The Finnish government announced Thursday that internal border controls will be extended for another two weeks from July 12.
In a press release sent by the Ministry of the Interior in the afternoon, the government chaired by the Social Democrat Sanna Marin announced that internal border controls (between Finland and other Schengen countries) will be extended for another two weeks, which means practically until the end of the month.
The government calls it a "short transitional period" between 12 and 25 July, after which internal border control and entry restrictions at internal borders "will be lifted."
In practice the continuation of internal border control means that between 12 and 25 July the border authorities will first assess whether or not people can enter the country.
Travelers from European countries or the Schengen area may enter Finland, even for tourism, but they will have to present a certificate proving that they have received two doses of a coronavirus vaccine or that they have recovered from Covid-19 less than six months before.And it will be the authorities who make the final decision in each case.
Therefore, there will be no free entry for citizens from other countries for the remainder of the summer. When the transition period ends it will be almost August, the month when autumn comes to the Nordic country, schools reopen and holiday tourism significantly declines.
Ensure a 'smooth transition'
The Government said that this decision is intended to "give the municipalities and joint municipal authorities time to prepare for the implementation of health security measures under the Communicable Diseases Act."
The Ministry of the Interior insists that "the purpose of the decision is to ensure a smooth transition from the travel restrictions applied in spring to health security measures at border crossing points and to prevent cross-border Covid-19 infections during this short transitional period."
"If a person is entitled to enter the country, the health authorities will then assess which health security measures under the Communicable Diseases Act apply to the person," the government emphasizes in its statement.
