Finland urges to avoid all travel to Brazil, Portugal, Ireland, UK

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs urges Finnish residents to avoid all travel to the Brazil, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the United Kingdom in accordance with the recommendation of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). For all other countries, the Foreign Ministry’s general travel advice due to the COVID-19 pandemic is to avoid all but essential travel.

According to the Ministry, the coronavirus pandemic "remains a major global risk to travel safety, and the situation may deteriorate abruptly and unpredictably in any country or region." In this context, travelers may face limited access to healthcare, quarantine and restrictions on being outdoors.

"The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has only limited capabilities to assist travelers in distress during the pandemic," the Finnish government warns.

In its meeting on Wednesday 13 January, the government discussed measures to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 variants and the renewed acceleration of the epidemic. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the new virus variants may be more infectious and spread faster than other variants.

In accordance with the THL recommendation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs now "urges to avoid all travel to Brazil, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the United Kingdom."

Other countries

For all other countries, the Foreign Ministry’s general travel advice due to the COVID-19 pandemic is to avoid all but essential travel.

This general advice does not apply to countries for which the Finnish Government has already lifted the entry restrictions. In addition, the Foreign Ministry recommends to avoid all travel to certain countries due to their general security situation or to leave such countries immediately.

An increasing number of countries are not permitting entry unless travelers show proof of a negative Covid-19 test or vaccination.