A fresh advisory circulated on 25 November by global-mobility consultancy VisaHQ reiterates that Finland will keep all eight eastern land-border checkpoints shut indefinitely. The advisory, quoting a Finnish Border Guard notice of 22 November, stresses that emergency legislation gives officers authority to refuse asylum applications at the frontier and reroute claims to designated airports and seaports.
The land crossings—most notably Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa and Vartius—have been closed since December 2023. Before the shutdown, they carried roughly 2.5 million passenger movements and €15 billion in annual two-way trade. The closure is Finland’s firm response to what it says is a Kremlin-backed strategy of pushing third-country migrants across the border.
![Travel Advisory Confirms Finland–Russia Land Border to Remain Closed “Until Further Notice”]()
Logistics providers report significant operational turbulence. Road freight that once took 11 hours to reach Saint Petersburg now moves by ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn or by Ro-Ro service to Lübeck before trans-shipping to Russia, adding up to four days and 20 per cent in cost. Project cargo for mining and energy ventures in northwest Russia is being rerouted through Murmansk via Norwegian ports.
For employers the most immediate issue is staff mobility. Finnish and multinational companies that still maintain operations in Russia must now fly employees via Istanbul, Dubai or Belgrade, triggering new visa combinations, higher airfares and extended duty-of-care exposure. Insurance policies that reference “overland routes” should be re-examined, and assignment allowances may need recalibration.
The advisory urges travellers to use Helsinki-Vantaa Airport or the Port of Helsinki, where asylum claims can still be registered. It also warns that fines for unauthorised border-zone entry have doubled to €1,000 under amendments to the Border Guard Act. Employers should update travel policies, ensure that drivers have revised routing instructions and build buffer days into project timelines.
The land crossings—most notably Vaalimaa, Nuijamaa and Vartius—have been closed since December 2023. Before the shutdown, they carried roughly 2.5 million passenger movements and €15 billion in annual two-way trade. The closure is Finland’s firm response to what it says is a Kremlin-backed strategy of pushing third-country migrants across the border.
Logistics providers report significant operational turbulence. Road freight that once took 11 hours to reach Saint Petersburg now moves by ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn or by Ro-Ro service to Lübeck before trans-shipping to Russia, adding up to four days and 20 per cent in cost. Project cargo for mining and energy ventures in northwest Russia is being rerouted through Murmansk via Norwegian ports.
For employers the most immediate issue is staff mobility. Finnish and multinational companies that still maintain operations in Russia must now fly employees via Istanbul, Dubai or Belgrade, triggering new visa combinations, higher airfares and extended duty-of-care exposure. Insurance policies that reference “overland routes” should be re-examined, and assignment allowances may need recalibration.
The advisory urges travellers to use Helsinki-Vantaa Airport or the Port of Helsinki, where asylum claims can still be registered. It also warns that fines for unauthorised border-zone entry have doubled to €1,000 under amendments to the Border Guard Act. Employers should update travel policies, ensure that drivers have revised routing instructions and build buffer days into project timelines.
