Current affairs

The repatriation flights arranged by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as a result of the COVID-19 crisis have ended. Altogether 16 flights were carried out, with a total of 3,227 tourists returning to Finland or through Finland to their home country in Europe. Around 2,000 of the passengers on the flights were tourists returning to Finland.

We have put together frequently asked questions with answers about travel and coronavirus.

This year we celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union and China, established on 6th May 1975. It is an important milestone in an ever more important relationship between our union of 27 European states and China.

The Embassy of Finland in Beijing and the Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai suspend most of the consular and immigration services from March 19 until June 14, 2020. The special arrangements are implemented based on the Emergency Powers Act, which came into force in Finland on March 19, and apply to all Finnish missions around the world.

Due to the prevailing emergency conditions based on the Emergency Powers Act, the Government has decided to restrict traffic at Finland’s external borders starting on Thursday 19 March at 00.00. Finns travelling abroad are encouraged to return to Finland as soon as possible.

The coronavirus situation in China has eased somewhat from its most acute phase and the number of new infections has clearly decreased compared to February. However, the epidemic and related measures are not over. China is now preparing for a possible second wave of the epidemic and has introduced new prevention measures, related to e.g. entry to China. China has restricted the entry of almost all foreigners from March 28 onwards. Large-scale restrictive measures also continue to be implemented within the country and will only be lifted gradually.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finland’s Missions are monitoring the impacts of the coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic in cooperation with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and they are in constant contact with key actors with regard to the situational picture and any necessary measures.