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Cars 4 Rental Information on Finland

General

Area: 338,145 sq km (130,559 sq miles).

Population: 5,206,295 (official estimate 2002).

Population Density: 15.4 per sq km.

Capital: Helsinki. Population: 559,716 (official estimate 2002).

GEOGRAPHY: Finland is situated in the far north of Europe. Bordered to the west by Sweden and the Gulf of Bothnia, to the north by Norway, to the east by the Russian Federation and to the south by the Gulf of Finland, it is the fifth-largest country in Europe. There are about 30,000 islands off the Finnish coast, mainly in the south and southwest, and inland lakes containing a further 98,000 islands. The Saimaa lake area is the largest inland water system in Europe. Of the total land area, 10 per cent is under water, and 65 per cent is forest, the country being situated almost entirely in the northern coniferous zone. In the south and southwest, the forest is mainly pine, fir and birch. In Lapland, in the far north, trees become more sparse and are mainly dwarf birch. 8 per cent of the land is cultivated.

Government: Republic. Head of State: President Tarja Halonen since 2000. Head of Government: Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen since 2003.

Language: There are two official languages: Finnish, spoken by 93.6 per cent of the population, and Swedish, spoken by 6 per cent of the population. About 1700 people speak Same (Lapp). English is taught as the first foreign language.

Religion: 85 per cent Evangelical Lutheran, 10 per cent others including Finnish Orthodox, Baptists, Methodists, Free Church, Roman Catholic, Jews and Muslims.

Time: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Saturday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Electricity: 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Continental two-pin plugs are standard.

Communications:

Telephone

Full IDD is available. Country code: 358. Outgoing international code: 990, 994 or 999. For international number enquiries and tariff information within Finland, callers should dial 020 208.

Mobile telephone

GSM 900/1800 networks available. Main operators include Sonera (website: www.sonera.fi) and OY Radiolinja AB (website: www.radiolinja.fi).

Fax

Many hotels and businesses have fax facilities. Also available in post offices in Helsinki.

Internet

ISPs include Sonera (website: www.sonera.fi) and Kolumbus (website: www.elisa.net). Public access is available in Internet cafes. There are also many Internet booths in Helsinki.

Telegram

These can be left with the nearest post office or hotel desk.

Post

Letters and postcards sent by airmail usually take about three days to reach destinations within Europe. Stamps are available from post offices, book and paper shops, stations and hotels. Visitors can have mail sent to them via Poste Restante, Central Post Office, Mannerheimintie 11, 00100 Helsinki, which is open Mon-Fri 0800-2100, Sat 0900-1800, Sun 1100-2100. Generally, post offices are open Mon-Fri 0900-1700, closed Saturday. During winter many town offices are open 0900-1800.

Press

There are over 200 daily newspapers, with the most popular including: Aamulehti, Helsingin Sanomat, Ilta-Sanomat and Iltalehti. Apu and Seura are weekly illustrated news magazines and are two of several periodicals. Kauppalehti is one of the leading business newspapers. There are no English-language newspapers published in Finland, but most UK and US daily newspapers are available as well as international papers in many different languages.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Single European currency (Euro): The Euro is now the official currency of 12 EU member states (including Finland). The first Euro coins and notes were introduced in January 2002; the Finnish Markka was still in circulation until 28 February 2002, when it was completely replaced by the Euro. Euro (€) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of €500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of €2 and 1, and 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents.

Currency exchange: Foreign currency and travellers cheques can be exchanged in banks and at bureaux de change at ports, stations and airports.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa enjoy wide acceptance as well as Eurocheque cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Up-to-date information is available in Helsinki from American Express (tel: (9) 6132 0400) or Diners Club (tel: (9) 693 991).

Travellers cheques: Travellers cheques are also accepted in banks and some shops. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Currency restrictions: Unrestricted import of local and foreign currency. Export of local and foreign currency is limited to the amount imported for non-residents, and to €1,682 or equivalent for residents.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Euro against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May '04 Aug '04
£1.00= 1.46 1.46 1.50 1.49
$1.00= 0.87 0.80 0.84 0.81

Banking hours: Mon-Fri 0915-1615 (regional variations may occur).

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No No
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio No N/A
Malaria No N/A

Other risks: Hepatitis A occurs. Cases of diphtheria have been reported. Campers and trekkers should take precautions against tick bites and consider immunisation against tick-borne encephalitis.

