Going for a cruise this autumn? Check the import restrictions before you travel

Those intending to travel over the autumn break should keep in mind that although Sweden and Estonia are part of the European Union, there are restrictions on bringing back alcohol, tobacco and medicines from these countries. Those going on a cruise with their pets are also advised to find out what restrictions apply in good time before travelling.

When arriving in Finland from Sweden and Estonia, you are allowed to bring in goods and gifts bought for personal use, such as clothes, electronics and sweets, without having to pay customs duty or taxes for these items. However, there are quantitative restrictions or guideline limits for bringing back alcohol and tobacco products, and when it comes to medicinal products, you’re only allowed to bring back a quantity corresponding to no more than a year’s use. You may bring veterinary medicines to Finland if you have the pet with you, but not if you don’t.

Customs’ advice to cruise travellers is simple and easy to follow: always look up the import restrictions before you travel. That way, you can avoid unpleasant surprises when returning home.

Travelling with pets – remember the rabies vaccination and treatment against echinococcosis

When arriving in Finland from Sweden and Estonia, dogs need to have been treated against echinococcosis no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before their arrival in Finland. In other words, if the trip lasts less than 24 hours, a one-off treatment is not an option. For short trips and regular travel, it’s advisable to consult a veterinarian about using the so-called 28-day rule. The treatment against echinococcosis is always given by a veterinarian, who must make an entry on the medicine given in the pet passport or health certificate.

All pets travelling must have a valid vaccination against rabies. In addition, the pet must have been tagged with a microchip before the vaccination against rabies. A clearly readable tattoo is also accepted as identification if it was made before 3 July 2011. You must also carry a pet passport containing entries with all the required details.

The pet owner is responsible for ensuring that the necessary vaccination and medication has been given and for carrying the required documents. Customs recommends that you always check the entry requirements on the Food Authority’s website before you travel.

The requirements serve to ensure that dangerous diseases do not spread to animals or persons in Finland. Customs supervises compliance with the entry requirements for pets at the ports in Finland.

The restrictions on imports of alcohol and tobacco depend on the route you travel

When arriving in Finland from within the European Union, you are allowed to bring in alcohol for personal use in accordance with the guideline limits without paying taxes. You can bring in more than these amounts, but in that case, you must be able to prove for what purpose you are bringing the alcohol. An exception to this are the ferries operating between Finland and Sweden and calling at the Åland Islands. When arriving on such a ferry, you are allowed to bring in the same tax-free quantities of alcoholic beverages as from outside the EU, that is

• 16 litres of beer and
• 4 litres of still wine and
• 1 litre of spirits (over 22 %) or 2 litres of other alcoholic beverages (under 22 %).

It’s to be noted that persons under the age of 18 are not allowed to bring in any alcoholic beverages to Finland, and persons under the age of 20 are only allowed to bring in mild alcoholic beverages.

You are allowed to bring in tobacco products to Finland from other EU countries for yourself, your family or as a gift in quantities not exceeding 

• 200 cigarettes and
• 50 cigars and
• 100 cigarillos and
• 250 grams of roll-your-own tobacco, pipe tobacco or waterpipe tobacco and
• 200 dose units of other tobacco products or 250 grams of other loose tobacco products, such as cigarette sticks or capsules containing tobacco and
• 200 units of ready-rolled and 250 grams of loose herbal products for smoking, such as herbal cigarettes. 

These restrictions apply to products in packets that do not carry health warning images and texts in Finnish and Swedish. 

An exception to this are again the ferries operating between Finland and Sweden via Åland, in whose case the tobacco product allowance is

• 200 cigarettes OR
• 100 cigarillos (max. 3 g/each) OR
• 50 cigars OR
• 250 grams of tobacco.

You can bring in no more than one kilogram of snus (snus, nasal tobacco or chewing tobacco) to Finland in one calendar day, and the snus must be for your own personal use.

More information

Check our website to see what you can order or bring in to Finland