Finland to ease travel restrictions for vaccinated visitors next week

Finland has announced it will allow fully vaccinated tourists to visit without testing or quarantine requirements from July 12.

To skip COVID-19 travel restrictions visitors must show proof of vaccination — either an EU digital COVID-19 certificate or an approved health certificate — upon arrival in Finland. Vaccines approved by the Finnish health ministry include Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sinopharm, Covishield and CoronaVac.

Accommodation is open across Finland ©Ryhor Bruyeu/Getty Images

Those who have only received one vaccination dose can still visit Finland but they're required to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure. Unvaccinated tourists can also visit but they'll need to take a test before departure and a test upon arrival. Those who can prove they have had COVID-19 within the last six months and have recovered from the virus are permitted to enter without testing.

The new measures will be reviewed every fortnight and apply to people traveling from EU and Schengen countries, as well as those coming from destinations outside these zones that are classified as low-risk(where the incidence of COVID-19 is low). This includes Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, China, Malta, Poland, New Zealand and Singapore among others.

Any other travelers must be tested for COVID-19 as soon as they arrive in Finland, self-isolate and take a second test between three and five days after arrival. This includes arrivals from the US and UK.

The Finnish government announced on Tuesday it was relaxing travel restrictions after more than a year of tight border and domestic controls to curb the spread of COVID-19. Across the "world's happiest country", hotels and attractions are open and restaurants, cafes and bars are open for indoor and outdoor service. Generally they can stay open until midnight but opening times can vary by region with local restrictions.

Infections are rising in Finland in recent weeks, but Reuters reports that it remains among the countries least affected by COVID-19. According to the Finnish health ministry, 60% of eligible adults have received their first dose of a vaccine and 21.4% have received their second dose.