Practical Information for Travelers to Finland during Corona Pandemic

About the page

This page contains practical travel information for international leisure travelers planning a visit to Finland during the coronavirus pandemic.

We want to reassure you that our travel service providers are adhering to all health guidelines to ensure your safe and comfortable stay with us.

Latest updates on traveling to Finland

Latest update: 25 August 2021 at 14.47 EEST

Finland welcomes all fully vaccinated travelers and travelers from low-risk countries

As of 26 July 2021, travel to Finland is possible for all travelers who meet the following health requirements:

• You can present a certificate of having received the full COVID-19 vaccines 14 days prior to arriving in Finland. There is no mandatory testing for people who meet this requirement. Please refer to the Finnish institute for health and welfare for the approved vaccines.
• You arrive in Finland from a low-risk country. No certificate is required for persons arriving in Finland from low-risk countries and regions. Find more information about the low-risk countries on the Finnish institute for health and welfare website
• Children born in 2006 or thereafter are not required to take part in a health examination or a COVID-19 test.

Please note: The certificate needs to be in either English, Finnish or Swedish. A certified translation can also be used as a certificate. The certificate can also be an EU digital Covid certificate.

Travelling from EU or Schengen countries to Finland

The Finnish Border Guard has discontinued its internal border controls within the Schengen area. As of 26 July 2021, travel to Finland is possible for travelers from EU and Schengen countries who meet the following health requirements:

• You can present a certificate of having received the full COVID-19 vaccines 14 days prior to arriving in Finland. There is no mandatory testing for people who meet this requirement. Please refer to the Finnish institute for health and welfare for the approved vaccines.
• You can present a certificate showing that you have recovered from the COVID-19 disease within 6 months prior to arriving in Finland. There is no mandatory testing for people who meet this requirement.
• You have received one COVID-19 vaccine shot at least a 14 days prior to arriving in Finland. In this case, you must also take a COVID-19 test 3–5 days after arriving in Finland. You must avoid contact with others and remain at home or in your place of accommodation until you receive confirmation of a negative test result. Please refer to FINENTRY for information on COVID-19 testing locations.  Please refer to the Finnish institute for health and welfare for the approved vaccines.
• You can present a certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken before entering Finland. In this case, you must also take a COVID-19 test 3–5 days after arriving in Finland. You must avoid contact with others and remain at home or in your place of accommodation until you receive confirmation of a negative test result. Please refer to FINENTRY for information on COVID-19 testing locations.
• Children born in 2006 or thereafter are not required to take part in a health examination or a COVID-19 test.

Please note: The certificate needs to be in either English, Finnish or Swedish. A certified translation can also be used as a certificate. The certificate can also be an EU digital Covid certificate.

Travelling from outside of the EU or Schengen area to Finland

Leisure travel to Finland from outside the EU and Schengen area is not possible unless you are fully vaccinated or are arriving from a low-risk country. Please check the Finnish Border Guard’s website, whether you are allowed to enter Finland.

Further information

For official information and more details on these entry requirements, please refer to the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish institute for health and welfare. More information on entry requirements is also available on the Finnish Government’s COVID-19 pages.

COVID-19 testing in Finland

Testing in arrival:

If you need to take COVID-19 test when arriving in Finland please refer to the FINENTRY for managing the coronavirus testing required for entry.

Testing for departure:

If you feel sick when traveling in Finland and wish to be tested or if you need a test for returning to you home country, please see the list of private operators here:

Helsinki-Vantaa airport:

• Finnair
• 9Lives
• Aava

Other locations:

• 9lives, check locations from their website.
• Aava, check locations from their website.
• Mehiläinen, check locations from their website.
• Terveystalo, check locations from their website.

TRAVEL TRADE

To find out more about leisure travel in Finland during the coronavirus pandemic from the travel trade perspective, please visit the Travel Trade Travel Recovery site at Businessfinland.fi.

Health and safety measures

General health and safety measures regarding coronavirus in Finland include avoiding physical contact, maintaining a safe distance from other people and observing good hand and respiratory hygiene. Finnish health authorities require using face masks in public transport in large cities and recommend using it in other situations where it is difficult to maintain 1-2 m distances from other people.

If you suspect that you might contracted COVID-19, use the Coronavirus symptom checker to first assess your condition, if possible. If the symptom checker advises you to contact a health care professional, call your nearest healthcare center, hospital emergency department or the national Medical Helpline at tel. 116 117.

NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY NUMBER 112

Call the emergency number only in genuine emergency situations. In an emergency situation, you will be treated even if you do not have a municipality of residence in Finland. The medical costs can be collected from you afterwards. The emergency number can be called free of charge from any phone. No area code is needed. If you have a mobile phone subscription that is based abroad you can still call the emergency number without an area code.

Arriving and moving around in Finland

Finnish airports require using face masks. Airports and ports may test passengers for coronavirus.

In all public transport, passengers must remember to avoid physical contact, maintain a safe distance from other people and observe good hand and respiratory hygiene. If it is not possible to maintain safe distances, the use of face masks is recommended and required in public transport in large cities. When leaving the airport or harbor, using your own car or taking a taxi is recommended. For hygiene guidance on aircraft or cruise ships, please refer to information provided by your airline or cruise line.

MONITOR STATEMENTS AND GUIDANCE

Travelers are asked to closely monitor statements and guidance issued by their home countries’ public authorities, health officials and embassies, in order to receive timely information on matters such as quarantine instructions upon arrival at home. You can find the contact information of your own Embassy in Finland on the list of representations of foreign countries in Finland maintained by Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

VISA VALIDITY

Please note that the police may extend the validity of a visa in the event that flight cancellations, for example, prevent the visa holder from leaving Finnish territory before their visa expires. For more info please contact the police.

Services for travelers

Due to epidemiological variations of COVID-19 epidemic in Finland, regional restrictions vary.  

Depending on the rate of infections in the region restaurants, cafés and bar opening times vary. This map shows the opening times in different parts of Finland. The guidance is updated every two weeks.

In general, restaurants, cafés and bars must offer indoor seating to all customers and safe distances must be maintained. In outdoor seating safe distances must also be maintained. Service providers are required to ensure that customers can wash or sanitize their hands upon arrival. Customers are encouraged to maintain a safe distance from other people and observe good hand and respiratory hygiene. 

Many sights and attractions are open – please check their websites for up-to-date information on opening times any specific safety considerations. There might be regional restrictions due to epidemic situation and customer numbers can be restricted below normal levels. Some establishments may also be closed.

Accommodation and other services for travelers are open, however please check with your chosen service provider for the availability of their service and any specific safety considerations.