Entry restrictions to ease – Viking Line will open up service to Stockholm

Finland will ease entry restrictions as of June 21, 2021. Everyone in the Schengen area and the EU will be allowed to enter the country if they have had two doses of the Covid vaccine or have recovered from a documented Covid infection in the past six months. No special reason for travel and no Covid test are needed if these conditions are met. As a result, Viking Line will open up traffic between Helsinki and Stockholm starting from Helsinki on July 6.

 

Viking Line’s service between Helsinki and Stockholm has been suspended since March 2020. As of June 21, 2021, the Finnish government will ease entry restrictions so that travel for leisure and work will be allowed for everyone in the Schengen area and the EU who meets the remaining conditions.

On July 6,  M/S Gabriella will make its first journey according to the regular timetable from Helsinki. Viking Line will then offer departures from Helsinki via Mariehamn to Stockholm on dates when Gabriella is not making special cruises to other destinations. After that, the vessel will then continue to sail from Stockholm to Helsinki every other day. 

“Given that the pandemic situation has now eased, we are grateful to receive this decision from the authorities. We look forward to getting regular traffic between our neighbouring countries up and running after travel has been shut down for such a long time. Many of us have missed this natural transport link,” says Jan Hanses, president and CEO of Viking Line.

In accordance with the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare’s recommendation, shipping companies will require all passengers travelling to Finland to provide a certificate verifying that they have had at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, a certificate of a negative Covid test result or a certificate verifying that they have already had the Covid infection. Cruise passengers who have not been to another country and children under the age of 16 do not need a certificate.

Since internal border controls are now in force, the authorities conduct health checks at the border. Travellers are exempt from any Covid test requirement if they have had two doses of the Covid vaccine or a certificate verifying that they have already had a Covid infection. Passengers who have a certificate verifying that they recently took a test or that they received one dose of the vaccine at least two weeks prior to their journey will not need to be tested at the border. It is recommended that travellers use the Finentry digital service for a smooth entry into the country. People can enter their travel details via Finentry 24 hours before their journey and book a time for a free Covid test in Finland.

In order to enter Finland without any special reason, one of the following is required as of June 21, 2021:

• Two doses of the Covid vaccine at least two weeks before departure.
• A documented case of recovery from a Covid infection no more than 6 months before departure.
• Travellers under the age of 16 may travel without meeting any of the above conditions.
• Travellers are always responsible for ensuring that they meet the conditions required for entry into Finland. For details about what conditions apply and what documents are required, see our webpages, information from the Finnish government and information from the Finnish Border Guard.

For further information, please contact:

Johanna Boijer-Svahnström, Senior Vice President Corporate Communications,

johanna.boijer@vikingline.com, tel. +358 18 270 00

Christa Grönlund, Communications Manager,

christa.gronlund@vikingline.com, tel. +358 9 123 5242