COVID-19

TRAVEL SAFELY AND READ THE LATEST INSTRUCTIONS

Updated 20.9.2021

Latest updates on travelling to Finland 

Restrictions by Border Guard

As of 26 July 2021, the restrictions by the Border Guard on entry have been lifted in all traffic arriving in Finland from EU- and Schengen countries. However the below mentioned health requirements (Health checks) will remain in force.

The restrictions concerning external border traffic will continue until 10.10.2021 in order to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 and its virus variants. External border traffic, or traffic crossing the external border, refers to traffic between Finland and a state that does not belong to the Schengen area.

1. As of 26 July 2021, travellers from all the countries can enter Finland if they have proof of valid full vaccination against COVID-19 prior the arrival (no less than 14 days from the last dose). A list of vaccines accepted in Finland is provided by the Finnish institute for health and welfare here
   – Those traveling to Finland should take into account that a certificate of having recovered from COVID-19 within the past six months does still permit entry to Finland only for citizens of the EU and Schengen areas and those living in an EU or Schengen areas.
2. People may enter Finland from third countries on the EU’s green list.
   – Entry from third countries other than those on the EU’s green list is allowed only for essential reasons or for those who have proof of valid full vaccination against COVID-19. More information: https://raja.fi/en/guidelines-for-border-traffic-during-pandemic

Health checks and COVID-19 testing at Finland’s borders until 15 October

People arriving in Finland from high-risk countries will be directed to undergo a health check. People over 16 years of age arriving in Finland must have proof of one of the following:

• full vaccination against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to arrival in Finland. Please refer to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare for the approved vaccines.
• recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months
• a negative COVID-19 test carried out up to 72 hours prior to arrival or a first vaccine dose received at least 2 weeks prior to arrival in the country
  – in this case, a test is also required within 3–5 days of arrival. Please avoid contact with others while waiting for your test results.
• Those who arrive in Finland without proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 must be tested twice:
  • as soon as they arrive in Finland: at the border, if the municipality has arranged the test at the border crossing point, or immediately, or at the latest within 24 hours elsewhere
  • and a second time within 3–5 days. The tests are free of charge.
  • Please avoid contact with others while waiting for your test results.

People arriving from low-risk countries will not be directed to a health check at the point of entry and do not need to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival.

The Government has issued a decree on countries and regions where the incidence of COVID-19 or the prevalence of virus variants does not pose a particular risk of spreading the epidemic. The decree will be amended if the epidemiological situation so requires.

If a person arriving in Finland refuses to be tested for COVID-19, they may be punished with a fine.

The official information on travel to Finland:

Finnish Government – Information and advice on the coronavirus
Finnish Border Guard 

FINENTRY – speed up the arrival process

LAPLANDENTRY – speed up the arrival process at the boarders between Sweden and Finland or Norway and Finland

Instructions for covid-19 testing when arriving to Rovaniemi airport

Other important sites:

Guidelines for travellers by Finnish institute for health and welfare
Practical information for travellers to Finland by Visit Finland

Situation update on coronavirus in Rovaniemi 20 September 2021

At the moment, Rovaniemi is on baseline (stable level) of the coronavirus epidemic. Updated information about coronavirus situation in Lapland and related news you can find from the Koronaturvallinenlappi.fi website. The website is maintained by the Lapland Healthcare District, Länsi-Pohja Healthcare District and House of Lapland

It is strongly recommended to use face mask in all public indoor areas, public transport and other similar situations where close contacts cannot be avoided!

Getting tested is vital even with mild symptoms! 

Health guidelines for travelers in Lapland

• DOWNLOAD THE KORONAVILKKU APP
  Koronavilkku is a contact tracing app produced by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) to help you find out whether you may have been exposed to coronavirus. If you have a coronavirus test and are diagnosed as infected, you can use the app to share this anonymously with those you have been in close contact with. Your privacy is strongly protected.
• TAKE CARE OF HAND HYGIENE: Make sure you wash or disinfect your hands many times a day. 
  
• COUGH IN THE CORRECT WAY: Cough or sneeze into a disposable handkerchief or your own sleeve.
• FACE MASK: It is recommended to use face mask:
  • In shops, shopping centres, libraries, office buildings, theatres, museums and restaurants, other public indoor areas, public transport and other similar situations where close contacts cannot be avoided.
  • The mask recommendation also applies to universities, upper secondary schools and vocational educational institutions. The strong recommendation applies to both staff and students.
  • When meeting friends and relatives, those at risk and their guests are recommended to wear a face mask when safety distances cannot be maintained.
  • Passengers arriving in Finland from a risk area making their way from the place of arrival to quarantine or if they have an urgent reason to spend time outside the home during quarantine.
  • When leaving home for a coronavirus test.
  • The use of a surgical nose and mouth face mask is recommended.
  • The recommendation applies to citizens who are 12 years old or more.
    The use of a face mask shows consideration! 
• MAINTAIN A SAFE DISTANCE OF 2 METRES AT ALL TIMES: 
  Adhere to social distancing rules in shops and public gatherings outdoors and indoors.
• MONITOR THE SITUATION:
  Please monitor how the situation develops, follow the guidelines and act responsibly. Find coronavirus announcements here.
• TRAVEL: Travelling to areas where the coronavirus is in its spreading phase should be avoided.
• CORONA VIRUS TESTING:
  • In a case, when your own country requires a negative corona test certificate when you return, the covid test in Rovaniemi would have to be done at a private medical centre at your own expense: Medical centre Mehilainen
  • If you have any symptoms of a coronavirus infection while you are in Rovaniemi, you can get the test for free (no certificate given).

• IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE BEEN INFECTED WITH THE CORONAVIRUS FOLLOW THESE STEPS
  • Anyone with the slightest symptoms of a coronavirus infection are adviced to seek a laboratory test. The symptoms can be: fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, muscle pain, fatigue, runny nose, nausea, diarrhea.
    • • • You do not need to book an appointment, you can go straight to a test
        • The tests are free of charge
        • The tests are free for visitors of Rovaniemi too:
      • • • The Mehiläinen drive-in testing point is available at Sairaalakatu 1. The testing point is open Mon-Fri 7.30-14.30 and Sat-Sun 8.30-11.30. You don’t have to make an appointment. You can arrive by car, but also by walking or by bike.
          • The Terveystalo testing point is located in the Revontuli shopping centre (Koskikatu 27). The testing point is open Mon-Tue 7.20-14.00, Wed-Fri 7.20-13.00.
          • Stay isolated until you receive the results of the test.

      +358 (0)16 322 4800 / Emergency care at Lapland Central Hospital

      NATIONWIDE EMERGENCY NUMBER: 112

      • • • QUARANTINE: If your coronavirus disease has been confirmed, stay in quarantine for at least 14 days.
          • PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU’RE SICK,  EVEN IF YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE MILD