Border zone

Finnish border zone

Border zone · Finland

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In short

For visitors: permit required.

Boundary area — 1,571 km²
Checked against the act on 20 October 2026
Local name: rajavyöhyke / gränszon

Who may enter, and with what

Rules by group of people, as the source states them, with dates. We give no assessments of our own.

Everyone — permit required. Staying in the border zone requires a Finnish Border Guard permit, granted for an acceptable reason: residence, work, business or a hobby, with a justification of why it must take place in the zone.Issued by: Finnish Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos) · Fee: Free of chargeExceptions: Stays needed to cross the border lawfully — without a permit (§ 58 of Act 578/2005); Roads and lakes along which the zone boundary runs are not part of the zone (§ 4 of Decree 653/2005)
Original wording
There is no fee for processing permit applications.
Apply · Finnish Border Guard (raja.fi) · checked 20 October 2026

Legal basis

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Questions

Permits and restricted zones — FAQ

Do you need a permit: Finnish border zone?

For visitors: permit required. Staying in the border zone requires a Finnish Border Guard permit, granted for an acceptable reason: residence, work, business or a hobby, with a justification of why it must take place in the zone.

Where do I get the permit?

Issued by: Finnish Border Guard (Rajavartiolaitos). The link to the official application page is in the rule above.

Will the planner see this zone on my route?

Yes: the zone has a boundary, and the trip plan will show a line if the route or an overnight stop falls inside.

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