On 5 November, the Government adopted a decision on restrictions on entry into the country, which will enter into force on Monday 9 November.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, restrictions will be lifted for residents of Singapore who are travelling from their home country to Finland. Restrictions on entry will also be lifted for residents of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions who are travelling from these regions to Finland, provided that reciprocity is confirmed by the Council of the European Union.
All existing restrictions on entry will continue until 22 November. The aim is that the new health security measures will be in place by then.
The decision applies the limit value of a maximum of 25 new cases of the disease per 100,000 persons in the previous 14 days.
"Differences in the epidemiological situation in Finland and other European countries, as well as the new acceleration in the spread of infections, require internal border controls to remain in place until the new health security measures are made available to the extent necessary," the Finnish government says.
Internal border traffic
Restrictions on internal border traffic are in force for traffic between Finland and Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland, apart from certain exceptions.
Internal border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and other Schengen countries. Finland has reinstated internal border control with all Schengen countries.
Day-to-day travel will still be permitted for local border communities at Finland's land border with Sweden and Norway. People will be able to come to work in Finland from Sweden and Estonia without a 10-day self-isolation period.
Leisure boating from the EU and Schengen countries to Finland will not be restricted either.
At the internal borders, restrictions on entry allow only return traffic to Finland, transit traffic, work-related travel and travel for other essential reasons, apart from the above-mentioned exceptions. A 10-day period of self-isolation is recommended for travelers arriving in Finland. However, this period can be shortened if the traveler takes 2 voluntary Covid-19 tests.
External border traffic
External border traffic refers to traffic between Finland and non-Schengen countries.
According to the government, starting from 9 November, external border traffic will be permitted only for traffic arriving in Finland from the Vatican, and for traffic between Finland and Australia, Japan, Rwanda, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand and Uruguay for residents of these countries.
Restrictions on entry will also be lifted for residents of the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions who are travelling from these regions to Finland, provided that reciprocity is confirmed by the Council of the European Union.
In addition, people may come to Finland from the following European countries for work or another essential reason: Andorra, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Monaco, Romania, San Marino and the United Kingdom.
For all other non-Schengen countries, restrictions on entry allow only return traffic to Finland and other EU and Schengen countries, transit traffic at Helsinki Airport and other essential traffic.
The same rule of the 10-day period of self-isolation applies for all travelers arriving from non-Schengen countries.
Rights of Finnish residents
Under section 9 of the Constitution, Finnish 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, provided that there is no legal impediment to this.
However, the Government still recommends avoiding unnecessary travel to other countries, except for countries for which the restrictions on entry have been lifted.
