Finnair requires a Corona negative certificate
According to the updated decision, Finnair requires a coronavirus test certificate or similar from travellers to Finland as of 28 January 2021. In line with the recommendation by Finnish health authorities, we will start requiring either a certificate of a negative coronavirus test or a doctor’s certificate stating that you have had the coronavirus, within the past 6 months, but you are fully recovered from it and are fit to travel.
The requirement will apply to all travellers, including citizens of Finland, on international Finnair flights to Finland from 28 January 2021 onwards.
The requirement complements our other comprehensive measures for safe travel during the pandemic. The pre-travel testing requirement does not apply to you if you connect to an international flight at Helsinki, unless your final destination requires such a test or if you are a seaman joining a vessel departing from Finland or a seaman returning to your home in Finland, after having completed your duty abroad. The requirement does not apply to children under the age of 12, however, obtaining a certificate is recommended for children aged 7-11 years. The certificate requirement is in force until further notice.
ACCEPTED CERTIFICATES
As a certificate of a negative coronavirus (covid-19) test result, or an already healed coronavirus infection, we accept a document issued by trusted health care practitioner. It is strongly recommended that the certificate is in English, however we can also accept certificates in French, German, Spanish, Russian, Italian or Swedish if you start your Finnair journey from these countries. The certificate can be either in printed or digital format, also SMS and screenshot from Omakanta healthcare system are accepted, as long as it includes the required information listed below and the information is provided in one of the accepted languages. Please note that if you continue your journey from Finland to a third country, the destination authorities may require certificates in different format, or tests to be taken at a later time, than Finnair.
- We accept the following coronavirus tests:
- PCR-test taken earliest 72 hours before the flight’s departure
- LAMP-test taken earliest 72 hours before the flight’s departure
- Antigen test taken earliest 48 hours before the flight’s departure
- Rapid antigen test taken earliest 48 hours before the flight’s departure
- The negative test result must contain your name (as in your travel document), date of birth, test result, test method, date and time of testing, and the party (person and company) issuing the certificate.
- The certificate stating that you have been ill with the coronavirus within the last 6 months, but already recovered from it, must contain your name (as in your travel document), date of birth, date of issuance of the certificate and the party issuing the certificate (person and company).
Please note that we do not at this point accept certificates of a received coronavirus vaccination.
We have made changes to our check-in process for flights to Finland starting 28 January 2021. We recommend you check in for your flight in advance through Finnair.com or Finnair mobile app. However, it is good to know that you will receive your boarding pass from our ground crew at the airport after presenting a certificate of a negative coronavirus test result or previous but already healed coronavirus infection.
YOUR OPTIONS IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE REQUIRED CERTIFICATE
If you can’t travel because you don’t have the required certificate, you can
- Change your travel dates for later according to our flexible ticket change policy on Manage booking. If you can’t make the change online, our customer service will assist you. Read more detailed conditions and instructions for changing travel dates here from the Finnair website.
As this requirement of a negative coronavirus test certificate may have caused inconvenience to your travel plans, we are offering a possibility to apply a refund for unused tickets if your travel date is between 29 January and 12 February.
Entry Restrictions as of January 27
Due to the spread of the new mutant variant of the coronavirus, the Finnish authorities have tightened the entry restrictions for travellers arriving in Finland. Only the Finnish nationals and persons residing in Finland, and their family members, are allowed to enter the country. In addition, some essential travel is allowed, however, conditions apply to such travel. Detailed information on the entry restrictions can be found on the Finnish Border Guard’s website.
Please note, that the Finnish Border Guard updates the country specific status once every two weeks, based on the number of coronavirus incidents in each country, which may change the status and category for the countries.
Read More in our blog about the Latest travel restrictions here.
CORONAVIRUS TESTING AT HELSINKI AIRPORT
The Finnish health authority has decided that all customers arriving to Finland from restricted countries will be directed to coronavirus testing upon arrival at Helsinki Airport from 8 January 2021. The free of charge PCR test is highly recommended for most customers but is not mandatory. The testing applies, if you continue from an international flight to a domestic flight – please let the airport staff know, if your connection time is short.
You are not required to wait the test result at the airport. You will be informed about the results afterwards.
You are not required to go through the test if you have one of the following:
- a transfer flight from an international flight to another international
- a negative coronavirus PCR test taken less than 72 hours before arrival in Finland
- a coronavirus vaccination certificate
- a doctor’s certificate that you’ve had the coronavirus disease within the last 6 months
- you travel as an unaccompanied minor
You’ll find more information about arriving in Finland and related health and safety measures here.
FinEntry service
Via the digital FINENTRY service you can see your personal entry instructions regarding for example possible quarantine or coronavirus testing requirements. You are asked to fill in some personal details and information about your journey and based on this information the service gives you guidance about entry to Finland. FINENTRY service aims to make it easier to travel to Finland during the coronavirus pandemic.
