Finland

Overall: Exercise normal safety precautions

Latest update

Still current at:15 July 2026
Updated:14 April 2026
Latest update:Depending on why you're travelling and how long you plan to stay, you may require a visa for travel to the Schengen area. Check the European Entry and Exit (EES) and visa rules before you travel. If you're a dual national of a European country, check whether the EES applies to you and what passport you should enter on. There may be delays at border crossings (see ‘Travel’).

We advise:

Exercise normal safety precautions in Finland.

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Local emergency contacts

Fire and rescue services

Call 112.

Medical emergencies

Call 112 or go to a hospital.

Police

Call 112 or go to the local police station.

Advice levels

What does this mean?

Exercise normal safety precautions 

Exercise normal safety precautions in Finland.

Overview

Safety

  • Finland's terrorism threat level is 'elevated' (level 3 of 5). Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere and at any time. Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places.
  • Protests or demonstrations can take place. Monitor the media and avoid affected areas.
  • Pickpocketing and purse snatching is common. Credit card theft and skimming also occurs. Check for card-skimming devices before using ATMs. Monitor the media for news on crime.
  • Winters are extremely cold. There's heavy snowfall, including in metropolitan areas. Finland also experiences severe storms, rockslides, floods and strong winds. Monitor the media and follow the advice of local authorities.

Full travel advice: Safety

Health

  • Finland has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Australia, allowing Australians who visit for fewer than 90 days to receive some coverage for emergency medical services. You will still need to pay a client fee for all public health care treatment. This doesn't replace the need for travel insurance.
  • The standard of medical facilities is similar to Australia. The main hospitals are in the Helsinki, Tampere and Turku areas.

Full travel advice: Health

Local laws

  • Penalties for drug offences, even for possession of small amounts, include heavy fines and jail.
  • Dual nationals who are registered residents of Finland may need to do national service. Check with the Finnish Defence Forces.

Full travel advice: Local laws

Travel

  • Finland is a part of the Schengen area which means you can enter Finland without a visa in some cases. In other situations, you'll need a visa.
  • If you’re travelling to a country in the Schengen area for a short stay (90 days or less) using an Australian passport, you’ll be required to register your biometric details, such as fingerprints and a photo, when you arrive. You don’t need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and there is no cost for EES registration. There may be delays at border crossings.
  • Depending on why you're travelling and how long you plan to stay, you may require a visa for travel to the Schengen area. Check the EES and visa rules before you travel. If you're a dual national of a European country, check whether the EES applies to you and what passport you should enter on.
  • Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Finland for the latest details.
  • Finland has closed land border crossings with Russia indefinitely. Maritime crossing points in the Eastern Gulf of Finland are closed. The border crossing points for maritime traffic at Haapasaari, the port of Nuijamaa and Santio are closed to leisure boating. The train service between St Petersburg and Helsinki is suspended. Public transport services between Finland and Russia have been suspended.

Full travel advice: Travel

Local contacts

  • The Australian Government aims to provide high quality consular assistance. There are limits to what we can do. Read the Consular Services Charter to understand how we can assist you overseas.
  • The Australian Consulate in Finland provides limited consular and passport assistance.
  • For consular help, contact the Australian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.
  • Follow the embassy's social media accounts to stay up-to-date with local information.

Full travel advice: Local contacts

Full advice

Safety

Terrorism

Terrorism is a threat worldwide. Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere and at any time. Be alert to possible threats, especially in public places. 

Possible targets include:

  • places of worship or religious holidays
  • hotels, clubs, restaurants and cafes
  • markets and shopping malls
  • outdoor recreation events, including festivals, concerts, and sporting venues
  • public transport, airports and railway hubs

To stay safe:

  • report suspicious activities or items to the police
  • check the media for new threats
  • take official warnings seriously
  • follow the instructions of local authorities

If there’s a terrorist incident, leave the area if it’s safe to do so and follow the instructions of local authorities. 

More information:

Civil unrest and political tension

You might encounter protests or demonstrations.

Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.

During periods of unrest:

  • monitor the media and other sources about possible unrest
  • avoid the affected area
  • follow the advice of local authorities

More information:

Crime

Serious crime isn't common.

Pickpocketing and bag-snatching occurs.

Credit card theft and skimming also happens.

To protect yourself from crime:

  • check for card-skimming devices before using ATMs
  • monitor local media for the latest crime trends

Drink spiking

Drink spiking can happen anywhere. Be alert, don’t leave your food or drinks alone. Watch when your drink is being mixed. If you feel unwell, tell your friends immediately and get to a safe place. Keep an eye on your friends - if they feel unwell, stay with them. Get medical help if needed.

Methanol poisoning

People have died or become very sick from poisoned drinks overseas. This includes Australians. Methanol is highly toxic. As little as one shot can be fatal. Methanol can be added or accidentally created during poor quality alcohol production. Only drink branded, sealed drinks. Get urgent medical help if you think you’ve been poisoned.

More information:

Cyber security 

You could face cyber threats in any country, anyone is a target. Your devices and data can be stolen, especially when using public Wi-Fi, computers, or Bluetooth. Criminals can use stolen information to conduct scams or to resell your personal information.

The Australian Cyber Security Centre has advice on how to protect yourself online.

Social media can also be risky in places with social or political tensions or strict laws. People have been arrested for what they posted online. Check the laws of the destination you’re travelling to and think about what you post on social media. The Australian Government can’t get you out of trouble if you’re accused of breaking the law.

More information:  

Extreme weather and natural disasters

Winters are extremely cold. There's heavy snowfall, including in metropolitan areas.

This may delay transport and temporarily shut down infrastructure.

Finland experiences severe weather, such as severe storms, rockslides, floods and strong winds.

If there's a natural disaster:

  • keep your passport in a safe, waterproof place
  • contact friends and family with regular updates about your welfare
  • follow the advice of local authorities

More information:

Health

Travel insurance

Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave and closely read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for what is and isn’t covered.

It must cover all medical costs overseas, including evacuation. The Australian Government will not pay for these costs.

If you can’t afford travel insurance, you shouldn’t travel. This is true for everyone, even if you are healthy and fit.

If you don’t have insurance, you might have to pay thousands of dollars up front for medical care.

Before you travel, check your policy, make sure:

  • you know what activities and medical care your insurance covers, including evacuations
  • your insurance covers you for your whole trip, including any stopovers
  • you know any exclusions – for example, you might need to pay extra for activities like motorcycling, snow sports, scuba diving or bungee jumping.

More information:

Physical and mental health

Travelling overseas can be stressful and uncertain. You may experience unfamiliar environments, travel disruptions, changes in normal routines and limited access to health care. 

Not taking your prescribed medications is a common cause of mental ill-health for Australians overseas.

If you are concerned about your welfare, or someone else's, contact your nearest Australian embassy, high commission, or consulate. You can also call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305.

Mental health resources:

More information:

Medications

Not all medications available in Australia are accessible in other countries. Some medicines may be illegal, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.

Ensure your medication is legal overseas. Take enough for your whole trip.

Carry a copy of your prescription and a letter from your doctor stating:

  • medication names
  • your required dosage
  • that the medications are for your personal use.

More information:

Prescribed narcotics are restricted. For specific information on bringing medication into Finland , check with the Finnish Customs Authority.

Health risks

Tick-borne encephalitis is a risk if you travel in forest areas or to the Aland Islands.

Ticks are common in rural areas and are active from March to November.

To protect yourself from illness:

  • use insect repellent
  • wear long, loose, light-coloured clothing

After visiting forested areas:

  • check yourself for ticks
  • remove any ticks as soon as possible
  • keep checking the tick site for infection

Ask your doctor about health risks and vaccines before you go.

More information

Medical care

The standard of medical facilities is similar to Australia.

Emergency services are limited in remote areas.

Major hospitals are located in the Helsinki, Tampere and Turku areas.

