Restrictions on entry into Finland extended until 18 March
The Finnish government decided on 18 February to extend the current restrictions on entry into the country until 18 March 2021.
The reason, according to the Ministry of the Interior, is that the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread, and there are not yet adequate measures available to replace internal border controls. Both internal and external border controls will continue until 18 March.
Internal border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and other Schengen countries. Finland currently restricts entry from all other Schengen countries except Iceland.
The Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden, which are EU Member States, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, which are non-EU countries.
External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen third countries. Restrictions have been lifted for traffic arriving in Finland from the Vatican, and for traffic between Finland and Australia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and New Zealand for residents of these countries.
Border crossing points
There will be restrictions on the opening hours of certain border crossing points on the western border in Lapland (starting on 15 February) and on the eastern border (starting on 19 February). The aim of these changes is to concentrate cross-border traffic mainly to daytime and evening hours. "This will ensure that the health authorities have sufficient resources at the border," the Ministry of the Interior says.
The objective is to guide all people crossing the Finnish border to a Covid-19 test, unless they can present proof of a sufficiently recent negative test, proof of recovery from the disease or vaccination.
The limited opening hours do not apply to goods transport or to necessary passenger traffic with a justified reason to cross the border outside the opening hours.
Citizens and residents of Finland always have the right to return to Finland, and everyone has the right to leave Finland if they so wish. However, the government still recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to other countries.