Finland is easy to reach by air and sea. There are daily direct flights from major European and overseas cities. It takes two to four hours to fly from Europe to Helsinki, about eight hours from New York, and ten from Tokyo. The domestic network of scheduled flights is one of the densest in the world in comparison with the population. There is a regular year-round passenger ship service from Stockholm, Tallinn and Germany to Finland.

Passport
Citizens of Nordic countries (Denmark, Iceland, Sweden and Norway ) do not need a passport for entering Finland. EU-nationals, and citizens of Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland and Schengen Agreement countries (Austria, Belgium,Denmark,France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherland, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden ) can enter Finland with a valid passport or a valid identity card. All other nationalities require a valid passport.

Visa
Countries whose citizens do not require a visa for entry into Finland:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, USA, Uruguay, Vatican and Venezuela. Holders of a Laissez Passer of the United Nations and the EC require no visa.

Further Information: The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Unit for Passports and Visas, P.O.BOX 176, 00161 HELSINKI, tel: +358-(0)9-16005, http://formin.finland.fi

Finland is a gateway to the neighbouring countries, thanks to excellent rail and sea connections. Travellers planning a trip across the border to Russia must have a visa. Some nationalities also need an entry visa to the Baltic republics. It is advisable to obtain the visa in the traveller's country of origin.