Russian tourists were allowed to travel to Finland. How to get there?

Finland allowed Russian tourists to enter the borders for them and removing coronavirus restrictions. However, the Russian authorities still prohibit leaving the country in this direction. In addition, air traffic was canceled between the countries because of the war in Ukraine.

How can you get to Finland, what is needed to receive a visa and what documents are still collecting? "Paper" answers the main questions about traveling in Suomi in 2022.

Update from July 4. From July 15, Russia will remove coronavirus restrictions on crossing the land border, TASS said with reference to the operastble. However, so far there are no official documents about this in the public domain - as they will be issued from Russia, it is not known exactly.

Is Finland really letting tourists from Russia? ↓

Yes, from June 30, Finland opens a land border with third countries, Russia also has Russia on their list. In addition, Finland removes all coronavirus restrictions on entry for Russian tourists.

Russians who go to the country for tourist purposes, as before, need to have a foreign passport, a visa and an insurance medical policy for traveling abroad. If any documents are not enough or they are incorrectly executed, they may refuse at the entrance, they specified the “paper” in the General Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg.

What messages of the message are preserved between Russia and Finland? ↓

Direct air traffic between Russia and Finland is impossible . The Finnish authorities closed the sky for Russian aircraft at the end of February this year. Russia has taken similar measures.

It will also not be possible to get by train: this year, against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine, between Helsinki and St. Petersburg, Allegro's compositions ceased to run. Ferries between cities also do not go .

The only remaining border - the land - opened Finland, but the restrictions are preserved from Russia.

I heard that Russia may not miss me across the land border. Is that so? ↓

Yes. Despite the fact that the Finnish authorities are ready to let tourists let in, the Russian side can release through the land boundaries only if there are a number of foundations (and this is not tourism). Among them:

• The death of a close relative,
• Care for a patient with a close relative,
• treatment, work and study,
• Real estate in Finland.

Restrictions on the part of Russia are due to the fact that at the legislative level the government decree of March 2020, introduced due to Covid-19, continues to operate in the country. He was not canceled, despite the decline in incidence. According to the latest data on the Government website of Stopkoronavirus, as of June 30, 3.1 thousand infections per day were revealed in the country. For comparison: at the peak of the fifth wave , which fell in mid -February, more than 14 thousand infections per day were revealed in Russia.

The authorities did not announce the removal of coronavirus restrictions for the free transition of the Russian-Finnish border. If this happens, “will be reported additionally,” said Fontanka in the Government of the Russian Federation.

“The restrictions on crossing the border after June 30 established by Russia are not yet known. Accurate information about this is provided by the Russian competent authorities, ”the Finland General Consults in St. Petersburg told Paper .

How then to get to Finland? ↓

If you have grounds for crossing the Russian-Finnish land border (which were described above), then you can also get to Finland by car or by bus (the cost of tickets is from 3.5 to 5 thousand rubles).

If there are no grounds, then the land border will be closed. However, similar requirements have long been in force to visit Estonia. And since the end of 2021, Russian tourists went there using "therapeutic bags" in spa hotels as a justification for departure from Russia.

According to the Border Service of Finland, the checkpoints in Vaalimaa, Nuyayamaa and Imatre will be opened around the clock from July 1. It is expected that the softening of the bandwidth will increase traffic on the eastern border, which can lead to long lines. It is not known how the checkpoints will work on the checkpoints from the Russian side.

It is important to remember that due to the sanctions of the European Union, the Finnish authorities forbade individuals to import the country of any kind of fuel from Russia. Therefore, for example, if you cross the border by car, you can transport gasoline only in a car tank.

In addition, Russians cannot be imported into Finland strong alcohol (vodka, gin, whiskey and liquors). This ban also applies to Duty Fri duty-free shops located on the Russian-Finnish border.

Is it possible to fly to Finland with a transplant? ↓

Yes. For example, you can fly to Helsinki by plane through Istanbul. Another option is to get to the Finnish capital through Estonia, where, however, justifications for entry are also needed. You can also go to Minsk, from there to Vilnius (both borders are open for citizens of the Russian Federation), and then fly to Helsinki.

The total cost of each of these routes is best to clarify on airlines or ticket search services, taking into account the selected dates.

Do you need a certificate of vaccination or PCR test? ↓

Certificates of vaccination and PCR tests are no longer needed (regardless of which transport you cross the border), the Finnish Ministry of Internal Affairs reported . At the same time, if you are flying through third countries, in some of them a certificate or test may still require you.

At the checkpoints at the border, Coronavirus will no longer be tested.

How and where can I get a Finnish visa? ↓

From July 1, restrictions on receiving visa statements from residents of Russia have been removed, the “Paper” was told in the General Consulate General of Finland in St. Petersburg. Before that, only those who had a two -year visa could turn for such documents, but now everyone can do it. Residents of the North -Western Federal District, as before, need to present a certificate from work, a certificate from the bank on the movement of funds, as well as the Russian and foreign passports.

Documents can be submitted at the Visa Center for Finland in St. Petersburg, located at 21/5 Strey, Street Street. Applications are accepted in the visa centers of Finland exclusively by preliminary recording.

The fact that the agreement on the simplified issuance of visas for residents of Russia is partially suspended is not affecting ordinary people. This applies only to representatives of official delegations - for example, diplomats or some businessmen.

Is it possible to extend the Finnish visa, the validity of which has expired due to the pandemic of coronavirus? ↓

No. “It is impossible to extend the validity of the visa [whose validity period due to Covid-19] is impossible. A new one should be arranged, ” the“ paper ” in the General Consculture of Finland in St. Petersburg specified.

What else to read:

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