Changes to travel recommendations: avoid all travel to Brazil, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the United Kingdom

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs urges to avoid all travel to the Brazil, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the United Kingdom in accordance with the recommendation of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. For all other countries, the Foreign Ministry’s general travel advice due to the COVID-19 pandemic is to avoid all but essential travel.

The coronavirus pandemic remains a major global risk to travel safety, and the situation may deteriorate abruptly and unpredictably in any country or region. Travellers may face limited access to healthcare, quarantine and restrictions on being outdoors. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs has only limited capabilities to assist travellers in distress during the pandemic.

In its meeting on Wednesday 13 January, the Government discussed measures to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 variants and the renewed acceleration of the epidemic. According to the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), the new virus variants may be more infectious and spread faster than other variants.

In accordance with the THL recommendation and to prevent the spread of the new virus variants to Finland, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges to avoid all travel to Brazil, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa and the United Kingdom

For all other countries, the Foreign Ministry’s general travel advice due to the COVID-19 pandemic is to avoid all but essential travel. This general advice does not apply to countries for which the Finnish Government has already lifted the entry restrictions. In addition, the Foreign Ministry recommends to avoid all travel to certain countries due to their general security situation or to leave such countries immediately. Country-specific travel advice

 

Avoid non-essential travel

Finnish citizens always have the right to leave Finland if they wish to do so, provided that there is no legal impediment to this, and Finnish citizens always have the right to return to Finland.

If you are planning to travel, it is important to remember that all countries may impose restrictions on entry at their own borders, and it may not be possible to travel to all countries. Before travelling, always check the current entry regulations in your destination from the authorities of the country in question, e.g. from the nearest mission of the country. Countries may also impose entry restrictions on transit traffic.

An increasing number of countries are not permitting entry unless travellers show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or recovery from COVID-19 or proof of COVID-19 vaccination. Most countries require the certificates to be either in their own language or in English. Travellers must themselves find out what kinds of certificates they need to enter the country or countries they intend to visit.

 

If you travel, act responsibly

If you still decide to travel, you must act responsibly and follow the recommendations and regulations given by the authorities.

Before you travel, check the validity and coverage of your travel insurance. Now it is particularly important to make sure that the insurance policy provides sufficient coverage even when the pandemic situation is taken into account. We recommend that you submit your travel plans and contact details at matkustusilmoitus.fi.

Before you travel, please also read the frequently asked questions of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare is responsible for providing travellers with appropriate health security instructions. Check up-to-date recommendations concerning hygiene and safe distances and the recommendations for self-isolation on the website of the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare at Instructions for travellers and employees arriving in Finland