On 22 January, the government decided at an extraordinary meeting to tighten border traffic, the restrictions on entry into Finland and the recommendations on testing and quarantine.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, the aim is to reduce cross-border traffic in order to prevent the re-escalation of the growth of the epidemic and the spread of the new British and South African Covid-19 variants in Finland.
The epidemiological situation in Finland differs considerably from that in other Schengen countries. "For this reason, the risk that travelers might spread the virus variants is significant in Finland." "Should the new virus variant become more widespread, it could result in a potentially much more transmissible epidemic," the government says.
The new restrictions will enter into force on Wednesday 27 January and will remain in force until 25 February.
Internal and external border traffic
Border control at internal borders will be continued until 25 February. Entry into the country based on employment will be restricted to essential duties.
At internal borders, essential travel constitutes work that is important for the functioning of society or for security of supply, that must be performed by people arriving from another country and that must be carried out without delay. It also extends to certain specifically defined special groups. Entry requires a separate form from the employer.
Certain special groups are permitted to enter the country. Such special groups cover those involved in culture, sports and business life, for example. In business life, these include people carrying out tasks necessary to secure the recovery, new growth, regional economy, or long-term operating conditions of a certain sector.
The government warns that people themselves cannot determine whether their commuting is deemed essential.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment maintains a list of the work that is considered important for the functioning of society or for security of supply. However, any critical task included in the list does not automatically mean that entry into the country is warranted. Employers must use a separate form to justify why the job of a worker seeking entry into Finland is essential and why the work must be performed without delay.
The worker seeking to enter Finland presents this form in the border check in addition to other documents required for crossing the border.
Border communities
Belonging to a border community at Finland's land borders with Sweden and Norway will no longer be a valid reason for an exemption. The right of the border municipalities’ residents to freely use the services in a neighbouring country will be terminated. Quarantine recommendation will be reintroduced to border crossings.
In practice, this applies only to non-Finnish citizens. Finnish citizens and those living in Finland can continue to cross the border under the Constitution.
Furthermore, residents of border communities no longer have the right to cross the border other than through border crossing points.
This also applies to Finnish citizens, who will have to cross the border through the border crossing points set out in the decision. This would provide health authorities with the widest possible scope for targeting the necessary health measures at those crossing the border. The restrictions do not apply to the constitutional right of the Saami to practise their livelihoods and culture.
Fewer 'relatives' admitted
The definition of relatives will be also tightened in relation to decisions concerning internal and external borders. According to the restriction, in future, family members include the following: spouse (including cohabitant and close personal relationship), children, parents, parents-in-law and grandparents.
In addition, the Imatra border crossing point will be closed to passenger traffic. Goods traffic will continue as usual. There may be changes to the opening hours of border crossing points at the western and northern borders in Lapland.
For the main part, the decisions will enter into force on 27 January at midnight.
