration.
The government has decided to allow 9,000 seasonal farm and horticultural farm workers from outside the EU to enter Finland. The Finnish Border Guard monitors the rate at which the quota (9,000 persons) is used up.
Cruise ships are allowed to visit seaports without passenger disembarkation.
Other essential traffic is assessed on a case-by-case basis based on information gathered during the border check.
For more detailed interpretation, see Section 5.
Family member of a Finnish citizen
A family member of a Finnish citizen may enter Finland if he or she fits the definition of a family member as laid down in Section 37 of the Aliens Act. The family member of a citizen of Finland must be the member of a family of a Finnish citizen who resides in Finland. However, a family member of a citizen of Finland may enter across an external border also if the Finnish citizen lives outside of Finland. The family member must also have the required travel documents and, if required, a visa or residence permit.
The provisions on freedom of movement will apply to a family member of a Finnish citizen if the Finnish citizen has exercised their right of movement under the Directive on the right of citizens of the Union and their family members to move and reside freely within the territory of the Member States by settling in another Member State and the family member comes to Finland with them or follows them later. A family member of a Finnish citizen may arrive in the country if they have the required document proving their right of residence in Finland or another EU or Schengen country.
Residence permit issued by Finland
Persons holding a residence permit issued by Finland may arrive in Finland through external borders or internal borders where border control has been reinstated. The residence permit card must be presented at the border check.
Transit of regular scheduled air services at an airport
For external border traffic and to the extent that internal border controls have been restored, the transit on regularly scheduled routes is permitted. As a rule, during the transit journey, a person must remain in the transit area of the airport, but a person may also be permitted to enter the country for the purpose of the transit referred to above. For example, a person may stay at an airport hotel or other accommodation near the airport, especially if the layover during the transit is a long one.
Entry is decided during the border check
The Finnish Border Guard does not grant advance permits for entry to Finland. In external border traffic and where internal border control has been reinstated, the decision to allow entry is always made during border checks.
Travel documents
Finnish citizens must have the required travel documents when leaving the country.
Foreign citizens must have the required travel documents and, if necessary, the required visa or a residence permit.
In traffic between the Nordic countries, it is sufficient for Nordic citizens to be able to prove their identity if necessary.
Traffic between local border communities at the land border between Finland and Sweden and between Finland and Norway
Traffic between Finland and Sweden and between Finland and Norway in local border communities is permitted with special arrangements at the land border. Border communities refers to people who live in the border areas and use services in both countries. For example, such border communities include Haparanda–Tornio, Övertorneå–Ylitornio, Pello–Pello, Pajala/Kolari–Kolari, Muodoslompolo–Muonio, Karesuvanto–Karesuvanto, Skibotn–Kilpisjärvi, Kautokeino–Kivilompolo, Karasjok–Karigasniemi, Tana–Utsjoki/Nuorgam and Neiden–Näätämö. Persons crossing the border are required to prove their place of residence with a document indicating their place of residence.
A local border community is defined as natural service use areas located on the different sides of the border, with traffic across the national border on a daily or weekly basis. The borders of a natural service use area cannot always be defined strictly. This traffic mainly consists of normal visits to shops and different service providers and visits related to hobbies. This alleviation applying to local border communities does not apply to holidaymaking in the other country, and it must not be used for further travelling in the other country. As a rule, local border communities have formed around services concentrated in a certain area and these services are used flexibly across the national border.
Persons crossing the border are required to present the normal travel documents and must be able to prove their identity. In traffic between the Nordic countries, it is sufficient for Nordic citizens to be able to prove their identity in some way. In principle, the traveller must be able to provide a document proving that he or she is a member of the local border community on the basis of his or her place of residence. If necessary, border inspectors may ask the passenger further questions in order to ensure this.
Family matters
Under restriction category 1, you may arrive in Finland for family matters.
Persons travelling to meet a relative living in Finland are categorized as persons travelling for family matters. For the purpose of meeting a relative living in Finland, the entry into the country is applied not only to the relatives of Finnish citizens who live in Finland but also to the relatives of EU/Schengen citizens and their family members residing in Finland and to the relatives of third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit. A relative refers to a spouse, children, parents, parents-in-law, grandparents, siblings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, uncles, aunts and cousins including family members of the aforementioned. Fundamentally, border inspectors trust the words of travellers.
