1.1. A customs inspection will be carried out when arriving or departing the country at international aerodrome or another arrival/departure site specifically permitted, unless otherwise specified below.

In order to undertake a customs measure, the customs authority or another competent authority has a right to obtain required documents and information relating to the declarant, other interested party, goods, vehicles, passenger and crew of the vehicle.

1.2. Customs inspections will not be made on goods transported within EU territory, except on special reasons. However, in case the transportation is subject to a permission granted by the authority, but the permission has not yet been granted, the transporter shall declare the article to customs authorities even when it is transported within EU territory.

1.3. Registered baggage of passengers travelling on scheduled flights within the EU customs territory will be provided with a green-edged tag. The passenger may bring the baggage to the country with him using either the blue channel (freely transported goods) or the red channel (goods to be declared).

1.4. Registered baggage of passengers coming from outside the EU customs territory on a flight will be provided with a white tag. The passenger may bring the baggage to the country using either the green channel (nothing to declare) or the red channel (goods to declared). The same procedure applies to passengers arriving on flights from outside the EU tax area.

1.5. The EU customs regulations determine the EU Member State and the aerodrome in which the hand baggage and registered baggage is inspected.

1.6. Crew members may use special customs facilities intended for crew, where these are available. Separate regulations exist for duty-free import by crew members.

1.7. Customs inspections are carried out by customs officers or, in some cases, the police or border guard.

1.8. On departure customs control may be carried out also in connection with security check and control of the person leaving the country.

1.9. Further information on the amount of duty-free goods allowed to be imported by passengers and on other provisions can be obtained from e.g. airport customs offices, Information on customs control and procedures is also provided by the Customs Information Service, Airport Customs and other customs units.

2.1. Documents required for entry and exit

2.1.1. Assengers and crew members entering or departing Finland on a flight other than a flight within the Schengen area, shall present valid entry and exit documents (passport, visa etc.) to border guard authority. When entering the country, any other declaration required for showing compliance with entry requirements shall also be presented. The Border control authorities in Finland are: Border Guard Authority, Police and Customs.

2.1.2. Persons arriving or departing on internal flights within the Schengen area may cross any internal border without being checked, unless the reasons of public order or national security otherwise dictate. Where border control at internal borders is temporarily reintroduced according to Schengen Borders Code title III, chapter 2 and Border Guard Act (578/2005) 15 §, the relevant provisions of Schengen Borders Code Title II shall apply mutatis mutandis.

2.1.3. The usual entry and exit document to be presented is a passport, but Finland also accepts the following travel documents:

For travel within Nordic countries by Nordic citizens no travel documents are required but appropriate identity documents (i.e. identity card) for identification may be useful.

A valid identity card which is accepted as a travel document given by the Competent Authorities of the Member States of the European Union.

Citizens of Liechtenstein, San Marino and Switzerland are allowed to enter Finland if they have a valid identity card which is accepted as a travel document.

If the crew member has an identity card with a photograph, given by the Aviation Authority of his/her native country, no passport or visa is required when entering or departing the country on his/her normal duty as a crew member.

2.1.4. The border guard authority at aerodrome will give information on requirements regarding acceptable travel documents.

2.1.5. A foreigner entering Finland shall have a visa or a permit of residence unless otherwise provided by the EU legislation or international agreement binding on Finland.

However, visa is not required from:

The holder of an ”Alien’s Passport” given by Finland is allowed to re-enter the country if he/she has a residence permit. Visa is not required from a holder of an alien’s passport given by another Nordic Country if the validity of his/her visit does not exceed three months and if the passport entitles him/her to return to the country which has given the passport.

2.1.6. Transit visa will be granted for a duration of five days at the most for a travel within Schengen area. The transit visa shall normally be acquired before entering Finland. Transit visa requirement concerns all those not mentioned above in para 2.1.5.

An airport transit visa is required for citizens, even not leaving the transit area, of following states: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Democratic Republic, former Zaire), Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka.

2.2. Checking of entry and exit documents

2.2.1. The checks will be carried out at international aerodrome, or at a location stated in the permission for border crossing.

2.2.2. The travel documents and other entry or exit requirements will be checked by a frontier guard, police or customs officer.

2.2.3. Checks will be carried out both on entry and exit when crossing external borders. Border checks will also be carried out whenever doubt exists as to whether the flight is an internal flight.

3.1. Prior to being allowed into the security checked area of the airport, the passenger shall be security checked. In the checking any prohibited articles or substances are removed from the passenger or the passenger is denied access into the security checked area and the aircraft.

3.2. Security checks are also carried out on crew members.

3.3. Security checks are carried out by persons trained for the duty.

3.4. The purpose of a security check is to ensure that no such articles or substances are carried on board the aircraft, which may endanger or be used to endanger the safety of the aircraft or its occupants.

3.5. Security checks are carried out in accordance with EC regulation (300/2008).

4.1. Disembarking passengers are normally not required to present vaccination certificates.

4.2. On departure, no health formalities are normally required.

4.3. In case of a serious communicable disease passengers and crew may be interviewed and/or transferred to a hospital for medical treatment and/or place under quarantine.