Overall compared to other countries, Finland has been coping with the pandemic relatively well. With the current world situation, traveling to other countries as a tourist is not recommended. Due to the COVID-19, the Foreign Ministry’s general travel advice continues to be to avoid all but essential travel to and from all countries. This general advice does not apply to countries for which the Government has already lifted the entry restrictions. You can find the list of countries from which you can travel to Finland without restrictions in force here.
However, make sure to follow safety guidelines. Read all the information below, to ensure your careful arrival in Finland.
For most updated information about traveling during COVID-19, always check out the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Finland website.
Below we have listed all the information you need to be aware of when traveling to Finland during COVID-19. These instructions will help you to have a smooth and safe arrival.
1. Before booking your flight
According to the Finnish government, work-related travel and other essential travel is allowed. Other essential travels can include for example a need to start studies on-campus in Finland or receiving a valid residence permit to enter Finland. The travel and quarantine restrictions in Finland are based on the country you are arriving from.
Here you can find all the countries that Finland has lifted the restrictions from. If you are arriving in Finland from these countries, you don’t need to remain in voluntary quarantine. If you are arriving from other countries than those listed on the website, the Finnish government and health authorities recommend you to follow the 10-day voluntary quarantine to ensure the safety of yourself and others. Travelers can shorten their self-isolation period if they take two COVID-19 tests and the results are negative.
You might also be interested in: COVID-19 status – Finland welcomes international students
2. When booking your flight
Before you travel, check the validity and coverage of your travel insurance. Now it is particularly important to make sure that the insurance policy provides sufficient coverage even when the pandemic situation is taken into account.
Furthermore, maintaining good hygiene is important in all stages of your travel. You must wear a face mask during your flight and keep a safe distance of 1-2 meters to other people if possible. Focus well on good hand hygiene. Also, try to avoid touching your face and keep a hand sanitizer near in your bags.
3. Arriving to Finland
When arriving to Finland, make sure you have all your required documents with you. You should be prepared to answer a few questions at the airport’s border control. The questions might be related to your reason to travel, residence permit documents, host university or accommodation. The residence permit card must be presented at the border check. We advise you to stay in contact with your host university and inform them about your arrival date to receive further information.
The Finnish government is reassessing the situation about every two weeks. To stay on track of the changing situation, we recommend you to regularly check the following websites:
Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland The Finnish Border Guard Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
4. What to do if you suspect corona-virus?
- If you start feeling symptoms, please contact the local public health center or hospital emergency department by phone. It is crucial that you first contact the health authorities by phone to receive further instructions.
- If you have travel insurance that includes medical insurance, please contact the mentioned health provider first.
- If you need to get tested for the coronavirus, the health authorities will guide you with further information on when and where to be tested.
All international students are required to have health insurance in Finland. Health care services in Finland are accessible to all students. The nationwide emergency number is 112. Use this number only in genuine emergency situations.
5. For students arriving in Finland in Autumn 2021
Although most of the university facilities in Finland are currently closed, teaching will continue! Finland has a great distance learning system and tuition is not dependent on contact learning. Finnish universities have several online platforms that enable taking classes from home. Finland is a highly technologically developed country and both students and workers can often work from home remotely.
As of now, it is yet to be announced whether the autumn 2021 studies will be online or on campus. The universities will keep you informed before your studies start. Universities update their policies and information on their websites so make sure to check them for more information upon your arrival.
When in Finland, download the local virus tracing app called Koronavilkku produced by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). This will help you find out whether you may have been exposed to COVID-19.
To remind you, The Finnish healthcare system is among the most advanced in the world.
During these uncertain times, Edunation is always here for you. We understand every concern and if you have anything you would like to ask or talk about, please don’t hesitate to contact the Edunation team!
Read Edunation’s official statement regarding coronavirus.
This blog post was written on February 2, 2021.
