Questions frequently asked by private persons

This is our FAQ page. You can browse the questions or write the subject of your question in the field below, for example ‘nicotine’.

Ordering goods online

In the notice of arrival sent by the transport company and in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, the indicated country of dispatch may be an EU country, even though the consignment was originally dispatched from outside the EU. This can happen if the goods have been intermediately stored as undeclared in the EU, for example.  Enter the actual country of dispatch in the Import Declaration Service, and then you can clear the goods. This does not concern e.g. consignments sent from the Canary Islands or delivered to the Åland Islands.

You may need to check with the seller from which non-EU country the consignment was sent. You can get more information in advance about customs declaration upon import from the seller or, for example, from the terms of delivery of the online store you are using.

Invalid request for customs clearance of a parcel from an EU country

Check that 

  • the country of origin of the goods is an EU country or
  • it was sent from another EU country where it was already cleared.

If you receive an invalid request for customs clearance from Posti for such an item, request an exemption for your parcel on the webpage of Posti. Attach a verification (such as the invoice, order confirmation or receipt), which shows that the country of dispatch is an EU country. If the country of dispatch is not indicated in the receipt, you should contact the seller of the goods for a T2L document or some other additional documentation that indicates the country of dispatch.

Paying VAT in Finland depends, among other things, on whether or not the online store has an IOSS number.

  • If the seller has an IOSS number, you will pay the Finnish VAT when you purchase the goods. The postal company or the transport company, will usually declare the consignment on your behalf, and no VAT has to be paid in conjunction with the declaration. (However, this does not apply to products that are subject to excise duty, such as alcohol products. For these products, the import taxes are always paid in conjunction with the declaration.)
  • If the seller doesn’t have an IOSS number, you will usually have to pay the VAT again upon importation to Finland. You will still have to pay the import duties to Finland even though you have already paid the VAT of the selling country to the seller.
  • Some online stores have included the VAT to be paid to Finland to the price of the goods, even though they don’t have an IOSS number. The invoice from the online store may e.g. have the abbreviation ‘DDP’ or the text ‘Delivered duty paid’ written on it. Ask the seller if your order has been delivered by a transport company that does the declaration in Finland on your part and pays the Finnish VAT.

Read more on the IOSS number.

If you don’t wish to receive the postal consignment, you should not clear it. If the postal consignment is not cleared within 20 days, the consignment will be returned to the sender. In the case of ordered goods, inform the seller that you have cancelled your purchase.

Foreign item tracking services often notify “Lähetys on Tullissa” (the consingment is in the Customs) or “Held by Customs”. The consignments, however, are not located in any Customs facility, but they are located in a warehouse of Posti or another transport company. If the consignment has to be declared, Posti or some other transport company in Finland will send you a notification saying that you need to declare the consignmentv.

Posti or the transport company

  • knows where your parcel is
  • sends the notices of arrival
  • stores parcels to be cleared
  • transports the parcels after clearance
  • returns parcels.

More questions about ordering goods online

Import Declaration for private persons

Have you received a customs clearance request concerning a letter, a card or a parcel containing for example a certificate, passport or some other document? Very often, such items are not commercially valuable. However, you are required to declare such a parcel, as a value was determined for it upon dispatch.

You can declare the consignment yourself in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. On the start page, select the option of declaring “purchased goods”. On the “Consignment details” page, enter the value of the parcel. Usually the value of a document is very low. However, the declared value cannot be 0 euros. The lowest possible declared value is 0.01 €. If you do not know the value, you should ask the sender.

Enter any possible transport costs under “transport costs”.

On the “Goods details” page, find and select “Printed products ” and enter the value of the goods to be declared. Add the goods to the declaration basket, and enter any other required details.

If your consignment is transported by Posti and you paid tax for the customs clearance, remember to also pay the Posti handling fee so that Posti can deliver your parcel. This does not concern customers of Åland Post.