Persons arriving in the country on the basis of a relationship are also considered persons travelling for family matters. In practice, a relationship refers to a romantic relationship. Relationship refers to a marriage or people living continuously in a marriage-like relationship within the same household regardless of their sex. In this case, it is not mandatory that the couple has lived together continuously for two years. Additionally, relationships between people who live in different countries (“long-distance relationships”) are accepted. Fundamentally, border inspectors trust the words of travellers. More detailed information may be inquired in isolated cases. The regulations for entering Finland on a basis of a dating relationship apply to partners of Finnish citizens and to partners of EU/Schengen citizens residing in Finland and their family members as well as partners of third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit issued by Finland. A dependent of a person who is entering the country on the basis of a dating relationship may also enter Finland.
Under restriction category 1, you may also arrive in Finland for other family matters. Such matters include, for example, funerals, weddings, or illness.
Students in Finnish institutions
Under restriction category 1, a student approved to study at a Finnish educational institution may enter Finland. Students may also enter Finland with a residence permit issued by Finland.
Work related travel
Work related travel based on an employment relationship or assignment is permitted under restriction category 1. The purpose and requirements of a work trip are examined in connection with the border check. You must be prepared to present the grounds for work related travel and, in particular, the documents concerning the employment relationship or commission at the border check.
Essential personal reasons
A person may enter Finland for an essential personal reason under restriction category 1.
An essential personal reason should involve a task or event that requires one to be physically present, which cannot tolerate delay, and which, if left undone, would cause undue harm within the context in question. Essential personal reasons are assessed on a case-by-case basis at the border check.
If the person can bring documents with him or her that prove the situation, this may streamline the border check.
Entry into Finland of a person who own a property, home or a secondary home in Finland or who enters the country for property arrangements
A person who owns a property, home or secondary home in Finland may enter Finland under restriction category 1. The family of the owner may also arrive. In such a case, the family refers to the spouse, the cohabiting partner and the children of the owner and their families. A long-term rental (a rental agreement of more than a year signed before the restoration of internal border controls in March 2020) shall be treated in the same way as owning an equivalent property.
A travel trailer is not real estate, a leisure home, or a holiday home in the original sense, so in principle, owning a travel trailer is not a sufficient reason for arriving in the country. The instructions on rental housing referred to above may be applied to this item on a case-by-case basis. Entry to Finland may be permitted If the person is able to demonstrate his or her long-term use of a travel trailer using a single campsite as a basis, and the trailer is used as a holiday or leisure residence (has a fixed terrace and an awning, etc.), and the person needs to check the condition of his / her property.
A person is considered to arrive in the country for the purpose of property arrangements if the person enters, for example, for the sale, purchase, rent or other property arrangements of a property, a residence or a second residence. In principle, buying or selling assets of low value (less than EUR 15,000) does not qualify as property arrangements.
Work significant to the functioning of society and the security of supply under restriction category 2
Under restriction category 2, work that is significant in terms of the functioning of society and, in particular, the security of supply is considered other essential reason, if the implementation of the work requires that the work be performed by a person or persons arriving from another country and the performance of the work cannot be delayed.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has overseen the process of defining the types of work that are important for the functioning of society or security of supply and cannot tolerate delay. This list of critical tasks does not constitute an advance decision granting entry into the country. The employer must use a separate form to justify why the work of the employee coming to Finland is critical and cannot tolerate delay. In addition to the other documents required for border crossing, the employee seeking to enter Finland presents this form at the border check.
The border control authority will consider the list of critical tasks and the employer's explanation when assessing a necessary reason for entry.
Pressing personal reasons under restriction category 2
Under restriction category 2, a person may arrive in Finland for a pressing personal reasons.
A pressing personal reason should involve a compulsory or unpredictable cause which requires personal attendance, which cannot tolerate delay, and which would cause undue harm within the context in question if the person concerned would not tend to it. Compulsory personal reasons are assessed on a case-by-case basis in connection with the border check.
If the person can bring documents with him or her that prove the situation, this may streamline the border check.
Relationship
Under restriction category 2, it is possible to enter Finland based on relationship.
Relationship refers to a marriage or people living continuously in a marriage-like relationship within the same household regardless of their sex. In this case, it is not mandatory that the couple has lived together continuously for two years. Additionally, relationships between people who live in different countries (“long-distance relationships”) are accepted, as are other committed ways of being together.
Fundamentally, border inspectors trust the words of travelers. More detailed information may be inquired in isolated cases. The regulations for entering Finland on a basis of a dating relationship apply to partners of Finnish citizens and to partners of EU/Schengen citizens residing in Finland and their family members as well as partners of third-country nationals residing in Finland with a residence permit. A dependent of a person who is entering the country on the basis of a dating relationship may also enter Finland.