Travel to and from Finland during the COVID-19 epidemic
Finland has placed restrictions on entry from other countries due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health security measures required upon arrival aim to slow down the spread of the pandemic.
Detailed instructions
Finnish citizens, their family members and permanent residents of Finland have the right to return to Finland. Everyone has the right to leave Finland, provided that there is no legal impediment to this.
Other countries may also place restrictions on travel. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs updates its travel advice for each country individually.
Travelling to Finland
All passengers who are fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine may enter Finland from any country without undergoing health security measures such as COVID-19 testing at the border. COVID-19 vaccines accepted in Finland | Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
Exception: Finland restricts entry from Southern Africa.
However, people travelling to Finland must take into account other provisions on entry, such as visa requirements.
Finnish citizens, their family members and permanent residents of Finland have the right to return to Finland. People may also travel freely to Finland from other EU and Schengen countries.
When you are arriving in Finland, you must present proof of full vaccination with an approved COVID-19 vaccine, proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months or proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken before your arrival. For more information, see 'Health security measures'.
People arriving in Finland from outside the EU and Schengen area who have not been fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine may enter Finland only from countries on the EU’s green list or for essential reasons. The green list is a list of non-EU countries and regions for which travel restrictions should be lifted as agreed jointly by the EU Member States. Visit this page for more information on essential reasons and the countries on the EU’s green list: Guidelines for border traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic | Border Guard
The instructions issued by the border and health authorities apply to all people arriving in Finland during the COVID-19 pandemic. The border authorities decide on the entry of passengers, while the health authorities decide on any health security measures or testing requirements that will be imposed on them.
Finnish citizens, their family members and permanent residents of Finland have the right to return to Finland from any country in the world.
Other passengers
All passengers who are fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine may enter Finland from any country. At least seven days must have passed since the last dose of vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines accepted in Finland | Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
There is no internal border control in the Schengen area. In other words, there are no border checks between the Schengen countries, and people are free to travel from these countries to Finland. People travelling between the Schengen countries must present their travel documents upon request.
People travelling from outside the EU and the Schengen area without a certificate of full vaccination with an approved COVID-19 vaccine may enter the country only from countries on the EU’s green list or for essential reasons. In addition, citizens and permanent residents of EU and Schengen countries are allowed to enter Finland with a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months.
The green list is a list of non-EU countries and regions for which travel restrictions should be lifted as agreed jointly by the EU Member States. Visit this page for more information on essential reasons and the countries on the EU’s green list: Guidelines for border traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic | Border Guard
Please bear in mind, however, that the health security measures under the Communicable Diseases Act apply to all people arriving in Finland regardless of where they are arriving from.
Health security measures apply to all passengers arriving in Finland with the exception of children born in 2006 and later. Health security measures mean the requirement to present certificates or be tested for COVID-19.
People arriving in Finland do not need to be tested for COVID-19 if they have
- a certificate of full vaccination with an approved COVID-19 vaccine, or
- a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months.
- COVID-19 vaccines accepted in Finland | Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare
People arriving in Finland must be tested for COVID-19 3-5 days after arrival if
- they have a certificate of the first dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine requiring two doses, or
- they do not have above-mentioned certificates, but they have proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before arriving in Finland.
People arriving in Finland must be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and 3-5 days after arrival if
- they do not have any of the above-mentioned certificates.
COVID-19 testing upon arrival in Finland is compulsory.
You can book an appointment for a COVID-19 test to be taken after arriving in Finland using the FINENTRY service.
Please bear in mind that the border authorities decide on the entry of passengers into Finland.
Border control
Finnish citizens, their family members and permanent residents of Finland have the right to return to Finland.
All passengers who are fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine may enter Finland from any country.
There is no internal border control in the Schengen area. In other words, there are no border checks between the Schengen countries, and people are free to travel from these countries to Finland. People travelling between the Schengen countries must present their travel documents upon request.
People travelling from outside the EU and the Schengen area without a certificate of full vaccination with an approved COVID-19 vaccine may enter the country only from countries on the EU’s green list or for essential reasons. If an adult presents a certificate of full vaccination with an approved COVID-19 vaccine at the time of entry, a minor child travelling with that person may also enter the country.