This is how you clear documents if you cannot use the e-service

If you cannot use Import Declaration Service for private persons, e.g. because you don’t have Finnish online banking ID codes, a certificate card or a mobile certificate, clear documents with the form “Private person’s declaration of goods imported from outside the customs and fiscal territory of the EU” (1143). See also the detailed instructions for completing the form.

If e.g. a friend or a family member asks you to declare a consignment, you can declare the consignment on behalf of its recipient (consignee) in the Import Declaration Service for private persons.

To declare a parcel on behalf of the recipient, you need to have

  • a mandate, i.e. a permission to declare a parcel on behalf of the recipient (oral, written or Suomi.fi mandate)
  • Finnish online banking ID codes, a mobile certificate or a certificate card (one of these is needed for identification)
  • an arrival notification for the parcel and information given on it
  • information on the contents and value of the parcel
  • name and address details of the recipient
  • the personal identity code of the recipient, if he or she is Finnish and a date of birth of the recipient, if the recipient is of a different nationality.

Customs can also separately request written information on the contents and value of the parcel (for example, a receipt or an order confirmation). You should request this information from the recipient of the parcel.

Please note: You cannot identify yourself with the Finnish Authenticator app for foreign citizens when logging in to the Import Declaration Service for private persons.

How can I get a mandate, i.e. permission to declare on behalf of another person?

You have three alternatives to get a mandate: orally, by a free-form document or in the service Suomi.fi.

Example: Joe Average wants you to clear the consignment on his behalf. Joe Average has personal online banking codes, a mobile certificate or a certificate card so he can log in to the Suomi.fi portal. Joe logs in to the Suomi.fi portal and authorises you, i.e. gives you a permission to declare on his behalf. In the service, he selects the authorisation “Customs clearance” and enters you as an authorised person. After that, you have a Suomi.fi mandate.

How to declare on behalf of another person in the Import Declaration Service for private persons:

When declaring goods on behalf of another person based on a Suomi.fi mandate

If you are declaring a consignment in the Import Declaration Service for private persons on behalf of another person using a Suomi.fi mandate, select (Whom are you acting on behalf of?) “On behalf of another person based on Suomi.fi mandates”. Then select a person on whose behalf you are declaring a consignment.

On page 1 “Start page” enter the details of the consignee.

On page 5 “Contact information” enter an email address that Customs can contact if required.

When you declare goods on behalf of another person without a Suomi.fi mandate, or declare a parcel on behalf of your underage child or a dependant

If you haven’t received a Suomi.fi mandate or you declare a parcel on behalf of your underage child or a dependant, you should still select (Whom are you acting on behalf of?) “Myself”.

On page 1 “Start page” select “Another person” as the consignee (recipient) of the consignment. After that fill in the details of the person on whose behalf you are acting. Write his or her name and select a nationality of the consignee. Enter his or her personal ID, or date of birth (dd.mm.yyyy) as well as the Finnish address of the foreign person. If the recipient of the parcel has a non-disclosure for personal safety, read the instructions for submitting an address in the Import Declaration Service for private persons while you are filling in the declaration.

On page 5 “Contact information” also enter an email address that Customs can contact if required. Please note that on request, you must be able to prove to Customs that you have a permission to declare on behalf of another person.

Who is responsible if I am declaring a consignment on behalf of another person?

The person you represent is responsible for paying the customs duties and taxes, as well as any charges that may be payable retrospectively due to errors. If you clear goods on someone else’s behalf, it means that you are liable in cases where you are aware or you should have been aware of the incorrectness of information provided in the declaration. This is called direct representation.

Even if you declare the consignment on someone else’s behalf, Posti will deliver the postal consignment to the recipient stated on the consignment or to a pick-up point. Other transport companies deliver the consignments to the recipient as agreed. Customs can’t change the delivery address of a parcel. If you want to change the delivery address of the parcel, contact the transport company.

You can ask another person to declare a parcel on your behalf in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. Such a person may be e.g. a family member, friend, colleague or fellow student. The person declaring the parcel on your behalf must be able to use his or her personal identification details when logging in to the electronic service.