Health care: There is a reciprocal health agreement with the UK. For UK nationals on a temporary visit, an E111 form is not required. Production of a British passport is sufficient to obtain medical treatment. Other EU nationals generally need to present an E111 form or the new European Health Insurance Card that is set to replace the paper E111, E119 and E128 cards. There are charges for visits to the doctor, hospital and dental treatment, and prescribed medicines. Some of these charges may, however, be partially refunded by the Finnish Sickness Insurance Department (Kansanelkelaitoksen Paikallistoimisto – KELA; tel: (20) 434 5058; website: www.kela.fi). On production of the required documents, visitors seeking treatment will generally be charged approximately €11-22 for a visit to a doctor at a municipal health centre (outside regular hours, patients may be liable to an additional €15 charge), €22 for a visit to a hospital outpatient clinic and €26 per day for hospitalisation (charges may vary depending on the municipality). Those receiving private treatment should keep the receipt and submit it to the local KELA office as they may be entitled to a partial refund. For emergency dental treatment, visitors should contact the dentist on duty at the municipal health centre. A standard fee will be charged. Prescribed drugs may be obtained from any pharmacy and are charged at the full amount, though costs may be partially claimed back from the local KELA. For most prescribed medicines, a 50 per cent refund is available on amounts exceeding around €8. For emergencies, dial 112. For general information about health care and doctors who make house calls, dial 10023 (24-hour helpline; obtainable in Finland only). The pharmacy at Mannerheimintie 96, Helsinki (tel: 0203 20200 or 4178 0317) is open 24 hours.

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Climate

Temperate climate, but with considerable temperature variations (see below). Summer is warm with relatively mild weather in spring and autumn. Winter, which lasts from November to mid March, is very cold. In the north (see the chart for Sodankyla), the snow cover lasts from mid-October until mid-May, but, in the brief Arctic summer, there may be up to 16 hours of sunshine a day. Rainfall is distributed throughout the year with snow in winter, but the low humidity often has the effect of making it seem warmer than the temperature would indicate (even in Lapland the temperature can rise to over 30C). During warm weather, gnats and mosquitos can be a hazard, particularly in the north of the country. Bring a good supply of insect repellant. The Twilight season lasts for two months in the north during winter.

Required clothing: Light- to mediumweights in warmer months. Medium- to heavyweights in winter, with particularly warm clothing needed for the Arctic north. Waterproofing is essential throughout the year.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes No No
Australian Yes No No
Canadian Yes No No
USA Yes No No
OtherEU 1 No No
Japanese Yes No No

Note: Finland is a signatory to the 1995 Schengen Agreement. For further details about passport/visa regulations within the Schengen area, see the introductory section How to Use this Guide.

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for at least three to six months required by all except the following provided they hold a valid national ID card:
(a) 1. nationals of EU countries (except Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and the UK), including the French Overseas Departments of Guadeloupe, Martinique and Runion but excluding Greenland and the Faroe Islands;
(b) nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland.

VISAS: Required by all except the following for a period of up to three months:
(a) nationals listed in the chart and under passport exemptions above;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Israel, Korea (Rep), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, Singapore, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela. Visas are required for stays exceeding three months and by all who wish to work during their stay except nationals of Denmark, Iceland, Norway and Sweden;
(c) holders of a UN or EU laissez-passer.

Types of visa and cost: A uniform type of visa, the Schengen visa, is issued for tourist, business and private visits. All visas are £24 (€35), regardless of duration of stay or whether single-, double- or multiple-entry. Visa fees are payable in cash (exact money only) or postal order only. Visa fees are non-refundable and payable on submission of the visa application. Note that visa fees may vary with the rate of exchange.

Note: Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse’s passport and the original marriage certificate/children’s full birth certificate is produced), and nationals of some other countries, receive their visas free of charge (enquire at Embassy for details).

Validity: Transit visas are valid for up to five days. Single-entry and double-entry visas are valid for up to 90 days. Multiple-entry visas are valid for up to one year. Applications for renewal or extension should be made to the Embassy or Authorities in Finland.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see Contact Addresses. Visas must be applied for in person at Embassy of Schengen country visited. If visiting more than one Schengen country, apply to the Embassy of the main destination or to the Embassy of the country entered first (if there is no main destination).

Application requirements: (a) One completed, signed application form. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Passport valid for at least three months from the date of return. (d) Re-entry permit into the UK valid for at least three months (for applicants applying at the Finish Embassy in London). (e) Valid travel insurance other than E111. (f) Hotel reservation or original invitation from either a family or company in Finland. (g) Reservation of travel tickets (possibly original return tickets also) and proof of funds. (h) Fee (non-refundable; payable in advance in cash or by postal order only). Business: (a)-(h) and, (i) Letter of invitation from the Finnish company confirming length and purpose of stay and a letter from current employer. For minors under 18 years, letter from college/university and written permission from both parents, plus copy of parents’ passports is needed.

Note: All documents should be submitted both in their original form and with photocopy attached.

Working days required: Up to two weeks, although sometimes longer.

Temporary residence and work: Apply to Finnish Embassy. Work permits and Residence permits should be arranged well in advance. EU nationals are allowed to live and work in Finland without visas or permits for up to three months; for periods exceeding three months, they can obtain a residence permit (a work permit is not required) from the local police station. Contact the Directorate of Immigration for more information (website: www.uvi.fi).

Note: Those wishing to visit the CIS from Finland are advised to obtain their visa in their country of origin; applications made in Helsinki take at least eight working days.

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