1.1. Entry, transit, departure and landing of civil aircraft shall be subject to the current Finnish rules and regulations regarding civil aviation.
 

1.2. The differences to the Standards and Recommended practices contained in ICAO Annex 9 are given in section GEN 1.7.
 

1.3. Finland is party to The International Air Services Transit Agreement.
 

1.4. Finland is a Member State of European Union and applies the Schengen provisions, enhancing the free movement of persons.
 

1.5. Certain definitions:
Permission for border crossing:  When applied to air traffic, permission for border crossing is required when an aircraft crossing external border intends to use for its first arrival or final departure some other point than one of the border crossing points for aircraft listed in the Decree (901/2006) (see para 1.6.2.4, application procedure, see para 4.2).

Schengen Borders Code: Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of the European Parliament and of the Council on a Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders.

Schengen acquis:  Schengen acquis means a set of rules integrated on 1 May 1999 under the Treaty of Amsterdam as part of the acquis of the European Union, which comprise the 1985 Schengen Agreement, the 1990 Schengen Convention, the accession agreements of the Member States and the decisions and declarations issued by the Schengen Executive Committee, and any subsequent statutes based on the acquis.

Schengen area: The area consisting of the territories of Contracting Parties to the Schengen Agreements. The contracting parties to the Schengen agreements are: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Internal borders:  When applied to air traffic, the internal borders means the airports of the Member States for internal flights.

External borders: When applied to air traffic, the external borders means the Member States' airports provided that they are not internal borders.

Internal flight: Any flight exclusively to or from the territories of the Member States and not landing in the territory of a third country.

Permission from the customs: This permission from customs is required when an aircraft crossing the border of the EU customs territory or tax area or carrying goods which shall be declared to customs authorities intends to use other than an international community airport for its first landing or final departure, (see para 1.6.2.4). The permission will be granted on specific conditions (application procedure, see para 5.2).

EU customs territory: The area consisting of the territories of the EU Member States.

EU tax area: The area consisting of the territories of EU Member States, excluding some specific parts of them. Examples of areas within the EU customs territory but outside the tax area are the Canaries, the Channel Islands and the Åland Islands. For customs purposes, flights to/from these areas are regarded as flights outside the EU (see GEN 1.3, para 1.4). (6. Directive on value added tax and Directive on the general arrangements for products subject to excise duty).
 

1.6. Arrival to and departure from Finland
 

1.6.1. Border crossing by air

1.6.1.1. Aircraft entering the airspace of the Finnish territory shall closely follow the route given in the flight plan and adjust its flight so that the border will be crossed as closely as possible with the estimated crossing time. If flight is operated outside the ATS routes given in AIP, ENR 3, the flight route shall be planned to follow the straightest possible track from the territorial border crossing point to the aerodrome of first intended landing or the point of joining the ATS route given in the flight plan (see AIP, ENR 1.10, contents of FPL).

1.6.1.2. The state border between Finland/Russia shall be crossed by using the published ATS routes (see also AIP Russia).

1.6.1.3. When the state border between Finland/Sweden or Finland/Norway will be crossed the use of published ATS Routes is recommended.
 

1.6.2. First landing and final departure

1.6.2.1. Aircraft landing in or departing from the territory of Finland shall first land at or finally depart from one of the border crossing points for aircraft listed in the Decree (901/2006) in Section 6 §, unless otherwise specified in para 1.6.2.2 - 1.6.2.4 below.

Such a border crossing point for air traffic are as follows:
Enontekiö (EFET), Helsinki-Vantaa (EFHK), Ivalo (EFIV), Joensuu (EFJO), Jyväskylä (EFJY), Kajaani (EFKI), Kemi-Tornio (EFKE), Kittilä (EFKT), Kokkola-Pietarsaari (EFKK), Kuopio (EFKU), Kuusamo (EFKS), Lappeenranta (EFLP), Mariehamn (EFMA), Oulu (EFOU), Pori (EFPO), Rovaniemi (EFRO), Savonlinna (EFSA), Seinäjoki (EFSI), Tampere-Pirkkala (EFTP), Turku (EFTU) and Vaasa (EFVA).

The Åland, Hanko and Helsinki Coast Guard Stations are border crossing points exclusively for seaplanes departing and arriving on the water.

In international traffic, the aircraft operator shall notify both the border control and customs authorities. The notification can be given via appropriate ATS unit by using the flight plan.

At international aerodromes, customs and border control services are available on a regular basis. For operational hours at each aerodrome, see part AD 2.

1.6.2.2. Flights within the Schengen area

Aircraft on internal flight may use any aerodrome for their first landing or final departure, unless EU customs regulations and/or the right to use military aerodromes otherwise dictate.

