Finland eases entry restriction on HK, Singapore, Macao

The government on Thursday decided to lift entry restrictions into Finland from Singapore, Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, which will enter into force on 9 November, said a government press release.

Restrictions will be lifted for residents of these countries who are travelling from their home country to Finland, said the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Ministry of the Interior in a joint press release.

Restrictions on entry will be lifted, provided that reciprocity is confirmed by the Council of the European Union.

All other existing restrictions on entry, however, will continue until 22 November.

The decision applies the limit value of a maximum of 25 new cases of the disease per 100,000 persons in the previous 14 days.

Meanwhile, internal border control has been reinstated for traffic between Finland and all Schengen countries.

Restrictions on internal border traffic are in force for traffic between Finland and Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, apart from certain exceptions.

Day-to-day travel will still be permitted for local border communities

At Finland’s land border with Sweden and Norway. People will be able to come to work in Finland from Sweden and Estonia without a 10-day self-isolation period. Leisure boating from the EU and Schengen countries to Finland will not be restricted either.

At the internal borders, restrictions on entry allow only return traffic to Finland, transit traffic, work-related travel and travel for other essential reasons, apart from the above-mentioned exceptions. A 10-day self-isolation is recommended for travellers arriving in Finland. Travellers can shorten their self-isolation period at their discretion, if they take two voluntary COVID-19 tests.

External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen countries. Starting from 9 November, external border traffic will be permitted only for traffic arriving in Finland from the Vatican, and for traffic between Finland and Australia, Japan, Rwanda, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand, and Uruguay for residents of these countries.

In addition, people may come to Finland from some countries for work or any other essential reason.

These countries are Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Monaco, Romania, San Marino, and the United Kingdom. A 10-day self-isolation is recommended for travellers arriving in Finland. Travellers can shorten their self-isolation period at their discretion if they take two voluntary COVID-19 tests.