Entry restrictions for outside EU to continue until 8 May

The ongoing restrictions on entry at external borders (outside of European Union) will be continued until 8 May, said the Ministry of the Interior in a press release on Thursday.

The government at a meeting took the decision against the backdrop of continuation of spreading the COVID-19 pandemic.

People arriving from outside the EU and the Schengen area are required to present a valid certificate of a full course of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months as a prerequisite for entry, apart from a few exceptions. This requirement applies to those born in 2006 or earlier.

The Border Guard will not require the above-mentioned certificates as a prerequisite for entry of Finnish citizens, foreign nationals residing permanently in Finland, or persons who have an essential reason for entry, such as compelling family matters or another compelling personal reason from the third countries.

Entry into Finland is also permitted without restrictions for residents of the countries and regions on the EU’s green list.

Countries on the green list mean countries with a sufficiently good epidemiological situation for which the Council of the European Union has decided to allow free travel to the EU.

Entry into Finland from non-Schengen EU countries is also permitted without restrictions.

Under the Communicable Diseases Act, all passengers arriving in Finland must have one of these certificates: a vaccination certificate, a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test certificate (issued less than 72 hours prior to entry).

Passengers who do not have any of the above-mentioned certificates will be directed to a COVID-19 test at the point of entry.

With certain exceptions, the requirements apply to all those born in 2006 or earlier.

Finnish travellers should note that while they are allowed to enter Finland without a test, other countries and airlines may have their own testing requirements.