The other person may declare a parcel on your behalf in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, provided that he or she has

  • a mandate, i.e. a permission to declare a parcel on your behalf (oral, written or Suomi.fi mandate)
  • Finnish online banking ID codes, a mobile certificate or a certificate card (one of these is needed for identification)
  • an arrival notification for the parcel and information given on it
  • information on the contents and value of the parcel
  • your name and address
  • your personal identity code, if you are Finnish or your date of birth, if you are of a different nationality.

Customs can also separately request written information on the contents and value of the parcel (for example, a receipt or an order confirmation). You should pass this information on to the person who declares on your behalf.

Please note: The declarant of the parcel cannot use the Finnish Authenticator app for foreign citizens to provide identification details when logging in to the Import Declaration Service.

How can I authorise another person to declare a parcel on my behalf?

You have three alternatives for authorising, i.e. giving another person permission to declare on your behalf: orally, by a free-form document or in the service Suomi.fi.

Read about how to authorise another person in the service Suomi.fi.

Who is responsible if another person is declaring a parcel on my behalf?

You are personally responsible for paying the customs duties and taxes, as well as for paying any charges that may be payable retrospectively due to errors. If another person clears goods on your behalf, they are liable for it if they were aware or they should have been aware that the information provided in the declaration was incorrect. This is called direct representation.

Even if a consignment is declared by somebody else, Posti will deliver the postal consignment to the recipient stated on the consignment or to a pick-up point. Other transport companies deliver the consignments to the recipient as agreed. Customs can’t change the delivery address of the parcel. If you want to change the delivery address of the parcel, contact the transport company.

How am I notified of declarations submitted on my behalf?

If another person is declaring goods on your behalf, they are responsible for informing you about the declarations that they have submitted on your behalf.  Ask the party that has declared the goods on your behalf for the declaration reference, i.e. the MRN. After that, you can check your declaration details in the Customs Clearance Service.

If you do not receive the MRN of your declaration from the person who is declaring on your behalf, ask the Customs Information Service for the MRN. As a private person, if necessary, you can also get information on declarations submitted on your behalf by making a control request related to personal data.

Read more: This is how you declare a parcel on behalf of the recipient (consignee) in the Import Declaration Service for private persons

A seller who has an IOSS number, charges the Finnish VAT at the time of purchase. The VAT is included in the price of the goods and you don’t need to pay any additional VAT in connection with customs clearance. The postal company or another transport company will usually declare the consignment on your behalf, and no action is required on your part.

IOSS sellers are registered for VAT within the EU territory. This means that the VAT is included in the price of the goods purchased and the seller accounts for the VAT to the EU. This has been possible since 1 July 2021.

Where can I find the IOSS number?

The IOSS number is a different thing from the VAT number of a seller. The IOSS number has the format IM1234567890. The IOSS number is in the order confirmation or the invoice. If necessary, request it from the seller.

When do I need the IOSS number?

Generally, you don’t need an IOSS number.

You only need the IOSS number if you have paid the VAT when you purchased the goods and the following text is not shown in the Import Declaration Service for private persons on the page ‘Consignment details’ ‘The VAT has been charged at the point of purchase, but you must still declare the consignment.’ In that case, enter the IOSS number in the service.

How do I provide the IOSS number?

In the Import Declaration Service for private persons, you are asked ‘Have you paid the VAT for the consignment already at the point of purchase?’

Only choose ‘Yes’ if you have bought the goods from an IOSS-seller and you paid the VAT at the point of purchase. You should also consult the postal company or other transport company to find out if they will clear the parcel on your behalf or if you need to do it yourself.

The service asks you to provide the IOSS number. The IOSS number is in the order confirmation or the invoice. If necessary, request it from the seller.

You can read more about the topic on our page on IOSS identifier.

