Restrictions on external border traffic extended until 13 March

NordenBladet — The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread. To safeguard the capacity of the healthcare system, restrictions on external border traffic will continue until 13.3. Some exemptions will however be made. The Government decided on these changes at its session on 10.2. and they will enter into force on 15.2. The restrictions will be amended so that people arriving from outside the EU and the Schengen area will no longer be required to show a negative COVID-19 test result in addition to a full course of vaccination. However, a valid certificate of a full course of vaccination or proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months is still required as a prerequisite for entry, apart from a few exceptions. This requirement applies to those born in 2006 or earlier.The Border Guard will not require the above-mentioned certificates as a prerequisite for entry from the following groups of persons arriving in Finland from third countries: Finnish citizens, foreign nationals residing permanently in Finland, or persons who have an essential reason for entry, such as compelling family matters or another compelling personal reason.Entry into the country will continue to be permitted without restrictions for residents of the countries and regions on the EU’s green list. Countries on the green list mean countries with a sufficiently good epidemiological situation for which the Council of the European Union has decided to allow free travel to the EU.Internal border control, which was reinstated for traffic between Finland and all Schengen countries, ended on 31 January. Entry restrictions for non-Schengen EU countries were also lifted entirely as of 1 February due to the end of internal border control.Requirements under the Communicable Diseases Act apply to all passengersHowever, all passengers arriving in Finland are required to comply with the decisions made by the Regional State Administrative Agencies on compulsory health examinations and to present the required certificates as laid down in the Communicable Diseases Act.All passengers arriving in Finland must have one of these certificates: a vaccination certificate, a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 or a negative test certificate (issued less than 72 hours prior to entry). Passengers who do not have any of the above-mentioned certificates may be directed to a COVID-19 test.With certain exceptions, the requirements apply to all those born in 2006 or earlier.Finnish travellers should note that while they are allowed to enter Finland without a test, other countries and airlines may have their own testing requirements.