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Travel responsibly

Ministry for Foreign Affairs
Publication date 21.1.2022 15.29 | Published in English on 21.1.2022 at 16.00
News item

The COVID-19 pandemic remains a major global risk to travel safety, and the situation may deteriorate quickly and unpredictably in any country or region. Travellers may find that access to healthcare is limited or face quarantine orders or restrictions on movement outdoors.

If you decide to travel, you must act responsibly and follow the recommendations and regulations issued by the authorities

If you are planning to travel, it is important to remember that all countries may still impose restrictions on entry at their own borders, and it may not be possible to travel to all countries. Countries may also impose restrictions on transit traffic, and airlines may have their own COVID-19 restrictions.

Each country makes its own decisions on the entry of travellers and the conditions for entry. Before travelling, always check the current entry regulations in your destination from the authorities of the country in question, for example from the nearest mission of the country.

An increasing number of countries are not permitting entry unless travellers show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 or proof of COVID-19 vaccination. You should note that after recovery from COVID-19, it may take weeks before your test is negative, as the antibodies remain in your system for a long time. This may complicate your travel from and return to Finland. Most countries require the certificates to be either in their own language or in English.

Similarly, airlines, shipping companies, and international bus and rail operators may also have their own regulations and restrictions for travellers. Travellers must themselves find out what kinds of certificates they need to enter the country or countries they intend to visit.

COVID-19 restrictions may vary by country

Countries may also have different internal restrictions, and there may be limitations regarding access to services and the outdoors. Restaurants and museums may have their own special measures in place. You may be required to wear a mask indoors. Countries have very dissimilar quarantine requirements.

Finnish embassies abroad publish COVID-19 updates their websites. The page contains links to the websites of authorities in different countries with up-to-date information on the COVID-19 situation and the practices put in place in different regions. Always check this website before you travel.

If you become exposed or test positive for COVID-19 while travelling, you may be placed in quarantine. The local authorities will decide where and how long you will be quarantined. In quarantine, movement is restricted and services may be scarce. Finnish missions abroad cannot influence the nature or duration of the quarantine.

Before you travel, check the validity and coverage of your travel insurance. It is particularly important to make sure that your insurance policy provides sufficient coverage in the current pandemic situation. Being placed in quarantine may involve going to a hospital abroad, or significantly extending your stay in a hotel. Before travelling, check the extent of cover provided in your insurance policy. 

Act responsibly when you return home

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare recommends that all travellers take a home test after arriving in Finland if they were not tested on entry to the country.

 
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