New restrictions for entering the country started 15 February 2022
Read more at: https://raja.fi/en/guidelines-for-border-traffic-during-pandemic
Finnish Lapland welcomes travellers to visit the Arctic wonderland in a safe way. This site gives information on the travelling precautions, restrictions, and the current situation regarding the coronavirus in Finnish Lapland. This site also provides contact information for COVID-19 testing points and frequently asked questions (FAQ) for entering Finnish Lapland.
All travel providers in Lapland are working together to make travelling and working in the travel business safe. Coronavirus safety is the responsibility of us all, let’s keep travelling safe now and in the future. Welcome to Lapland!
Entry to Finland from EU and Schengen countries (internal border traffic)
Which countries are affected?
The Schengen countries are the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Poland, France, Sweden, Germany, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Traffic from these countries to Finland is called internal border traffic.
In addition, this paragraph applies to Andorra, Bulgaria, Ireland, Croatia, Cyprus, Monaco, Romania, San Marino, and the Vatican.
What are the conditions for entry to Finland?
There are no travel restrictions on entry from the nations listed above. Please remember that passengers arriving in Finland are subject to obligations under the legal provisions of Finland’s Communicable Diseases Act.
Requirements according to the Communicable Diseases Act for Finland at internal borders:
- vaccination certificate, complete vaccination series, i.e. usually two vaccination doses, or
- certificate of recovery, recovered from the COVID-19 virus less than six (6) months ago, or
- COVID-19 test certificate, negative test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival. The health authorities at the point of entry decide which types of tests for the COVID-19 virus prior to entry are approved. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL) recommends approval of PCR and antigen tests to be accepted on entry.
The certificate may be replaced by taking a COVID-19 test:
- If you do not have any of the above certificates, you must take a COVID-19 test at the point of entry to Finland. You must also take a second COVID-19 test three to five (3–5) days after arriving in Finland.
- If you only have a test taken no more than 72 hours before arrival, you must also take a second COVID-19 test during a period of three to five (3–5) days after arriving in Finland.
- If you have a certificate of one vaccination, you must also take another COVID-19 test during the three to five (3–5) days after arriving in Finland.
Under the temporary rules of the Communicable Diseases Act, the following persons are not required to present certificates or to take a COVID-19 virus test at the point of entry:
- Children and young people born in or after 2007.
- Employees of foreign government missions or members of international intergovernmental organisations who have personal immunity and their family members as well as holders of diplomatic or official passports accredited outside Finland when travelling through Finland to a place of employment or their home country.
- Passenger or freight transport operators working in the transport and logistics sector and crews of ships, aircraft or trains while performing their duties, or replacement crews when they go on duty.
- Persons whose entry is based on the prevention of a sudden risk to the infrastructure of society threatening health or safety.
- Passengers travelling by air when they do not leave the airport.
- Customs authorities at the Finnish and Norwegian border in their essential official duties.
- The Sámi people while practising their livelihood or culture in the Sámi Homeland.
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Entry into Finland from other countries (external border traffic)
What countries and regions does this apply to?
This section applies to entry in Finland traffic from all countries not previously listed above. This paragraph includes, for example, entry from Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Turkey.
What are the requirements for entry into Finland?
The entry of passengers from these countries into Finland may be granted, subject to the normal rules for the entry of foreign nationals and to the requirements listed below.
A person may be granted entry into Finland from any country if they present:
- a certificate of a complete and valid vaccination series (either one or two doses depending on the vaccine). At least seven (7) days must have passed since the last vaccine dose has been received; or
- a certificate that the person has recovered from the COVID-19 virus and has received at least one dose of vaccine (regarded as being equivalent to a full vaccine series, verified with a single document); or
- EU digital COVID certificate that proves the person has recovered from COVID-19 within the past six (6) months.
- these conditions apply to those born in or before 2006.
However, these requirements do not apply to
- Finnish citizens
- permanent residents of Finland, or
- people travelling for essential reasons.
COVID-19 testing:
Hetta, health centre Monday–Friday at 11:00–14:00. By appointment: COVID-19 nurse, tel. +358 40 654 5660 Address: Kuntokatu 4.
Karesuvanto and Kilpisjärvi Monday–Friday at 8:00–14:00 By appointment: tel. +358 400 233 618 or +358 40 825 8036 Addresses: Karesuvanto: Syväjärventie 3. Kilpisjärvi: Tsahkalluotkantie 1.
