Time limits for the temporary use of a passenger vehicle

Restrictions on the entry in Finland of Russian citizens and on the import of cars registered in Russia

Read more about the restrictions on the entry of Russian citizens on the website of the Finnish Border Guard.

There are restrictions on the import of cars registered in Russia as of 16 September 2023. Read more on the website of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and in the press release by Finnish Customs.

When you arrive from outside the EU (e.g. Norway) to work or study in Finland, you can use the car you bring with you for a limited time, without paying customs duty or VAT. This is called temporary admission. Duty-free and tax-free importation requires that you live permanently outside the EU and the car is registered to a person residing outside the EU.

The reason why you arrive in Finland from outside the EU influences how long you can use the car in Finland before it has to be removed from Finland to an area outside the EU or be cleared through customs in Finland.

Please note that if you bring a car to Finland from another EU country, such as Estonia or Germany, read the additional instructions on the Tax Administration's website

Choose below if you are arriving in Finland as a tourist, an employee, a student or an immigrant.

You live permanently outside the EU and you arrive in Finland for a vacation: You can use your car in Finland for a maximum of six months. After six months, the car must be removed from Finland immediately to an area outside the EU or, for example, be cleared through customs in Finland.


You live permanently outside the EU and you for example have a fixed-term work contract in Finland: You can use your car registered outside the EU in Finland for as long as the reason for your stay in Finland is to complete a work task. Once the work is finished, the car must be removed from Finland immediately to an area outside the EU or, for example, be cleared through customs in Finland.

If your work or your stay becomes permanent, the prerequisites for temporary admission are no longer fulfilled. If you work or live permanently in Finland, i.e. your fixed-term work contract or residence permit is no longer valid, the prerequisite for temporary admission has ended and the car must be removed from Finland immediately to an area outside the EU or, for example, be cleared through customs in Finland.


You live permanently outside the EU and you arrive in Finland to study: You can use your car registered outside the EU in Finland tax-free for as long as you study in Finland. You must prove that you are a student, by presenting a student certificate issued by the educational institution. 

The car can’t be used by anyone other than you, the student. During student holidays, you can leave the car in Finland and exit the EU territory yourself. However, no one can use the car while you are away.

If you use the car for more than six months during a period of twelve months, you must declare the tax-exempt use of a vehicle by a student to the Tax Administration, before six months have elapsed.

When you have completed your studies, the car must be removed from Finland immediately to an area outside the EU or, for example, be cleared through customs in Finland. Customs can check the certificate issued by the educational institution, to see when the studies were completed.


You move to Finland permanently from outside the EU customs territory: The car must be declared immediately the first time you bring it in as removal goods to Finland. You can’t use the car in Finland if it has not been declared.

First, check the prerequisites for bringing in goods as removal goods. After that, read the instructions on bringing in vehicles as removal goods.

Please note that car tax is paid to the Tax Administration, even if the car is removal goods.


Which authority provides service in different situations?

  • The Border Guard usually checks the passport and your possible residence permit, when you arrive in Finland. If you have questions regarding the import of a car, ask for advice from Customs.
  • Customs answers import-related questions concerning cars. If you bring in a car permanently to Finland, you declare the car and pay any possible customs duty and VAT on import to Customs.
  • The Tax Administration collects the car tax to be paid on the car. You can estimate the amount of car tax yourself with the Tax Administration’s car tax calculator.  

If needed, a decision of residence can also be applied for from the Tax Administration. The permanent place of residence affects whether or not you have the right to use a vehicle tax-free. However, receiving a decision of residence does not automatically mean that you can use the car in Finland without declaring it.

Remember that a car registered outside the EU must usually be declared in Finland upon import, if the driver of the vehicle or the owner lives or will be living in Finland permanently.

Points to consider

Declaring a vehicle to Customs and the ways to declare vary according to whether you arrive in Finland as a tourist, student or immigrant or whether you bring in the vehicle from outside the EU for some other reason.

I’m arriving in Finland as a tourist

If you arrive in Finland as a tourist, you bring in the vehicle by driving it yourself and you use it in Finland for six months at most, you can arrive in Finland using the green channel and no separate customs declaration is required.

Read more on Customs’ website.

I’m arriving in Finland for work

If you arrive in Finland for work, you bring in the vehicle by driving it yourself and you use it in Finland until the work is completed, you can arrive in Finland using the green channel and no separate customs declaration is required.

I’m arriving in Finland as a student

If you arrive in Finland as a student, you bring in the vehicle by driving it yourself and you use it in Finland until your studies are completed, you can arrive in Finland using the green channel and no separate customs declaration is required. Show Customs proof of your studies when requested.

I’m bringing in a vehicle as removal goods

If you are moving to Finland to stay and you bring in the vehicle as removal goods by driving it yourself, declare the vehicle immediately the first time you bring it in as removal goods to Finland. If the customs office nearest to you is closed when you bring in the vehicle to Finland, declare the vehicle as soon as possible at a customs office that is open or as removal goods in the Customs Clearance Service.

Read more on Customs’ website.

I’m bringing in a vehicle as other than removal goods

If you bring in a vehicle permanently to Finland as other than removal goods by driving it yourself, declare the vehicle upon arrival in Finland. If the customs office nearest to you is closed when you bring in the vehicle to Finland, declare the vehicle as soon as possible at a customs office that is open or in the Import Declaration Service for private persons.

Read more on Customs’ website.

Please note: identification in the Customs clearance Service or the Import Declaration Service for private persons

If you are a foreign private person who does not have a Finnish personal identity code and you are unable to identify yourself with Finnish means of identification then, for the time being, you cannot identify yourself using the Finnish Authenticator Service when logging in to the Import Declaration Service for private persons or the Customs Clearance Service.     

Read more about other ways to declare your car.

Read more: Customs Offices - Customs


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