For each internal flight during which the aircraft enters the Finnish airspace or departs from it, a flight plan shall be submitted by the aircraft operator. An accepted flight plan may not be changed during flight so that the aircraft would leave the Schengen area.

Note: Norway and Iceland are not EU member states, and therefore a permission from the customs is required when using other than international aerodromes for arrival from or departure for those states. For the application procedure, see para 5.2.

1.6.2.3. Flights within the EU customs territory

Aircraft flying directly from one EU Member State to another without a stop outside the EU customs territory or tax area may use any aerodrome for their first landing or final departure, unless the provisions of Schengen Agreements and/or the right to use military aerodromes otherwise dictate.

Note: This exemption applies other than international aerodromes only, if

Changing the flight plan during a flight, so that the aircraft would land outside the EU customs territory or tax area, is not allowed.

Changing a filed flight plan for a flight crossing the tax area (which is considered as non-EU traffic), to be a flight within EU tax area, is not allowed.

The articles transported in EU’s internal traffic are not subject to customs inspection without specific reason. If the transportation to/from the Finnish territory is subject to permission, but the permission has not yet been granted, the transporter shall declare the article to customs authorities even when it is carried within EU’s internal traffic.

Through ATS unit customs authorities may require the pilot-in-command to land at an international or other aerodrome for the purpose of inspection.

Note: All EU Member States do not apply the Schengen provisions. Therefore a permission for border crossing is required when using other than international aerodromes when arriving at or departing from those states, unless that aerodrome / landing site is specifically named as a border crossing point for aircraft. For the application procedure, see para 4.2.

1.6.2.4. Non-Schengen and/or non-EU traffic

The aerodromes listed in the table below as well as other landing sites may be used for traffic to/from non-Schengen states and states outside the EU customs territory or tax area, if permission(s) is(are) granted.
 

The permissions required and the time limits for application are also given in the table below.

 

1.7. The entry and departure shall take place within the operational hours of appropriate ATS unit. The operational hours are published through the AIS.

Outside the operational hours of customs at international community airports and always at other sites customs is collecting a charge for aircarft clearance, possible refund for transportation costs and waiting time. Charges apply both commercial and non-commercial traffic.
 

1.8. Flight operations in Finland by foreign-registered aircraft under national regulation

The requirements below shall be applied to foreign aircraft that do not have a certificate of airworthiness in accordance with ICAO Annex 8.

Non-scheduled flights by civil aircraft registered in a State party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (1944) may perform flights without commercial purposes into, from or over Finnish territory. A flight plan shall be submitted in accordance with the Rules of The Air and part ENR of the AIP.

Applications shall be submitted to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency under the following address:
     
Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom
PL 320
FI-00059 TRAFICOM
AFS: EFCAYAYX
E-mail: flightpermissions@traficom.fi
 

3.1. Traffic according to regulations of the European Economic Area

3.1.1. Statutes in force in the European Economic Area are applied to undertakings licensed by the Member States of the European Union and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein in the traffic within and between these states. In addition the traffic between Switzerland and the European Union Member states is released by a separate agreement.
 

3.2. Traffic to / from states outside the European Economic Area

3.2.1. Traffic shall be conducted in accordance with Finnish laws, the Air Services Agreement between Finland and the State of the operator or with other possible arrangements between the authorities of the States concerned.

3.2.2. Third country operators (TCO), including TCOs having wet-lease or code-sharing agreements with an EU operator, shall only engage in scheduled or non-scheduled commercial air transport operations within, into or out of the territory subject to the provisions of the Treaty on European Union when they hold an authorisation issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (the Agency) in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 452/2014.

Application for an authorization, including all the necessary documentation, should be submitted to the Agency at least 30 days before the intended starting date of operation.

A third country operator may perform air ambulance flights or a non-scheduled flight or a series of non-scheduled flights to overcome an unforeseen, immediate and urgent operational need without first obtaining an authorisation provided that the operator:
 

(1) notifies the Agency prior to the intended date of the first flight in a form and manner established by the Agency;
 

(2) is not being subject to an operating ban pursuant to Regulation (EC) No 2111/2005; and
 

(3) applies for an authorisation within 10 working days after the date of notification to the Agency.
 

Those flights must be specified in the notification and may be performed for a maximum period of six consecutive weeks after the date of notification or until the Agency has taken a decision on the application, whichever comes sooner. Please note that, a notification may be filed only once every 24 months by an operator.

An authorisation will not be required for operators only overflying the above mentioned EU territories without a planned landing.

For more information on the EASA website:

http://easa.europa.eu/TCO

Note: Member States continue to be responsible to issue operating permits. The safety authorisation issued by the Agency is one prerequisite in the process of obtaining an operating permit or equivalent document from the respective EU Member State under existing Air Service Agreements between EU Member States and third countries.
 