At other times Muonio, on call. Pirkantie 11. Please call to make an appointment: +358 40 714 2845
9-lives Oy (please check opening hours and locations on the company’s website, as times are subject to change)
Ivalo, S-Market courtyard, Petsamontie 2
Neste Saariselkä
For sudden and urgent medical issues, please call the on-duty nurse that is available 24/7. Tel. +358 40 770 9187. In case of an emergency, call 112!
COVID-19 tests at the health centre for only the groups recommended in the bulletin: Book a time for a coronavirus test by calling the appointment booking number of the Ivalo Health Care Centre, tel. +358 40 188 7400 weekdays 8:15–9:45 and 13:00–14:00.
The town’s coronavirus testing station located in the Kauppatori marketplace is only intended for people who are symptomatic, or for the residents of Kemi and Keminmaa who have been ordered by the communicable disease authorities to take the test. On weekdays the tests are carried out at the Kemi marketplace and at weekends in Tornio. If you need to take a coronavirus test due to a trip planned abroad or at the request of your employer, please book an appointment with a private health care centre (Mehiläinen, Terveystalo) or your own occupational health care service for taking a coronavirus test.
Book an appointment with the Kemi testing point
Book an appointment with the Tornio testing point
By telephone +358 16 259 358 Monday–Friday at 8:00–14:00
COVID-19 assessment for need for COVID-19 testing and for making appointments, please call the coronavirus helpline Monday–Sunday 8:00–12:00 on +358 40 579 9243
For coronavirus enquiries related to coronavirus testing, coronavirus test results and coronavirus test result certificates, Monday–Friday at 8:00–15:00, tel. +358 16 259 358. Making an appointment for a coronavirus test shall primarily be done online:
Please only make appointments by phone if making an appointment online is not possible.
You can call the health care centre’s emergency number +358 400 356 498 to request a COVID-19 test. The number includes a call back service. Address: Kittilä Health Care Centre, Sairaalantie 2, 99100 Kittilä
Private medical clinics in Sirkka (Levi): You can take a COVID-19 test at private medical stations that provide COVID-19 testing free of charge with the municipality on a contractual basis. Please note that if you need a COVID-19 Pass or certificate for travel, for example, the test and certificate are subject to fees.
Pihlajalinna Levi, tel. +358 10 312 141, Levintie 1590, 99130 Sirkka
Doctor Service Bene Finlandia Oy, tel. +358 400 10 312 141, Levinraitti 6, 99130 Sirkka
MediYlläs provides COVID-19 testing for a fee and the health centre tests separately as agreed.
If you need a 72-hour test after entering Finland, please call +358 40 489 5095 during normal office hours to book an appointment for a COVID-19 test.
Making an appointment for a coronavirus test: There will no longer be a separate coronavirus testing times or a dedicated coronavirus phone number. If necessary, communicate with the open clinic of the Muonio Health Centre, by electronic means:
Pelkosenniemi coronavirus website
The public Health Care Group of Pelkosenniemi–Savukoski follows the guidance of Lapland Hospital District (LSHP). We provide COVID-19 testing based on the nurse’s assessment.
The separate telephone number for making a COVID-19 test appointment is no longer in use. Please make an online appointment:
or call +358 40 713 2771 for appointment.
COVID-19 home testing is recommended. A healthcare professional will make an assessment of the need for COVID-19 testing. The test is provided based on medical criteria, the criteria being the person’s symptoms and the assessment of the need for treatment.
COVID-19 home testing is still recommended. If you are of normal health and not a healthcare employee, a COVID-19 home test is sufficient. If you are a member of a high-risk group and you get a positive COVID-19 home test result, please contact your health centre’s COVID-19 nurse 8:00–16:00 on weekdays, on +358 40 867 0259, in the evening and at weekends on +358 40 867 0268.
Coronavirus testing in Rovaniemi
You can go to 9Lives, Mehiläinen or Terveystalo for a COVID-19 test without needing to make an appointment, or with an appointment for Lappica. Before booking an appointment, please check the above sentence to ensure that the test criteria are met. If the COVID-19 testing criteria are not met, you must pay for the test yourself. The COVID-19 test and certificate must also be paid for if used for travel or certification.
9Lives
The 9Lives COVID-19 testing point serves in the Lordi Square. The testing point is open Monday–Sunday at 7:30–20:00, including public holidays. Please note! Starting from 14 March, the COVID-19 testing point is open Monday–Sunday 8:00–17:00. The customer receives the test result as a text message between 30–60 minutes after the test has been taken. The results will be transferred to OmaKanta with an approximate delay of one day.