Health security measures
Health security measures, such as COVID-19 testing and the requirement to present certificates, do not apply to children and young people born in or after 2006. The health security measures for minors born before 2006 are the same as for adults.
Finland restricts entry from Southern Africa
Travellers who have been in Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe will not be able to enter Finland by presenting a certificate of full vaccination against COVID-19. A person may enter Finland from these countries only if they have an essential reason for doing so, such as compelling family matters or another compelling personal reason.
Finnish citizens and permanent residents of Finland may always return to Finland.
The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health believes that the new virus variant B.1.1.529 (Omicron) detected in Africa may pose a significant threat to the health and wellbeing of the population and cause the epidemiological situation to deteriorate.
Regional State Administrative Agencies can order compulsory health examinations for people who have been in the last 14 days in Botswana, Eswatini, South Africa, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia or Zimbabwe.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs recommend avoiding all travel to South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini (Swaziland), Malawi and Mozambique.
More information:
- Finland to restrict entry from Southern Africa due to new virus variant | intermin.fi (press release 28 November 2021)
- Passengers arriving from southern African countries will be referred to a compulsory health check at border crossings | thl.fi (press release 28 November 2021)
- In Finnish: THL kehottaa välttämään kaikkea matkustamista eteläisen Afrikan maihin uuden variantin takia | thl.fi (press release 26 November 2021)
Travelling abroad from Finland
The COVID-19 pandemic remains a major global risk to travel safety, and the situation may deteriorate abruptly and unpredictably in any country or region.
As a rule, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs advises that travellers exercise special caution when travelling not only in the EU and the Schengen area but also in countries outside the region. The Ministry’s travel advice concerning certain countries is to avoid non-essential travel, to avoid all travel or, due to the general security situation, to leave the country immediately.
Country-specific travel advice (available in Finnish) | Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare recommends that all people travelling abroad obtain full vaccine protection against COVID-19 before travel.
If you are planning to travel, it is important to remember that all countries can impose restrictions on entry at their borders, and it may not be possible to travel to all countries.
Before travelling, please remember the following:
- Always check the current entry regulations with the authorities of your destination country by contacting that country’s diplomatic mission, for instance. Countries may also impose entry restrictions on transit traffic.
- Check the requirements of airports and airlines regarding wearing face masks or showing proof of a negative COVID-19 test, for example.
- Remember to also check the instructions of any other transport operators you will use.
COVID-19 certificates
The EU Digital COVID Certificate contains information on COVID-19 vaccinations, negative test results and/or recovery from COVID-19. The COVID-19 certificate is available in the My Kanta Pages.
You can use the EU Digital COVID Certificate when crossing borders within the EU. If you are planning to travel, it is important to check the requirements for entry into your country of destination with that country’s authorities.
Vaccination certificates | Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Press releases and news
All travellers arriving in Finland required having a COVID certificate or a test
Finland to restrict entry from Southern Africa due to new virus variant
Restrictions on entry into Finland extended until 19 December
Government proposes to continue temporary amendments to Communicable Diseases Act until end of June 2022
Restrictions on entry into Finland extended until 28 November
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Instructions for travellers and employees arriving in Finland – thl.fi
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) provides instructions on the health safety of travellers arriving in Finland. You can use the traffic light system on their website to assess the need for self-isolation and the risk of COVID-19 infection associated with travelling abroad. -
Foreign Ministry’s travel advice notices
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Finentry
The Helsinki University Hospital HUS's Finentry web service lets incoming travellers review travel instructions before or during their trip, book an appointment for a Covid-19 test in Finland, and receive instructions for arriving at their test as well as the test result by text message. -
Border Guard guidelines for travellers – raja.fi
The Border Guard provides guidelines on entering the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines are based on the Government’s decisions on border traffic. -
Recommendations for travellers arriving in Finland – thl.fi
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) material bank provides guidance on health safety measures for travellers arriving in Finland in several languages. -
Air travel during COVID-19 – finavia.fi
What do travellers need to take into account before departure, at the airport and when returning from a trip? Where can I fly from Finland?