3.2.3. The operators of the States parties to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago 1944) have the right in international non-scheduled operations to overfly Finnish territory without prior permission. In scheduled air services the right to overfly Finnish territory without prior permission is allowed for operators of a State party to the International Air Services Transit Agreement (Chicago 1944) or another international agreement where Finland has agreed such right. Otherwise the permission to operate air services over the territory of Finland shall be requested from the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency.

3.2.4. Traffic rights applications and traffic programmes for scheduled air services between Finland and a third country shall be forwarded to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency.

3.2.5. Airlines licenced outside the European Economic Area shall forward an application for non-scheduled air services to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency at the latest 48 hours before the commencement of the flights (weekends and public holidays are not included in this time limit).
 

Following information shall be forwarded to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency:

In addition the Finnish Transport Safety Agency shall be provided with proof of valid liability insurance concerning damage to third parties and passenger liability insurance.

The Finnish Transport Safety Agency shall be informed of any changes as soon as possible.

4.1. Aircraft in international traffic between Finland and a state outside the EU shall first land at and finally depart from one of the border crossing points for aircraft listed in the Decree (901/2006) in Section 6 §, unless a specific permission for border crossing (see para 4.2) has been received.

Border crossing points for seaplanes are the coast guard stations of Åland, Hanko and Helsinki.
 

4.2. Applications for permission for border crossing shall be addressed to the appropriate Border Guard Authority which is responsible for the area of arrival or departure. The written application shall be addressed to the appropriate Border Guard District. For contact information, see GEN 1.1.

4.2.1. Applications shall be forwarded to the appropriate authority within the following time limits:

4.2.2. A written application shall include the following information:

4.2.3. Permission for border crossing may include terms and conditions necessary to ensure border management. Border crossing permits may be withdrawn or their terms and conditions amended if, after issuing a permit, the circumstances change in such a manner that the procedure may jeopardise border management. Decisions to refuse an application for a border crossing permit, to withdraw a permit or to change the terms and conditions of a permit are not subject to appeal.
 

4.3. The captain of an aircraft, or his representative, must give a passenger and crew member list to the border guard authority of the entry or departure border. The information can be delivered through a technical interface. This list must include the first and last name of each listed person, date of birth, sex and nationality, nationality and registration marks of the aircraft as well as the point of destination and origin.
 

4.4. An air carrier transporting passengers professionally across the external border of the EU, has to furthermore submit to the border guard authority separately on its request the following Advanced Passenger Information: the travel document's number and type, nationality or statelessness, complete name, date of birth, EU external border crossing place, transportation number, departure and arrival time of the transportation, total amount of transported persons (passengers and crew) and original port of embarkation (also inside EU). Information must be transmitted in electronic form, or if it is not possible, in another appropriate manner, immediately after the check-in has ended.
 

4.5. A general aviator must submit a flight plan and information concerning the passengers' identity to the border guard authority of the destination state and, when needed, to the border guard authority of the state of first arrival before departure, if it concerns a flight to/from a third country.

5.1. Aircraft in international traffic between Finland and a state outside the European Union shall first arrive at and finally depart from an international aerodrome, unless a specific permission from customs (see para 5.2.) has been received.
 

5.2. Permission from customs shall be applied in written form to Airport customs. For contact information, see GEN 1.1.

5.2.1. Applications shall be forwarded to the Customs Authorities within the following time limits:

5.2.2. A written application shall include the following information (same particulars as required by the Border Guard authority):

5.2.3. Applications are not dealt with during weekends and public holidays.
 

5.3. Permission may include conditions pertaining customs control and clearance.
 

5.4. For the purposes of customs control the operator of the aircraft shall notify the Customs Authorities of the arrival or departure of the aircraft in international traffic.
 

5.5. The General Declaration is accepted as a clearance document for aircraft in traffic to/from countries outside the European Union. It shall be signed either by the pilot-in-command or by the authorized agent of the operator.
 

5.6. The General Declaration shall be handed to the Customs Authorities as a single copy. A Cargo Manifest or its duplicate can be used as a General Declaration.
 

5.7. Clearance documents furnished in English or French are accepted. When required, a translation into Finnish or Swedish shall be presented to the Customs Authorities.

6.1. Health control of aircraft is not normally required for international air traffic.
 

6.2. Aerodromes with facilities for administration of public health are Helsinki-Vantaa (EFHK) and Turku (EFTU). Both airports are designated quarantine aerodromes as described in AD 1.4.
 

6.3. When there is a case of a serious infectious disease onboard, the destination aerodrome air traffic control (ATC) shall be informed in advance.
 

6.4. In case of an infectious disease the competent authorities have the right to place the aircraft on quarantine.