As of Tuesday 23 February, ship lines to Helsinki will request passengers to present proof of a negative coronavirus test result or having contracted COVID-19 previously. All passengers above the age of 12 must have the certificate upon boarding.
The test result must not be older than 72 hours at the beginning of the journey. Those who have had COVID-19, must have had it within the past six months. A certificate is not required from cruise passengers who have not disembarked in another country.
“We are very pleased about this decision made by shipping companies. It will help us curb the spread of coronavirus infections. The decision also facilitates the arrival of passengers at the Port of Helsinki,” Director of Health and Substance Abuse Services Leena Turpeinen says.
During their journey, passengers to Helsinki will be provided with a contact information form. It is recommended to fill in the form before arrival in Helsinki and the health and information point at the port. This will expedite arrivals in Finland. The information points are located in the terminal and by the car lane.
The contact information form filled in onboard the ship will be sent from the Port of Helsinki to the health authorities of each passenger’s municipality of permanent or temporary residence. The information may be needed to track infections.
The recommended earliest time for the second coronavirus test is 72 hours after arriving in the country. Passengers who have had COVID-19 within the past six months do not need to get tested.
You can make an appointment for a coronavirus test in Finland
- most conveniently through the Finentry service (finentry.fi(Link leads to external service))
- at a coronavirus information point in your municipality of permanent or temporary residence (Helsinki residents can call tel. 09 310 10024 every day 8:00–18:00)
- through the omaolo.fi(Link leads to external service) service (if you have symptoms)
Coronavirus tests conducted by Finnish public health care services are free of charge. When awaiting the test results, it is important to remain in self-imposed quarantine at home or other accommodations. If the second test result is also negative, the self-imposed quarantine can be ended.
The new operating models for harbours have been planned together with the Port of Helsinki, the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa, Finnish Customs, the Finnish Border Guard and the shipping companies.
More information is available from the coronavirus information point at the port and online at www.hel.fi/koronavirus and www.thl.fi(Link leads to external service).
Photo: City of Helsinki material bank / Antti Pulkkinen