Before you travel

Before you travel, please take a look at our advice on these pages. For more information about the import restrictions and provisions of the country of destination, you can contact the country’s embassy or authorities. Finnish Customs doesn’t provide information about the provisions of other countries.

Effects of the sanctions against Russia

When travelling from Finland to Russia:

  • It is prohibited to export luxury goods (i.e. items worth more than EUR 300). Such goods include smart devices, jewellery and sports equipment.
  • Currently, you cannot bring pleasure boats or personal watercraft from Finland to Russia.

When travelling from Russia to Finland:

  • There are restrictions on traveller imports of fuel and alcohol. 
  • All import of cigarettes, cigarillos and cigars is prohibited.
  • Travellers on vacation should not bring boats or personal watercraft from Russia to Finland, because they cannot be returned to Russia.
  • Arriving in Finland via ports and through canal locks from Russia is prohibited. This includes arriving from Russia through Saimaa Canal.

Please note that the import and export regulations may change quickly due to the sanctions.

Read more: Russian attack on Ukraine

Import and export sanctions on goods also apply to private individuals crossing the Finnish-Russian border

Points to consider

If you are taking personal valuables in your luggage to a country outside the EU, you should fill in a luggage certificate at Customs before departure. The form is intended for private persons and it will prove to Customs that you had the items with you on departure.

If you are taking goods abroad with you for commercial purposes, e.g. for sale or temporarily for a fair or for reparation, you’ll have to submit an electronic export declaration for the goods to Customs.


The Finnish Border Guard is responsible for the border controls of people at the border crossing points. If you have any questions about travel documents, please contact the Border Guard. You’ll find the contact information and instructions concerning travel documents at www.raja.fi.

For more information about the travel documents of Finnish citizens, please go to the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.


Most countries have restrictions on imports of medicines. 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 destination country’s authorities. Finnish Customs doesn’t provide information about the import restrictions of other countries.

Take your prescriptions with you. If necessary, with them you can prove that you have the right to have personal medicines with you. If you have an electronic prescription (eResepti), please take one of the following with you when you travel:

  • A patient guide printed by a doctor, listing all the medicines you have been prescribed at the same time.
  • A summary printout of your prescriptions, from the pharmacy.
  • A summary of your prescriptions, which you can print from the National Archive for Health Information (Kanta) using your online banking ID codes.

More information:

  • The website of Kela (the Social Insurance Institution of Finland)
  • Medicines

Finnish Customs doesn't give packing instructions. For more information about packing your luggage for your flight and about prohibited goods, go to Finavia's website.

You can find more information on security controls and on the provisions that apply to packing on Trafi's website.


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.


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