Finland opens border with 12 more countries including Germany, Italy and Greece in the second phase. Travel restrictions are lifted up altogether with 18 countries. Finnish government will continue to assess the overall corona epidemic situation in the Schengen area and the European Union member states until 10 July and will update the list of countries based on the development of the epidemic at that time.
Restrictions on travel and tourism to be further lifted
Finnish government updated policies on border issues on 23 June. Based on the current development of the epidemic, internal border control could therefore be lifted for the following Schengen countries: Germany, Italy, Austria, Greece, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and Liechtenstein. In addition, travel to Finland from Croatia, Cyprus and Ireland, which are EU Member States but not part of the Schengen area, would be allowed.
However, the Government will continue to assess the overall situation in the Schengen area and the EU Member States until 10 July and will update the list of countries based on the development of the epidemic at that time.
The Government will decide on the matter in its plenary session on 10 July 2020.
Govt Policy on travel restrictions
In its meeting, the Government agreed that as of 13 July, it would lift the internal border control and restrictions on traffic between Finland and countries where the incidence of COVID-19 is similar to that in countries where internal border control has already been lifted. These countries are Norway, Denmark, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. At present, the limit value is a maximum of eight new cases of the disease per 100,000 persons in the previous 14 days.
Based on the current epidemiological assessment, internal border control and travel restrictions would continue between Finland and the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Poland, France, Sweden and the Czech Republic, with the exception of leisure boating.
However, anyone travelling from Finland to these countries must remember to check the restrictions on entry into the country of destination. These countries may have their own restrictions in force for travellers.
