For many Russian motorists living in the border regions, the Finnish direction is a priority. The way to the country of Suomi is short, the roads are beautiful, and it is best to admire the natural beauty from the window of your own car. However, each country has its own peculiarities of passing customs and passport control, its own traffic rules and their own system of fines for their violation apply, therefore, before going to Finland by car, you should take into account all these points and familiarize yourself with the existing requirements.
The specifics of Finnish roads
Finnish highways and roadside infrastructure can only be envied. The network is several times denser and much better developed than in the neighboring Leningrad Region. The quality of the pavement, markings and road signs is higher than in most European countries, and no worse than on our E18, leading from St. Petersburg. The navigator works great here, and if it is not there, you can buy a map at any gas station.
It is not a problem to choose a travel route, find a gas station or a place to sleep, no matter where you are in the country.
And there is something to see in Finland. This is amazingly beautiful nature, and lakes, of which there are countless numbers, and historical and cultural centers.
The first nearest large settlement on the E18 highway is Imatra. Here you can make inexpensive purchases right away. If you prefer the airport, you can take road number 13 and visit Lappeenranta. And if you don't stop anywhere, you can get to Stockholm, where this highway, in fact, ends.
Oulu can be reached by two excellent roads. However, as in Rovaniemi, which is located a couple of hundred kilometers further. But wherever you go on vacation, even to the extreme north, the road will be perfectly smooth everywhere, and oncoming drivers are emphatically polite and courteous.
Border checkpoints
You can cross the Finnish border through the following checkpoints:
- Torfyanovka - Vaalimaa.
- Lingonberry - Nuijamaa.
- Svetogorsk - Imatra.
- Vyartsilya - Niirala.
- Lotta - Raja-Jooseppi (8.00 to 22.00).
- Salla - Salla (from 7.00 to 21.00).
- Lutta - Vartius (from 8.00 to 22.00).
The most popular of them are the first three, which are open around the clock. The least busy of them is Svetlogorsk. With the exception of Vyartsilä, everyone else is working on schedule.
Features of the work of the Finnish customs
The requirements for entering the country should be reviewed before setting off. You can familiarize yourself with the rules on the Finnish customs website, which also has a Russian-language version. You must have cash with you at the rate of at least 50 euros per day or a Visa or MasterCard bank card. An amount over 10,000 euros will have to be declared.
Only goods for personal use with a total value of up to 300 euros and fuel in a tank of no more than 10 liters can be imported without duty. It is impossible to go through customs in the presence of a gas canister, weapons, cartridges and drugs. Medicines containing narcotic substances require a special permit.
Alcohol and tobacco products can be imported, but with restrictions (1 liter of strong alcohol and ten packs of cigarettes), including the age of the person who imports them (18 years old). The import of alcohol requires a special permit.
The rules for the import of animals differ from those adopted in the European Union. In particular, import is not considered commercial and no excise tax is imposed if the pets:
- are transported in number not more than five;
- not intended for resale or transfer;
- transported to participate in the exhibition.
To travel with animals, you will have to prepare in advance and fulfill a number of requirements long before crossing the border. For example, in order to travel with a dog without any problems, you will need:
- Veterinary passport with marked annual vaccinations with a shelf life of no more than a year. Rabies vaccination must be given earlier than 21 days before travel.
- Chipping an animal. Moreover, the chip needs the ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 (A) standard.
- Vaccination against fleas, ticks and worms - must be carried out 5 days before the border crossing.
- Clinical examination - no earlier than a day before entry. A doctor's certificate is required in English.
- Certified written guarantee that the carriage is not carried out for the purpose of sale or transfer.
The dog must be at least 15 weeks old. And you need to keep in mind that in this case you will have to follow through the red corridor.
You need to drive up to the checkpoint only along your own lane - for light vehicles. If the control is carried out in a special room on the street, documents can be submitted through the window without leaving the car. In other cases, the driver is obliged to go to the customs officer himself and present two copies of the declaration, one of which will be returned to him.
The first control is always the driver, and after him the passengers. The customs officer will certainly inspect the trunk.
The driver goes through passport control first. He must present documents for the car and passport. All others need only one passport. In the process of crossing the Finnish border, you may be asked to undergo fingerprinting of your index finger, you may be inquired about the purpose of the visit.
Children sleeping in the car are not allowed to be woken up, but they must be reported to the border guard. The officer will approach the disabled person himself.
It should be borne in mind that the Finnish customs will not allow a tourist to pass if his passport is badly worn out or he has been repeatedly seen committing the same violation.
Vehicle requirements
In the European Union, the technical serviceability of a car is approached with the utmost rigor. In addition, they are very picky about toning.
In Finland, any tinting on the windshield and front windows is prohibited, on the rear windows it is allowed to darken up to 30%. There should be no film on the headlights at all.
In summer, you can only use summer tires with a tread of at least 1.6 mm. In winter, tires marked M + S or similar are required. The tread height of such tires must be at least 3 mm.
The local police check the condition of the braking system directly on the roads with a mobile dynamometer. The radar detector cannot even be transported. But a child seat is required.
The headlights must be in good working order, since driving without a dipped beam is prohibited here. The car must be equipped with the following items:
- flashlight;
- fire extinguisher;
- first-aid kit of the European standard;
- reflective vest;
- emergency triangle.
All seats must be fitted with seat belts and must be worn by all passengers at all times.
