Health security at Finland’s borders: Exception to obligation to present COVID-19-related certificate or be tested

People arriving in Finland who were born in 2005 or earlier will still be required to have a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 within the past six months, of a completed and approved course of COVID-19 vaccination or of a negative COVID-19 test taken before arrival in Finland.

Under the new government decree concerning the entry into the country, people arriving in Finland from low-risk countries may be exempt from the border health security measures laid down in the Communicable Diseases Act. The obligation to present a certificate or be tested for COVID-19 will not apply to people who have, for the last 14 days prior to their arrival in Finland, stayed only in countries or regions where the incidence of COVID-19 or the prevalence of virus variants does not pose a particular risk of spreading the epidemic with regard to the COVID-19 situation in Finland and its various regions. The COVID-19 incidence rate specified in the decree is based on an overall assessment that takes into account the differences between the different regions in the country. The decree will enter into force on 16 October 2021.

Under the decree, people arriving in Finland will not be required to present a certificate or be tested for COVID-19 if they have, for the last 14 days prior to their arrival in Finland, stayed only in Bhutan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Japan, China, Kuwait, Macao, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, New Zealand, the Vatican or the Norwegian municipalities of Sør-Varanger, Karasjok, Storfjord, Nordreisa or Tana.

The current government decree will expire on 15 October, and the new decree will remain in force until 31 December 2021. 

Inquiries: 

Taneli Puumalainen, Director General, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, firstname.lastname@gov.fi