More about the Import Declaration Service

Gift consignments

A gift sent from outside the EU can only be tax free if you receive it free of charge from another private individual. Goods sent by a company must be declared and import duties and taxes must be paid for them, even though you have not bought the goods. The same is also true for, for example, gifts for magazine subscribers or free magazine samples.

When you declare the goods in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, select that you wish to declare “purchased goods” on the start page. Enter as the goods value the price that would be charged for a similar product, for example, in an online store. You can also ask the sender (consignor) to provide information on the value of the goods.

If you cannot declare the gift in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, you can ask another person to declare it on your behalf. Such a person may be e.g. a family member, friend, colleague or fellow student. The person must be able to identify himself by using his personal data when logging in to the electronic service.

The other person may declare a gift on behalf of the gift recipient in the Import Declaration Service for private persons, provided that he has

  • Finnish online banking ID codes, a mobile certificate or a certificate card (one of these is needed for identification)
  • an arrival notification for the parcel and information given on it
  • information on the contents and value of the gift
  • name and address details of the gift recipient
  • the personal ID number or date of birth of the gift recipient.

If the gift recipient does not possess a Finnish personal ID number, enter the date of birth of the gift recipient.

Customs can also separately request written information on the contents and value of the gift. You should pass this written information on to the person who declares the gift on your behalf.

Please note:! Declarants of gift parcels cannot use the Finnish Authenticator app to identify themselves when logging in to the Import Declaration Service.

Who is responsible?

You are personally responsible for paying the customs duties and taxes, as well as for paying other payments retrospectively in cases of possible errors. If another person clears goods on your behalf, they are liable for it if they were aware or they should have been aware that the information provided in the declaration was incorrect. This is called direct representation.

Even if the consignment is declared by somebody else, it may be delivered to you directly. Posti delivers the postal consignment to the recipient stated on the consignment or to a pick-up point. Other transport companies deliver the consignments to the recipient as agreed.

If you don’t know what gifts the consignment contains or what their value is, contact the sender to find out. You cannot declare the consignment without these details.

If needed, ask the sender about the contents and value of the gift, e.g. “book, USD 20”. If  the gift is self-made, ask the sender to give an estimate of its value, e.g. “hand-knitted socks, USD 10”.  The value can be the price for which the gift would be sold in the country of dispatch.

Declare the gift consignment in the Import Declaration Service for private persons. Choose that you wish to declare a gift sent by a private person.

For the declaration, you’ll need to know the content and value of the gift, and you’ll need the notice of arrival.

However, if the gift is exempt from customs duty and tax, you do not need to pay any import duties or taxes.

Read more: Clearing gifts through Customs.

 

 

More questions about gift consignments

Restrictions

You can order a quantity of medicines equivalent to 3 months of use from an EEA country, provided that certain conditions are met.

Please note that the import of prescription medicines requires a prescription.

Read more: Medicines

Yes, you can. Nicotine pouches are no longer classified as medicinal products as of 4 April 2023. Read more about it in our notice: Nicotine pouches are no longer classified as medicinal products (4 April 2023).

However, please note that according to Fimea guidelines, the change will not affect nicotine pouches that are used in the oral cavity and are meant for consumption as medicinal products and are granted a marketing authorisation as medicinal products. These nicotine preparations are marketed as e.g. products for weaning off tobacco or for treating withdrawal symptoms.

No you cannot. Nicotine liquid which has a nicotine concentration of no more than 20 milligrams per millilitre and which is not to be used for a purpose defined in section 3(1) of the Medicines Act (395/1987) is subject to the Tobacco Act. A private person is not allowed to obtain or receive by mail, as a goods shipment or by any other means from outside Finland tobacco products, electronic cigarettes or nicotine-containing liquids purchased from a trader by means of distance communication.

A private person is not allowed to import, obtain or receive by mail or by comparable means from outside Finland a nicotine-containing liquid intended for vaporisation using an electronic cigarette when the liquid contains more than 20 milligrams of nicotine per millilitre or when it is to be used for a purpose defined in section 3(1) of the Medicines Act.