English is widely spoken.

A reciprocal health care agreement (RHCA) allows Australians who visit for fewer than 90 days to access some emergency medical services. You’ll still need to pay a client fee for all public health care treatment.

It doesn't provide the same amount of coverage as Medicare in Australia. It doesn't cover:

  • ongoing treatment of pre-existing health conditions
  • medical evacuation
  • prescription medicines
  • elective surgery

To get emergency treatment, you must present an Australian passport and a valid Medicare card. You may also need to mention the RHCA.

If you can't show your passport and Medicare card, you may need to pay the same costs that apply to non-residents.

This arrangement doesn't replace the need for private travel insurance with medical coverage.

More information:

Local laws

Local law

When you travel to another country, you must follow their laws. Even if they seem strict compared to Australia's. Before you go, learn about the local laws in that country.

The Australian Government is limited in how and when we can help if you're arrested overseas. We can't get you out of trouble or out of jail. Understand our limits. Read the Consular Services Charter.

Drugs

Penalties for drug offences, even for possession of small amounts, include heavy fines and jail.

More information:

Australian laws

Some Australian laws still apply even if you’re in another country. You could be charged in Australia if you break these laws overseas.

More information:

Dual nationality

Finland recognises dual nationality.

Dual nationals who are registered residents of Finland may need to do national service.

Check with the Finnish Defence Forces.

More information:

Travel

Visas and border measures

Each country or territory decides its own entry and exit rules, including health border screening measures. To find out what you need to enter a destination, ask their embassy, consulate or immigration office. 

Visas

Finland is part of the Schengen area. In some situations, this lets you enter Finland without a visa.

For more information about visa requirements, refer to the Finnish Immigration Service.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Finland for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.

Entry into Finland

If you're arriving from non-EU and non-Schengen countries, you must have regular travel documents:

  • a passport and, if necessary,
  • a visa

Border measures

When you first enter the Schengen area, get an entry stamp in your passport from border control.

Always carry your passport.

If you have one, always carry your Finnish residency permit. You may be asked to verify your identity.

Always carry a valid passport even if travelling from another Schengen country.

European Entry and Exit Systems

The European Entry/Exit System (EES)

The EES has started registering all non-EU nationals entering and exiting the Schengen area.

When you arrive in a country in the Schengen area for a short stay (90 days or less) using an Australian passport, you'll need to:

  • have your fingerprints and photo taken
  • answer Schengen Border Code questions.

This will create a digital record that registers your biometric details.

If you revisit the Schengen Area within 3 years of creating your digital record, you'll only need to provide your fingerprint and/or photograph at the border on entry and exit.

The EES is free. You don't need to do anything before arriving at the border. Be alert to fraudulent websites that say you need to register or pay a fee before you travel to the EU. Only use official EU systems to provide your data.

If you're a dual national of a European country, check whether the EES applies to you and what passport you should enter on. 

This process may cause extended delays at border crossings.

  • Arrive well before your flight departure time.
  • Allow for delays when planning transits and onward travel.

Schengen Area trip duration rules still apply.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

The ETIAS is separate from EES.

ETIAS is due to be implemented towards the end of 2026. Once implemented, travellers visiting any of the 30 participating European countries visa-free will need to get an ETIAS travel authorisation prior to travel.

Applications are not yet open. Be cautious of fraudulent websites claiming to sell ETIAS authorisations. Apply only through the official EU website once the system is launched. Stay subscribed to Smartraveller to hear updates.

ETIAS and dual citizenship

Dual citizens of participating European countries or Ireland will not be eligible for an ETIAS travel authorisation.

If you're a dual citizen of Australia and an ETIAS country, once the system is implemented you won't be able to enter any participating countries using your Australian passport. You'll have to enter using the passport from your other country of citizenship.

Passport application wait times in some countries can be very long. Apply soon if you:

  • don't have a passport from your other country of citizenship
  • have an expired passport and need to have it renewed.

