Finland’s government has decided to relax some of its precautionary measures taken in a bid to stop the spread of COVID-19, as the country sees a decline in the rate of infections.

Schengen Visa Info reports the reopening of the country’s border will enable further categories of travellers to enter the country, including students, international journalists and seasonal workers.

Last week, Finland announced that the borders would reopen for foreign workers in the Schengen Area, including Estonian citizens who work in Finland, since the border has been shut down from 19 March, as part of the country’s efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

The Finnish Border Guard has revealed details regarding border crossings after the country’s government decided to relax border restrictions, starting from 14 May.

According to the guidelines, the categories of travellers permitted to enter the country are:

Those returning to Finland, including:

  • Finnish citizens and their family members;
  • EU and Schengen Area citizens who live in in the country and their family members;
  • third-country citizens with residence permits

Employees and others, including:

  • travellers with employment contracts, transaction-management contracts and other contracted workers;
  • diplomats, employees of international organisations, military, and employees of aid organisations (for work purposes);
  • students studying in Finland;
  • EU/Schengen Area member state citizens with the registered right of residence in Finland;
  • individuals travelling for unavoidable family reasons (meeting a relative, funerals, weddings, illness);
  • persons in need of international protection;
  • individuals travelling on other reasonable grounds (e.g. foreign journalists, representatives of Sami lifestyle and culture, others travelling on compelling personal grounds)

Transit travellers, including:

  • EU/Schengen Area member state citizens travelling to other EU and Schengen states via Finland;
  • individuals travelling to other EU and Schengen states based on a residence permit
  • seasonal workers

Schengen Visa Info reports people may be asked for documentation proving their right to enter the country.

According to the World Health Organisation’s latest statistics, Finland has 5,984 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 271 deaths reported.

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