Finland

Reissued after periodic review without changes. Exercise normal precautions in Finland. Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Finland. If you decide to travel to Finland: Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program  ( STEP ) to receive travel alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  X/Twitter . Review the  Country Security Report  for Finland. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .   (Updated August 9, 2024 at 12:00 AM)

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program ( STEP ) to receive travel alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on Facebook and X/Twitter .
• Review the Country Security Report for Finland.
• Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
• Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist .

You can read more about the topic on the [https://raja.fi/en/frontpage Finnish Border Guard's website]. Visas cannot be applied for on the road, but must be applied for in advance, in person at the Finnish embassy in your country or in another designated place (see [https://um.fi/visa-to-visit-finland instructions]); for some countries a commercial entity handles the applications. In some countries, the processing of Finnish visa applications may be delegated to the embassy of another Nordic country. Most of the requirements are common for all the Schengen area, but what funds are regarded sufficient varies between countries. Visa processing times tend to be quite lengthy and the process might be one of the more stringent ones overall. It's not uncommon to wait for a month or more to get a Finnish visa, so plan and prepare well. In simple cases the processing time should be at most 15 days, but 45 days may be needed. The application can be made at most half a year in advance. For Russians, tourism isn't a valid reason to enter Finland (because of the Russian war on Ukraine) and multi-entry visas may be retracted. Tourist visas are still granted and valid for certain other types of visits. See the [https://raja.fi/en/entry-restrictions Border Guard's information]. Finland is also a member of the European Union, which has common import regulations (with some specific exceptions). Import for own use (including ordinary gifts) from other EU countries is mostly duty-free. Note, however, that Norway isn't an EU member and that Åland isn't part of EU's tax union, and regulations for pets, medicines and other special goods. All roads from Russia are closed until further notice. The three easternmost border crossing points on waterways (Nuijamaa, Santio and Haapasaari) are closed for leisure craft. 2025-09-03 The Finland–Russia border, at a length of 1340, is a Schengen and EU external border, and border controls apply. This border can be crossed only at designated border crossings; elsewhere there is a no-entry border zone on both sides, mostly a few kilometres in width on the Finnish side. Entering the border zones or trying to photograph there will result in an arrest and a fine. Since 2023, the border has been closed. The borders to Norway and Sweden may be crossed at any point without a permit, provided that you're not carrying anything that requires customs clearance. The exception is by the Norway–Russia tripoint, which lies in the border zone to Russia. As Finland is separated from Western and Central Europe by the Baltic Sea, the common arrival routes (in addition to flights) are via Sweden, with a one-night (or day) ferry passage, via Estonia, with a shorter ferry passage, or from Russia, over the land border. There are also ferries across all of the Baltic Sea, mainly those from Travemünde in Germany (two nights or two days).

• You can read more about the topic on the [https://raja.fi/en/frontpage Finnish Border Guard's website].
• Visas cannot be applied for on the road, but must be applied for in advance, in person at the Finnish embassy in your country or in another designated place (see [https://um.fi/visa-to-visit-finland instructions]); for some countries a commercial entity handles the applications. In some countries, the processing of Finnish visa applications may be delegated to the embassy of another Nordic country. Most of the requirements are common for all the Schengen area, but what funds are regarded sufficient varies between countries.
• Visa processing times tend to be quite lengthy and the process might be one of the more stringent ones overall. It's not uncommon to wait for a month or more to get a Finnish visa, so plan and prepare well. In simple cases the processing time should be at most 15 days, but 45 days may be needed. The application can be made at most half a year in advance.
• For Russians, tourism isn't a valid reason to enter Finland (because of the Russian war on Ukraine) and multi-entry visas may be retracted. Tourist visas are still granted and valid for certain other types of visits. See the [https://raja.fi/en/entry-restrictions Border Guard's information].
• Finland is also a member of the European Union, which has common import regulations (with some specific exceptions). Import for own use (including ordinary gifts) from other EU countries is mostly duty-free. Note, however, that Norway isn't an EU member and that Åland isn't part of EU's tax union, and regulations for pets, medicines and other special goods.
• The borders to Norway and Sweden may be crossed at any point without a permit, provided that you're not carrying anything that requires customs clearance. The exception is by the Norway–Russia tripoint, which lies in the border zone to Russia.

The trains from Russia have been suspended, because of the Russian war on Ukraine. There are no direct trains between Sweden or Norway and Finland (the rail gauge is different), but Haparanda in Sweden is next to Tornio in Finland, just walk across the border. Eurail and Inter Rail passes are valid also on some buses replacing rail connections. On ferries from Sweden, you mostly get a 50% discount with them (on the normal price, you might find cheaper offers).

• The trains from Russia have been suspended, because of the Russian war on Ukraine.
• There are no direct trains between Sweden or Norway and Finland (the rail gauge is different), but Haparanda in Sweden is next to Tornio in Finland, just walk across the border.
• Eurail and Inter Rail passes are valid also on some buses replacing rail connections. On ferries from Sweden, you mostly get a 50% discount with them (on the normal price, you might find cheaper offers).

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