Money and duty free for Finland

Currency and Money

Currency information

Euro (EUR; symbol €) = 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 and 5 cents. Note that 1 and 2 cent coins, while valid in other eurozone countries, are not used in Finland.

Credit cards

All major international credit and debit cards are widely accepted.

ATM

ATMs are found in every town and even in small villages.

Travellers cheques

Traveller's cheques can be exchanged at banks or exchange offices (at a lower commission), and can be used to pay for goods in some tourist-oriented shops. Travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Banking hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1630 (regional variations may occur).

Currency restrictions

There are no restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. However, amounts exceeding €10,000 or equivalent must be declared if travelling from or to a country outside the European Union.

Currency exchange

Foreign currency and traveller's cheques can be exchanged in banks, post offices and at bureaux de change in major cities, ports and airports. Banks tend to charge higher commissions. As there are direct train and bus links from Helsinki to St Petersburg in Russia, it is easy to exchange Euros for Russian Roubles.

Finland duty free

Overview

Finland is within the European Union. If you are travelling from outside of the EU, you are entitled to buy fragrance, skincare, cosmetics, Champagne, wine, selected spirits, fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs - all at tax-free equivalent prices.

Finland's duty-free allowance for travellers from EU countries:

If you are over 17 years old, you are free to buy and take goods with you when travelling between EU countries, provided that you have paid tax on these goods and they are for your own use (not for sale). However, if you bring in more than the following, customs officials are likely to question you:

• 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of smoking tobacco and 1kg of chewing/nasal/oral tobacco (snus).
• 90L of still wine (60L of sparkling wine).
• 110L of beer.
• 10L of alcoholic beverages stronger than 22% or 20L of fortified or sparkling wine or other liqueurs up to 22%.

Beware that each EU country has different rules for travellers under 17 years old. Please check before you travel.

Finland's duty-free allowance for travellers from non-EU countries:

If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into Finland by travellers with a minimum age of 17 years without incurring customs duty:

• 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (max. 3 grams each) or 50 cigars or 250g of smoking tobacco and 1kg of chewing/nasal/oral tobacco (snus). You may combine any of these tobacco products provided the limit is not exceeded.
• 4L of wine and 16L of beer and 1L of spirits over 22% volume or 2L of alcoholic beverages less than 22% volume or a proportional mix of these products provided the limit is not exceeded. If over 20 years old you may import all of the above; those aged over 18 years may only import alcoholic beverages with max. 22%).
• Other goods up to the value of €430 for air and sea travellers and €300 for other travellers.

Banned Imports

Electric-shock batons, radar detectors, knuckle dusters, stiletto blades, endangered plant species (unless licensed in certain cases), pirated goods and certain plants from Russia (e.g. apple and pear trees).

Restricted imports include narcotics, firearms and ammunition, laser pointers, pets, pot plants and nursery plants, and endangered animal species.

You also cannot bring meat, fish or dairy products from outside the EU to Finland.

Banned Exports

Endangered plant species.