If you are going to take the COVID-19 test, you must register online in advance at korona.9lives.fi. What to do:
Select “Buy online” > scroll down and select “Coronavirus testing (Antigen)”. > Click “Buy”. > Click on “Fill in the pre-information form”. > Fill in your details on the form that opens up. > Select Rovaniemi Lordi Square as the testing point. > The section about the Kela card can be skipped. > If you need an official certificate for the COVID-19 test, tick the relevant box. In this case, you will have to pay for the certificate and the COVID-19 test yourself. > On the summary page, please check your details and select “Payment on site” under the payment options. Then submit your registration. When you receive the message “Thank you for your order”, you can go to the test at any time during the testing site’s opening hours.
Mehiläinen Drive-in
The Mehiläinen drive-in testing point welcomes people at Lampelankatu 6. You must make an appointment for COVID-19 testing. Appointments are available Monday–Friday 7:30–14:30, and on Saturdays and Sundays, and on weekday public holidays 10:00–14:00.
COVID-19 tests are carried out in a respiratory infection container located in the courtyard of the medical centre. Arrive in good time, you will be called in by name. There are plenty of appointment times available and you can also book at short notice.
Mehiläinen appointment bookings
Instructions for booking a COVID-19 test appointment at the Mehiläinen testing point: Go to appointment.mehilainen.fi (link above). Answer the question “Are you booking an appointment for a respiratory tract infection patient?”, “Yes” and click on “RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTION CLINIC”. Under “Person or service”, select “Laboratory”. Under “Clinic or region”, select “Rovaniemi” as your location and select an appointment time
The test result is ready within six (6) hours of sampling. The results can be viewed using the OmaMehiläinen application. The results will be transferred to OmaKanta with a delay of more than 24 hours. If you do not have any online banking codes required to log in to OmaMehiläinen or for any other reason it is not possible to use this online service (e.g. persons aged 10–17 years), please mention this when the test is being taken. In this case, we will call you no later than the day following the testing day.
Terveystalo
The Terveystalo testing point is located on the 1st floor of the Revontuli Shopping Centre, the entrance is from the southern end of the shopping centre using its own outside door (Repolainen children’s play area). The coronavirus testing point is available without appointment: Monday–Friday 7:20–14:00. The test result is completed within about six (6) hours of taking the test. The result can be viewed using the Terveystalo application. The results will be transferred to OmaKanta with a delay of more than 24 hours. Those arriving at Terveystalo for taking a COVID-19 test are kindly asked not to walk through the shopping centre, but to arrive directly from the other outside entrance.
Lappica
The Lappica COVID-19 testing point serves everyone over six (6) years of age at Lapinkävijäntie 2, Koronapiste container on the Neste service station side of the courtyard, marked as Testing Point 2 and in the indoor Testing Point 1 (entrance from the door next to the Matkahuolto depot). The COVID-19 testing points are open on weekdays: Monday–Friday at 7:30–17:30, weekends at 8:00– 15:00. The Lappica test point accepts people for testing is by appointment only.
People who have had earlier dealings with Lappica can book COVID-19 testing appointments online:
For the first COVID-19 appointment for persons over 6 years of age, call the Lappica telephone service. After the first test, appointments can be booked via the online appointment system.
The number for booking an appointment +358 20 692 190 is open Monday–Thursday at 7:30–14:30, Friday at 7:30–13:30, and on weekends at 8:30–12:00. Please submit a call back request and we will be in touch with you. Customers are asked to bring along proof of identity. We will send a text message to the customer about half an hour after a positive result of the rapid test. The test result can be viewed in the Omakanta service within 1–2 hours.
COVID-19 testing on weekdays Monday–Friday at 10:00–15:30 on weekdays, and on Saturday–Sunday at 12:00–15:30, tel. +358 45 665 3454.
The public Health Care Group of Pelkosenniemi–Savukoski follows the guidance of Lapland Hospital District (LSHP). We provide COVID-19 testing based on the nurse’s assessment.
Contact details for coronavirus-related matters: Reception of the Simo Health Care Centre, tel. +358 8 5875 6900
The Sodankylä Infection Reception and Coronavirus Hotline is open daily Monday–Sunday 8:00–12:00, tel. +358 40 128 5295. If you need to contact the clinic for acute cases at weekends, please contact us by calling +358 20 692 881. You can also book an appointment for a COVID-19 test through the online service:
The coronavirus hotline uses a callback service, if they were unable to answer. All you have to do is leave your callback request and you will get a call back later. Calls are returned every day through to 21:00.
A COVID-19 home test is sufficient, there is no need to apply for an official COVID-19 test if you are only experiencing mild symptoms.
