Guidance for persons travelling abroad

Finnish restrictions and requirements for exports

When you travel abroad from Finland, there are usually no export restrictions for your goods. This means that normally, you do not have to inform Finnish Customs of what goods you are taking with you abroad. 

However, please note that due to sanctions, there are restrictions concerning goods to be exported to Russia. 

There are also certain other situations, in which it is necessary to prepare before leaving Finland. This is the case, for example, if you are travelling with a pet, if you are carrying medicines or 10 000 euros or more in cash, or if you are transporting your employer’s goods out of the EU. 

Also, export of cultural goods from Finland may require a licence. Read more about export licences for cultural goods on the website of the Finnish Heritage Agency.

Restrictions and requirements of the country of destination

Different countries may have different restrictions on what goods you can bring into the country. When you are going on a trip, check the restrictions of the country of destination in advance, for example through the embassy or from the authorities of the country of destination. Finnish Customs does not have any information about the restrictions applied in other countries.

Please note that the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia also apply to private individuals.

Currently, you cannot bring for example the following products from Finland to Russia:

• pleasure boats and personal watercraft 
• snow mobiles
• hybrid and electric cars as well as passenger cars, camper vans and off-road vehicles with engines of more than 1.9 litres
  • The ban is not applied to the means of transport that carry travellers from EU countries or non-EU countries. Such means of transport include travellers’ passenger cars.
• paints
• synthetic lubricants (commodity code 3403 19)
• luxury goods, i.e. items worth more than EUR 300, for example smart devices, jewellery and sports equipment.

Luxury goods

The export of so-called luxury goods to Russia is prohibited.  Luxury goods are products with a value exceeding EUR 300 per item. Higher value limits have also been specified for some goods.

Luxury goods are for example

• Vehicle parts and accessories; and wires, cables and light bulbs
• Clothes, shoes, accessories and cosmetics
• Foods, detergents and nappies/diapers
• Recreational and sports equipment
• Jewellery
• Toys, games, books and records
• Furnishings, kitchen equipment
• Sports equipment

Exceptions to the EUR 300 value limit:

However, you can export the following to Russia

• an electrical appliance and a household appliance with a maximum value of EUR 750
• a computer and a smartphone with a maximum value of EUR 750
• sound reproducing apparatus or a photographic camera with a maximum value of EUR 1 000 
• a musical instrument with a maximum value of EUR 1 500.

List of luxury goods may change

The list of products classified as luxury goods is broad and subject to constant changes. The products may also be subject to other export restrictions or prohibitions.

What products are excluded from the export ban on luxury goods?

The ban on luxury goods is not applied to products that are

• necessary for the official purposes of diplomatic or consular missions of EU member states in Russia or personal effects of their staff
• necessary for the official purposes of international organisations enjoying immunities in accordance with international law or personal effects of their staff.
• Goods covered by CN codes 71130000 (jewellery) and 71140000 (goldsmiths’ and silversmiths’ wares), intended for the personal use of natural persons travelling out from the EU or their family members accompanying them, that are owned by such persons and that are not intended for sale.

In addition, the competent authorities may authorise the transfer or export to Russia of cultural goods which are on loan in the context of formal cultural cooperation with Russia.

If you left items behind in a non-EU country and they are sent back to you via Posti or some other transport company, you must declare the goods. This requirement also applies to your own personal used belongings that you have taken out of Finland in your luggage. Goods that are taken out of Finland and the EU and later returned to Finland are called returned goods. You don’t have to pay customs duty or VAT for returned goods. 

How to declare returned goods

• Declare the goods in the Import Declaration Service for private persons.
• On the start page, select that you wish to declare luggage items you’ve left behind when travelling.
• On the page “Consignment details”, explain why the goods are being returned. Enter an explanation such as “I left my sunglasses behind at a hotel. The hotel is returning them to me.”  
• On the page “Goods details”, look for the goods by entering a search word in the goods search. If you can’t find the goods using the goods search, provide the commodity code on the tab “Commodity code”.
• Enter the rest of the required details and submit the declaration.
• Add any attachments before closing the page. 

When you have submitted the information, upload the attachments to your declaration on the “Done” page before you continue. It is a good idea to upload the attachments right away, because if you close the page, you can’t add any attachments until Customs sends you a request for additional information. You must attach proof of your journey: for example travel documents, a hotel receipt or some other proof, such as an email conversation with the hotel about the goods. With these enclosures, you prove that you have taken the goods outside the EU earlier. 

• Packing your luggage and knowing what items are allowed and not allowed on an airplane: read more on the websites of Finavia and Traficom. 
• Passport and other travel documents: read more on the websites of the Border Guard and the Police.