If you're unsure if you're a citizen of a participating country, contact the country's embassy or consulate in Australia. You may be denied entry to your destination if you travel on your Australian passport without checking your citizenship.

Trip duration limits

Australians can travel to the Schengen area for short trips without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. You must ensure your total stay in the Schengen area does not exceed this limit.

The EES makes it easier for local authorities to see if you have overstayed. Immigration penalties and enforcement for exceeding the limit apply, and vary depending on the country you're in.

Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. Before you travel, contact the nearest embassy or consulate for details on entry requirements.

More information:

Passport

Validity

Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months before entering or departing. This includes for transit.

If your passport expires too soon, you might not be able to travel.

The Australian Government doesn’t make these rules. Check your passport’s expiry date before you go. If you’re not sure, it’s a good idea to get a new passport.

Lost or stolen passport

Your passport is valuable and can be used by others to commit crimes. 

Don’t let anyone trick you into giving it to them. Always keep it in a safe place.

If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government: 

Passport with X gender identifier 

Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender. If your passport has an 'X' in the sex field, we can’t guarantee your entry or transit to other countries. Ask the embassy or consulate of your destinations if they’ll accept your passport with an 'X' gender marker. Check all transit destinations too.

More information:

​Money

The currency of Finland is the euro.

Declare amounts over 10,000 euros or equivalent currency if you're travelling between Finland and any non-European Union (EU) country. This covers all forms of currency, not only cash.

You don't need to declare cash if travelling to or from another EU country.

Local travel

Travel from Russia

Finland has closed land border crossings with Russia indefinitely. 

Maritime crossing points in the Eastern Gulf of Finland are closed. The border crossing points for maritime traffic at Haapasaari, the port of Nuijamaa and Santio are closed to leisure boating. 

The train service between St Petersburg and Helsinki is suspended. Public transport services between Finland and Russia have been suspended. 

More information:

Road Travel

Roads are in good condition. They can be dangerous in winter when it gets icy.

Check the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency for updates on road conditions.

​​Headlights must always be on, even during daylight hours.

Winter tyres must be fitted:

  • from 1 December or when it first snows (whichever is earlier)
  • until 31 March or later if roads are still icy

More information:

Public transport

Public transport, including buses and trains, is reliable and safe.

More information:

Taxis

Use officially marked taxis.

Air travel

DFAT doesn’t give advice about how safe different airlines or flight paths are.

Safety risks and weather events may cause flight delays and cancellations. Contact your travel agent or airline to confirm your plans.

Airlines and airports can restrict what you can take in your luggage. Regulations may be different to those in Australia. Check with your airline before you travel.

Check Finland's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.

More information:

Local contacts

Emergencies

Depending on what you need, contact your:

  • family and friends
  • travel agent
  • insurance provider
  • employer
  • airline

Fire and rescue services

Call 112.

Medical emergencies

Call 112 or go to a hospital.

Police

Call 112 or go to the local police station.

Always get a police report when you report a crime.

Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.

Consular contacts

The Australian Government aims to provide high quality consular assistance. There are limits to what we can do. Read the Consular Services Charter to understand how we can assist you overseas.

Australia has a consulate in Finland, headed by an Honorary Consul.

It provides limited consular assistance. The consulate can't provide visa or immigration services or issue passports.

You can get full consular assistance from the Australian Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden.

Australian Consulate, Helsinki

Museokatu 25 B 23
00100 Helsinki
Finland

Phone: +358 10 420 4492
Email: australian.consulate@tradimex.fi

Australian Embassy, Stockholm

Klarabergsviadukten 63, 8th Floor
111 64 Stockholm, Sweden

Phone: +46 8 613 2900
Email: reception.stockholm@dfat.gov.au
Web: sweden.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Sweden Embassy Face​book
X: AusAmbSe

Check the Embassy website or Facebook page for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.

24-hour Consular Emergency Centre

In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:

  • +61 2 6261 3305 from overseas
  • 1300 555 135 in Australia
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