Last update: July 9th, 2021.
Finland is now accepting and issuing the EU Digital COVID Certificate. The nation first released a local certificate but has now moved over to the EU-wide program.
Finland is planning to open borders to vaccinated and tested EU citizens on July 12th. The launch of this vaccine passport is helping the transition to a new phase of re-opening.
The EU Digital COVID Certificate in Finland
Finland reached their goal of launching the EU Digital COVID Certificate by July and they are now on track with the rest of Europe to open borders for free movement once more.
The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare has implemented the program and the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is overseeing global cooperation and functionality of the EU COVID pass.
Finnish citizens can use the EU pass to travel freely through Europe from July 12th and Finland is also allowing visitors into the country.
However, any country can implement travel restrictions if there is reasonable cause for concern. Travelers should always check the current restrictions in their destination country.
How to get the COVID pass for Finland
Some countries, like Israel and Bahrain, have used their COVID-19 track and trace apps to issue certificates.
Finland is opting to use its online healthcare platform, My Kanta (Omakanta). Citizens from Finland can log on and generate a PDF certificate with a unique QR code. The steps are as follows:
- Use an online identifier, such as a mobile number or banking code, to log onto the My Kanta digital page.
- Follow the link on the home page or in the left-hand menu of My Kanta to access the COVID certificate page.
- Click the “Check if you have a COVID-19 vaccination certificate” button on the page. The certificate will open in a new tab if it is available.
The certificate can be displayed on one’s mobile phone or printed out for physical verification. Those without access to the internet or the My Kanta platform can receive a printed copy from their healthcare provider.
The EU certificate is for people who have been vaccinated, tested negative, or who have recovered from the virus. The test and recovery certificates will be available in Finland from July 14th.
What information is on the Finnish COVID pass?
The certificate will display which vaccine you have received as well as basic identification such as the holder’s full name and date of birth.
To prove the authenticity of COVID certificates, a unique QR code is produced for the EU certificate and verified by the EU Gateway.
Some EU citizens are expressing concerns regarding data protection in COVID certificates. However, both the European Union and the government of Finland are taking all the necessary precautions to stop any breaches of cybersecurity.
What can I do with a Finnish COVID certificate?
The EU COVID certificate is aimed at opening up travel through Europe and eliminating the need for travel bubbles. However, please note that countries will concede Finnish travelers’ entrance at their own discretion.
Certain institutions may request the vaccine certificate at a later stage to grant access to public spaces in Finland.
COVID-19 health situation in Finland
Finland has had close to 100,000 COVID-19 cases in total. But thanks to their state-of-the-art healthcare system, their death toll has been considerably low. Less than 1,000 people have lost their lives due to the pandemic.
Finland has proceeded swiftly with their vaccine rollout and almost 5,000,000 doses have been administered as of July 2021. Over 22% of Finnish citizens are fully vaccinated.
There are still travel restrictions in place, but public spaces like recreation areas and restaurants are opening progressively. Travelers should check the Finnish government’s website for the latest restrictions.