Arriving in Finland during the Covid-19 Pandemic
We recommend that you take a full series of Covid-19 vaccination before arriving in Finland if possible. In some cases the students might need to self-quarantine on their arrival. Please be prepared for that. The length of the travel-related self-quarantine has been earlier 14 or 10 days and it can be shortened by taking a Covid-19 test.
Due to the new variant the instructions for entering Finland keep changing so please check the up-dated information:
- Travelling to Finland during Covid-19 pandemic, information by THL (Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare) (opens in a new tab)
- Please check the instructions of the Finnish border guard: https://raja.fi/en/guidelines-for-border-traffic-during-pandemic (opens in a new tab)
- Current travel restrictions in the EU: https://reopen.europa.eu/en (opens in a new tab)
Information for passengers arriving at Helsinki Airport
- Wear a mouth-nose protection mask
- Keep a safe distance from other passengers
- Take care of hand and coughing hygiene
- Covid-19 health information point and a possibility for testing at the Helsinki airport: https://www.finavia.fi/en/air-travel-during-covid-19 (opens in a new tab)
The latest news on coronavirus situation in Finland (opens in a new tab).
Travelling to your campus city
During pandemic you should avoid using public transportation but if you cannot avoid it, you should follow the hygiene and safety instructions at all times.
Both campus cities Joensuu (about 440 kilometres north-east from Helsinki) and Kuopio (about 380 kilometres north-east from Helsinki) are very accessible from Helsinki: several trains and buses daily to both of them.
Public transport from the Helsinki airport (opens in a new tab)
- VR, Finnish Railways (opens in a new tab). If you wish to travel by train from Helsinki to the campus town, you should first take a local train from the airport to Tikkurila and from Tikkurila you can take a train to Joensuu or to Kuopio. Safety instructions for travelling in trains: https://www.vr.fi/en/corona (opens in a new tab)
- Matkahuolto, long distance bus services (opens in a new tab). The busses to Joensuu/Kuopio leave from the Helsinki city centre (Kamppi central bus station).
- Onnibus, long distance bus services (opens in a new tab). The Onnibus Busses leave from the Helsinki city centre (Kamppi central bus station).
- Finnair, international and domestic flights (opens in a new tab)
Please note that you are entitled to student discounts on Finnish trains and buses only if you have the Finnish student card. In order to receive one, you have to register as a UEF student and your tuition fee and the Student Union fee have to be paid. The electronic student card is ordered online. See the instructions how to join the Student Union (opens in a new tab).
Arriving to your campus town
- Inform your student tutor about your arrival as soon as you know your travel schedulte.
- If you wish, your tutor will pick up your key and deliver it to you when meeting you – remember to keep the safe distance. If you arrive from a country where self-quarantining is still recommended, please note that you will not be able to pick up the key from the housing office yourself.
Students coming to Joensuu Campus
The Joensuu airport is located about 11 km from the Joensuu city centre. There is usually a bus leaving after each flight from the airport to the city centre. Airport info (opens in a new tab).
City of Joensuu (opens in a new tab)
Public transport (local buses) in Joensuu (opens in a new tab)
Joensuu Campus map and Parking on Campus (opens in a new tab)
Lecture rooms on Joensuu Campus (opens in a new tab)
Joensuu Campus Facilities (pdf)
Students coming to Kuopio Campus
The Kuopio airport is located about 14 km from the Kuopio city centre. Airport info (opens in a new tab).
During Mon – Fri until 19.35 there is a bus but please note that there is no public transportation from the airport to the city during the weekends, nights, or evenings after 19.35 but you have to take a taxi which is a lot more expensive. If available we recommend trying to take an airport taxi (shared taxi). Make sure you check the fare from the taxi driver beforehand.
City of Kuopio (opens in a new tab)
Public transport (local buses) in Kuopio (opens in a new tab)
Kuopio Campus map and Parking on Campus (opens in a new tab)
Lecture rooms on Kuopio Campus (opens in a new tab)
Kuopio Campus Facilities (pdf)
Housing and self-quarantine instructions
- Please make sure you will follow the instructions from the Finnish authorities and from the housing company.
- We hope you can inform your flat mates about your self-quarantine and you can agree how to minimize the contacts during the self-quarantine.
- You can rent a Survival Package from the Student Union (opens in a new tab)
- If you need the Maintenance Service, please let them know that you are in self-quarantine.
Self-quarantine
- Instructions for the 14-day self-quarantine: https://thl.fi/en/web/infectious-diseases-and-vaccinations/what-s-new/coronavirus-covid-19-latest-updates/travel-and-the-coronavirus-pandemic (opens in a new tab)
- Limit unnecessary local contacts for 10 days and follow self-quarantine.
- During self-quarantine, you are permitted to take care of essential errands, like shop for groceries or for necessary medication. In order to avoid contacts, you can order groceries online: K-Ruoka (opens in a new tab) or Foodie (opens in a new tab). These services are unfortunately available only in Finnish but you can use translation apps like Google Translate or maybe you ask your tutor to help you. For ordering restaurant meals at home you can use: Wolt: wolt.com/en (opens in a new tab) or Foodora: foodora.fi/en/ (opens in a new tab)
- It is not possible to visit the campus or participate in any face-to-face teaching or events during the quarantine. Coming to campus premises is permitted only after the quarantine.
- During quarantine please take care of the “physical distancing” extra carefully. This means keeping enough (approx. 2 meters) space between yourself and other people.
- We recommend you to prepare for the quarantine time beforehand and make sure you will have enough reading, watching, and listening with you. It is possible to participate in the orientation programme because it will be offered online.
Any symptoms after your arrival
If you get any flue or stomach flue symptoms after your arrival, remember the safety instructions (avoid meeting anybody, keep the distance, hand and coughing hygiene) and contact the health care services by phone. Do not try and go to make an appointment directly but contact the health care first by phone and follow their instructions.
Health care in Joensuu (opens in a new tab)
Health care in Kuopio (opens in a new tab)
You can also complete a symptom assessment at omaolo.fi (opens in a new tab). If you meet certain criteria, the Omaolo service will instruct you to caal the emergency help support number at 116 117 available 24/7.
Download the Koronavilkku app to your mobile phone
After arriving in Finland, please download the Koronavilkku app to your mobile phone for free. The app notifies you in case you have in contact with and infected person. If you are diagnosed with the infection, you can report it the app anonymously. Koronavilkku app is safe to use and it is provided by the Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare (THL): https://koronavilkku.fi/en/ (opens in a new tab)
Useful links
Check these before arriving at the airport (opens in a new tab)
UEF information on the coronavirus (opens in a new tab)