If you feel you require a professional assessment, please call the Tervola Health Centre on-call department at 8:00–9:00 on weekdays: +358 40 151 9700 or +358 40 151 9701. For the acute clinic emergency service, outside of opening hours: +358 40 149 1340
The coronavirus testing point for Tornio is located at Pakkahuonekatu 1 (the parking area at the end of the Greenline Customs). Coronavirus testing is only available by appointment and is intended for local residents only. At weekends, residents of other municipalities in Länsi-Pohja can also use the Tornio coronavirus testing point.
No treatment assessment is performed before COVID-19 testing. You can evaluate your own health condition using the Omaolo test. If you feel that you need expert assessment and treatment, please contact the Mehiläinen Digital Clinic, or call the Tornio Coronavirus Advice service on weekdays, tel. +358 40 614 9797. The telephone number operates Monday to Thursday at 8:00–15:00 and Friday at 8:00–14:00.
If you suspect you have been infected with COVID-19, please take a COVID-19 home test and, having obtained a positive result, remain isolated for a period of five days.
If you need a COVID-19 test carried out by healthcare authorities (you belong to a group of people eligible for testing), please contact:
Utsjoki Health Centre +358 40 181 0285
Karigasniemi healthcare nurse, tel. +358 40 758 2076
Evenings, weekends, and weekday public holidays: Utsjoki Health Care Centre ward section tel. +358 40 181 0281
On weekdays at 8:00–16:00 the coronavirus test is available by contacting the local nurse in your area who will make an assessment. The COVID-19 test is carried out in a blue container in the courtyard of the Ylitornio Health Centre, so please do not enter the health centre for the test!
1st Region doctor – nurse, asthma nurse Elina Alaniemi tel. +358 16 571 710
2nd Region doctor – nurse, service manager Sirpa Uusimaa tel. +358 16 571 720
3rd Region doctor – nurse Sanna Rautio tel. +358 16 571 730
For more information:
For official information and more details on these entry requirements, please refer to the Finnish Border Guard and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.
More information on entry requirements is also available on the Finnish Government’s COVID-19 website.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Leisure travel to Finland from non-EU / non-Schengen / from other than low-risk countries:
Q: Can a young person (16–17 years old) enter the country with another adult than their legal guardian?
A: Yes, a young person can come to Finland accompanied by a fully vaccinated adult.
- If this young person has no certificate
- an entry test (within 24 hours) and test in Finland 3–5 days after arrival are required
- If this young person has a negative COVID-19 test taken prior to arrival OR has received the first dose of the vaccine 14 days prior to arrival
- test in Finland 3–5 days after arrival is required
- If this young person has received a full series of vaccines OR can produce proof of recovery from COVID-19 within the past 6 months
- no test is needed
Q: If a baby does not have a passport, is some other documentation needed?
A: Yes, a birth certificate is required.
Q: What happens when we arrive at a Lapland airport from the UK?
A: All travellers from non-Schengen countries go through border control. All passports are checked and the required COVID-19 certificates are also checked. Then travellers go to the baggage claim hall and exit via the customs.
Care about code of conduct 
1. Take the coronavirus test
If you fall ill, even if you have mild symptoms, go for a coronavirus test and stay isolated until you receive the results of the test. There is a very low threshold for tests – make an appointment for your coronavirus test with your local health centre. Find the contact details for your locality from the section “Ask for advice or book an appointment for a coronavirus test.“
2. Maintain a safe distance at all times
Adhere to social distancing rules in shops and public gatherings outdoors and indoors. Try to avoid all public gatherings.
3. Use a face mask
Face masks are recommended in the following situations:
- When using public transport
- When leaving home for a coronavirus test.
- Passengers arriving in Finland from a risk area making their way from the place of arrival to quarantine or who they have an urgent reason to spend time outside the home during quarantine.
- In all other situations, with indoor gatherings where close contacts cannot always be avoided.
- If you belong to one of the risk groups, in addition to other precautions, use a face mask in shops, public indoor areas, public transport and other similar situations to make sure you are protected. The use of a surgical nose and mouth face mask is recommended.
The use of a face mask shows consideration for others and should be practiced. When the infection situation changes in Lapland, we will provide more recommendations, if necessary.
4. Cough in the correct way
Cough or sneeze into a disposable handkerchief or your own sleeve.
5. Take care of hand hygiene
Make sure you wash or disinfect your hands many times a day. A pocket-sized bottle of disinfectant is easy to carry with you!
6. Monitor the situation
Monitor coronavirus announcements, i.e. the so-called “Corona Status”. The coronavirus situation is not yet over, so please monitor how the situation develops, follow the guidelines and act responsibly.
7. Care
Don’t leave anyone alone, let’s take care of each other and enjoy life.