The temporary traffic restrictions at the eastern border to continue ‒ Vaalimaa and Niirala will open on 14 December 2023
The Government has decided to continue the restrictions at the eastern border. The border crossing points will remain temporarily closed, with the exception of the border crossing points of Vaalimaa and Niirala, which will be opened for traffic on Thursday 14 December. According to the assessment of the Finnish authorities and the Government, irregular migration still poses a serious threat to national security.
In accordance with the Government decision made on 12 December 2023, both goods and passenger traffic on the Finnish-Russian land border at the border crossing points of Imatra, Kuusamo, Nuijamaa, Raja-Joosepi, Salla and Vartius will remain closed. The border crossing points of Vaalimaa and Niirala will open on 14 December 2023. The freight train traffic in Vainikkala will continue. This decision will remain in force until 14 January 2024.
The customs offices of Niirala and Vaalimaa are open in accordance with the earlier opening hours. The customs office in Niirala is open every day from 8.00 to 20.00 and Vaalimaa is open 24/7. You can check alternatives for your customs transactions and the service hours of the customs offices on the Finnish Customs website.
Customer notice, 29 November 2023: Traffic across the eastern border to end temporarily as of 30 November 2023
Customer notice, 23 November 2023: The border crossing points of Kuusamo, Salla and Vartius at the eastern border will be closing on 24 November 2023 – border crossings will be centralised at Raja-Jooseppi
Finnish government press release on 22 November 2023: Finland to close more border crossing points
Customer notice, 17 November 2023: Customer service continues normally at other customs offices than Vaalimaa, Imatra, Nuijamaa and Niirala
Finnish Food Authority press release on 17 November 2023: The closure of border crossings affects the transport of animals, animal products and plants
Customer notice, 16 November 2023: Border crossing points of Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa, Imatra and Niirala are closed as of 18 November 2023