Updated 18.9.2026. In short: the land border between Finland and Russia is closed, you can reach Russia by air via a third country or through Estonia, and you need a visa. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs advises against all travel to Russia. This page gathers the authorities' current information in one place. The decision to travel is yours.
Is the Finland-Russia border open?
No. The whole land border has been closed since 15.12.2023, and the decision is in force until further notice. The crossings at Imatra, Kuusamo, Niirala, Nuijamaa, Raja-Jooseppi, Salla, Vaalimaa and Vartius are closed. The closure applies to Finnish citizens too. Only freight moves through Vainikkala. Source: the Finnish Border Guard.
A valid visa does not open a closed border. A visa is permission to enter Russia, the route has to be chosen separately.
Which routes to Russia are in use?
| Route | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Flight via a third country | In use | There are no direct flights from the EU. According to the Ministry, airports can be closed and flights cancelled without warning. |
| Narva, Estonia (on foot) | Open to pedestrians only | Vehicle traffic has been stopped since 1.2.2024. Opening hours on the Estonian side are limited and queues can be long. Check the current hours with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board. |
| Koidula and Luhamaa, Estonia (by car) | Open with limited hours | A crossing time is booked in advance. Cars registered in Russia cannot enter Estonia. |
| Finnish land border | Closed | Applies to all nationalities. |
What does the Ministry for Foreign Affairs say?
The Ministry's travel advisory tells travellers to avoid all travel to Russia. According to the advisory:
- Visa, Mastercard and Amex cards issued outside Russia do not work in Russia. You cannot pay with them or withdraw cash.
- Finland's Consulate General in Saint Petersburg is closed. In an emergency you turn to the embassy in Moscow.
- A dual citizen may be treated in Russia as a Russian citizen only, which limits Finland's ability to help.
- Unusual checks can be made at the border and in the country, including of your phone.
- Anyone travelling by car needs a local motor insurance. The green card has not been valid since 1.6.2023.
Travel advisories are recommendations. Read the full advisory on the Ministry's site before you decide, and file a travel notification.
Do I need a visa?
Yes. A Finnish citizen needs a visa for Russia. A regular visa is applied for at the consular section of the Russian Embassy in Helsinki. The consular section accepts applications by appointment only, never by post, and accepts only the form completed on the Russian MFA website.
The application needs a passport, a visa photo, the completed form, a tourist confirmation or invitation, and travel insurance valid for the whole stay, covering at least 30 000 € and including repatriation.
Rustravel handles the regular visa for you: we complete the form, obtain the confirmation, book the appointment and deal with the consulate. Russian visa: prices, documents and ordering.
What about the electronic visa?
Russia has a unified e-visa that a Finnish citizen can apply for on the Russian MFA portal for a single trip of up to 30 days. Rustravel does not handle e-visas. If you also hold Russian citizenship, the consulate does not issue a visa into your Finnish passport: you travel on the Russian passport.
What does the consulate charge?
The consular section charges EU, EEA and Swiss citizens the same fee whatever the purpose of travel. The fee depends on the number of entries and the processing speed. The current table is on our visa page. Rustravel's price includes the consular fee.
Checklist before you travel
- Check the status of your route on the day of departure, and for the return too.
- Take cash and check Finnish Customs' rules on carrying cash.
- Take travel insurance that is valid in Russia. Travel insurance for the visa.
- Carry a copy of your passport data page and your visa.
- Allow enough time for the visa, as processing time depends on the visa type. Add postage on top.
Update history
- 18.9.2026: page published. Information checked on the sites of the Finnish Border Guard, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the consular section of the Russian Embassy and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board.
Sources: Finnish Border Guard (raja.fi), Ministry for Foreign Affairs travel advisory (um.fi), consular section of the Russian Embassy in Helsinki, Estonian Police and Border Guard Board (politsei.ee).