The rules for transporting children in the country of Suomi are strictly observed. If the child is up to 135 cm tall or younger than three years old, he must travel in a special restraint with his back forward. If the child's height does not exceed 140 cm, it is not recommended for him to occupy the front seat. Carriage of children in arms is prohibited.
Required documents
The new Russian license in Finland is valid.
If you have an old driver's license, you will have to obtain an international license.
Going on a trip on your own, you need to prepare the following documents:
- International passport with an open visa.
- Vehicle registration certificate.
- "Green Card". It can be bought at points of sale near checkpoints in the Leningrad region or in Karelia, or at any company selling tours.
To travel by someone else's car, the driver will need a notarized power of attorney with the right to export the car abroad. Moreover, all fines must be paid (both Russian and Finnish).
Finnish traffic regulations
Strict adherence to rules that are not much different from ours is vital in Finland.In addition, fines there are significantly higher than domestic ones. The following speed limits are adopted in Suomi:
- in urban areas - 50 km / h;
- outside settlements - 80 km / h;
- on highways - 120 km / h.
In winter, on roads outside the city, the maximum speed is reduced by 20 km / h.
The number of passengers cannot exceed the number of seats. Everyone in the car must wear seat belts. In settlements, it is imperative to skip the bus leaving the stop.
While driving, the driver is not allowed to talk on the phone without a headset.
Alcohol is not prohibited, but the permissible content in the blood is only 0.5 ppm. Violators of the rules will face a very significant fine.
Finnish fines
The amount of the fine depends on the severity of the offense. Let's list the most "popular" violations among Russians and name the amount of fines for them:
- overspeeding: for 15 km / h - 140 euros (in the village), for 20 km / h - 200 euros;
- red light travel - 64 euros;
- the requirements of prohibiting signs have not been met - 100 euros;
- ignoring the STOP sign - 64 euros;
- using a mobile phone while driving - 100 euros;
- the pointer is not included when turning - 50 euros;
- overtaking at a pedestrian crossing - 72 euros;
- violation of parking rules - 40 euros;
- not wearing a belt - 70 euros;
- no pedestrian allowed - 72 euros;
- the policeman's demand to stop is ignored - 72 euros;
- driving without a license - 120 euros;
- use of a radar detector - 500 euros.
It is better to pay the fine before leaving Finland, otherwise the next visa may simply not be given. In addition, payment in Russia is complicated by a large commission. Finnish banks only charge 5%, but keep in mind that they are closed on weekends.
Parking features
It should be borne in mind that in Finland stopping and parking are prohibited in the following places:
- closer than 5 meters from pedestrian crossings, intersections and intersections of bike paths;
- in places where an obstacle to movement or evacuation is created;
- in tunnels, overpasses and sidewalks;
- in a parking lot outside the markings;
- in two rows;
- on railway and tram tracks;
- closer than 30 meters from level crossings;
- on the left side of a two-way road;
- outside settlements on roads with a sign "Main road".
In principle, everything is just like ours. If you see a solid yellow line or the words Pysakointi kielletty and Vain talon asukkaille, you cannot park the car.
Hourly parking zones are very popular here, which are indicated by a sign indicating the allowed parking time. The stop time is set on a special parking clock, which is sold at gas stations. The driver simply puts them on the dashboard, setting the arrival time, and goes about his business. However, you need to return to the car no later than the designated time.
What to look out for when traveling to Finland by car
The peak of the influx of cars to the checkpoint from the Russian side is observed at 9-10 am, in the opposite direction - closer to 6 pm. There is a good Finnish car portal with Russian language support, where you can use webcams to assess traffic jams at the border in real time and avoid queues.
In general, there are fewer queues on weekdays, as well as from mid-January to the end of February. To speed up customs clearance, don't take too many things to control. It is better to leave the animals at home too.
Once in the country, you should not litter - you will be fined for this. Upon seeing something illegal, the Finn will immediately call the police.
Running, shouting and even talking loudly is not accepted in Finland and is considered bad form.
If the Finns are invited to visit, being late is regarded as a personal insult.
Be sure to spend at least one day fishing - you will get an unforgettable summer trip to the lakes, of which there are thousands. There are a lot of fish here, but keep in mind that unauthorized fishing is prohibited. Do not take food with you - in Finland they are better and not much more expensive.
Be careful on the roads - there are a lot of wild deer that do not comply with traffic rules. A collision with such a large animal can lead to disastrous consequences.
If you decide to go in winter, do not forget about warm things, because the country is northern, and half of its territory is generally located beyond the Arctic Circle. For Catholic Christmas and New Years, it is worth visiting Helsinki. By the way, many tourists from Europe dream about this, so a place in the hotel must be booked six months before the trip. And don't forget about a real Finnish sauna!
Finally
Finland is a land with an endless series of pristine water bodies, virgin coniferous forests and amazing people with a distinctive culture. It is a paradise for water sports and fishing enthusiasts in summer and winter sports enthusiasts in winter. The country almost literally turns into the scenery of the fairy tale about the Snow Queen. And who knows, perhaps a traveler by car will be able to meet Joulupukki himself on his way.
Separately, it is worth mentioning how long it takes to travel from Moscow by car to the “Land of a Thousand Lakes”. To Helsinki, about 1100 km of the way, of which about 900 will have to move along our roads. From the border point Junzhevnikovo - Virojoki to the capital of Suomi, there are about 210 kilometers, which can really be covered in 3-4 hours, and then all the paths are open: if you want, go to Sweden or Norway, and from there, through Denmark, you can wave to Germany or the Benelux countries