 

 

No. A private person is not allowed to obtain or receive by mail, as a goods shipment or by any other means from outside Finland tobacco products, electronic cigarettes or nicotine liquids ordered from a trader by means of distance communication.

Read more: Ordering tobacco products online

 

 

More questions about restrictions

Customs control

Customs controls alcohol brought in by travellers from within the EU and can inspect such alcohol. Even when you can take the alcohol products with you after the inspection, the inspection may lead to tax consideration. As of 1 January 2017, the tax consideration will be performed by the Tax Administration. When necessary, the Tax Administration may contact you, and you have the responsibility to account for the purpose of use of the alcohol products even after the import.

According to section 103 of the Act on Excise Duty, Customs has the right to detain excise products if there is any ambiguity about for example the liability to pay taxes, taxability, application of excise regulations or the purpose of import, or if there is some other justified reason for detaining the goods.

Excise duty is levied on products imported for some other purpose than a private person’s personal use. As of 1 January 2017, the Tax Administration is responsible for the taxation. If Customs has detained excise products you have brought in, wait for the Tax Administration to contact you.

 

No. Before the vehicle is scanned, the driver assures Customs in writing that there is no one in the vehicle. Nevertheless, the radiation dose received during a scan is so small as not to pose any danger to humans. A normal medical x-ray examination gives a higher radiation dose to a patient.

Customs does not under any circumstances scan people. Customs can order a person to undergo a bodily search that is performed in the form of an x-ray examination. The x-ray examination of a person is a medical procedure and is always undertaken under the supervision of a doctor.

Read more: Customs control

 

To carry out a customs inspection of a person does not require any evidence or suspicion of any offence. The selection is based on a risk assessment or other observation made by Customs.

According to a decision by the Parliamentary Ombudsman, stopping a person and discussing with him or her does not yet constitute a customs inspection.

Read more: Customs control

 

The law uses the term “reasonably prove”. In Customs' instructions the terms used are “explanation” or “account”. 

In practice, when the passenger arrives in the country with their alcohol, they do not have to do anything, unless the customs officer specifically asks.

But if, at the time of entry into the country, the customs officer asks what the alcohol that exceeds the guideline limits will be used for, then a free-form oral explanation or report is usually enough. The customs officer may ask more specific questions in response to the passenger’s explanation or report. The quantity and quality of the products may be checked as well as the passenger’s ID and their contact information. No written material will have to be presented or written up, but that does not prevent the passenger from presenting such material. In most cases, the discussion with the customs officer and verification of the quantity brought into the country is sufficient.

In some instances, the passenger might be required to present additional information in written form; adhering to the instructions in the request for additional information.

More questions about customs control

Moving to or from Finland

You can bring in your removal goods to Finland free from customs duty and value added tax within 12 months after your move.

Read more: Moving to Finland from outside the EU customs and tax territory

More questions about moving

Travelling

Most countries have their own import restrictions. The traveller is responsible for finding out the import restrictions of the country of destination. You can get more information about the restrictions e.g. from the country’s embassy or authorities.

Finnish Customs cannot provide information about the provisions concerning goods or gifts taken out of Finland. At Finnish Customs, we only know the Finnish customs provisions.

If the unit packets of tobacco products do not bear the required health warnings – text warnings in Finnish and Swedish and the picture warnings – you are not allowed to bring in more than 200 cigarettes to Finland even if you pay the taxes.

Read more: Bringing back tobacco products from travels 

On the Finnish Tax Administrations website, there is an excise duty table for alcohol and alcoholic beverages (in Finnish and Swedish), where you can check the current excise duty on alcohol according to product group. Furthermore, customs duty and VAT (24%) will be levied for the products based on the commodity code.

More questions about travelling

                            

Any questions?

Contact Customs Information Mon–Fri 8 am–4.15 pm

Please have a look at the frequently asked questions.

If you have a question about the arrival of parcels, its contents or the handling fee, please contact Posti.

Customs Information Service

Keywords Frequently asked questions