Traveler Toolkit
Finland Country Security Report
Finland Country Security Report
Published: May 28, 2026
This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Finland Travel Advisory and Finland Country Information Page.
Embassy & Consulate Contact Information
U.S. Embassy Helsinki
Itäinen Puistotie 14, 00104 Helsinki.
Tel: +358-9-6162-50.
Hours: Monday-Friday, 0830 - 1700.
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(358) 9-616-250 and select 0
OSAC Country Chapter(s)
The Finland Country Chapter is active, meeting twice per year. For more information on the times and locations of OSAC Country Council meetings, call +358-9-6162-50.
Contact OSAC’s Europe team with any questions.
Finland Travel Advisory
The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should exercise normal precautions in Finland.
Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.
Crime
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Helsinki as being a LOW-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Finland.
The crime emergency line in Finland is 112. Review the U.S. Department of State’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.
Crime: General Threat
According to data from 2025 (most recent), recorded crimes increased by 6.26% from 2025. Homicides in 2025 saw a marginal decrease from 2025, with 84 murders reported. Assaults, attempted murder rose by 8.34%, and sexual crimes rose by 8.77%, reaching a record high, and shoplifting and other petty crimes rose roughly 20%. Despite this increase, Finland remains one of the safest countries in the world. Finnish police, especially those in Helsinki, have one of the world’s highest resolution rate, meaning crimes are rarely unsolved.
Petty crimes such as pickpocketing do occur in crowded areas and during the summer tourist season. Burglaries are common and are committed all year round. Police investigate burglaries as aggravated theft. Professional burglaries conducted by foreign criminal groups have become increasingly common over the last few years.
According to police statistics, the risk and likelihood of burglary is at its greatest on Fridays between 1200 and 1500. Even though most burglaries happen in the daytime, a quarter of burglaries occur overnight, even when the residents are at home. Burglars often watch houses to determine when the residents are away getting groceries, at work, or on holiday. Bicycle theft is the most common type of theft. The number of car burglaries has declined since the early 2000s, and there has been a significant decrease in business burglaries.
Organized Crime: The number of organized crime groups in Finland has increased over the last ten years. The National Bureau of Investigation estimates that there are 75 organized crime groups in Finland, with 900-1,000 members. In Finland, these groups are mainly of domestic origin, although there is a significant rise in collaboration with groups based in Sweden, Russia and the Baltic states. Organized criminal groups make increasingly significant use of information networks in their criminal activities, particularly internationally. These activities take the form of various frauds or scams aimed at coercing private individuals or people within companies to pay sums of money. Even smaller sums can add up to large criminal proceeds due to the volume made possible by networks. Criminal organizations are taking advantage of online platforms and artificial intelligence to widen the victim base while increasing anonymity. This follows the recent trend throughout Europe of recruiting younger and more vulnerable victims to commit acts of violence and extortion for crytpo currency. Motorcycle gangs have a limited presence in Finland, but expatriates and tourists are unlikely to encounter them.
In addition to traditional crime prevention, the police also combat organized crime by means of
administrative crime prevention. The goal of administrative crime prevention is to mitigate the damage done by crime preemptively through close cooperation with other authorities and public-sector actors.
Crime: Areas of Concern
Theft offenses are more common in urban environments. In Uusimaa, the prevalence of theft offenses is many times higher than in the rest of Finland.
Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, Taking Credit, and Our Two Cents: Petty Crime Basics and How to Minimize the Risk.
Kidnapping Threat
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Finland.
Incidents of kidnapping in Finland are extremely rare.
Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips.
Terrorism
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Helsinki as being a LOW-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Finland.
European governments are taking action to guard against terrorist attacks; however, all European countries remain potentially vulnerable to attacks from transnational terrorist organizations. Terrorists worldwide are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles – to more effectively target crowds. They may target high-profile public events (sporting contests, political rallies, demonstrations, holiday events, celebratory gatherings, etc.); hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists; places of worship; schools; parks; tourism infrastructure; shopping malls and markets; and public transportation systems (including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights).
The terrorism threat level in Finland throughout 2025 and into 2026 remains at "Elevated" (Level 3 on a five-point scale). According to the Finnish Security and Intelligence Service (SUPO), the primary threat persists from lone operators or small groups motivated by radical Islamist or far-right ideologies, with a growing concern regarding the radicalization of minors in online environments.
Significant terrorism support operations found in Finland include financing and dissemination of ideology. CT targets have significant links to foreign terrorist operators and networks. Some people have moved to Finland from conflict zones after participating in the operations of armed groups and otherwise promoting such activities in those zones.
In early 2025, the Finnish National Criminal Police concluded a high-profile investigation into two women who returned from a terrorist training camp in Syria. They are suspected of aggravated human trafficking involving their own children, marking a significant legal precedent for IS returnees in Finland. Authorities continued monitoring roughly 390 counter-terrorism targets, many with links to international networks.
The threat of far-right terrorism has grown, with an increase in terrorist attack plans seeking to maximize casualties. Supporters and sympathizers of far-right terrorist activity have also been identified in Finland. International far-right group communications over social-media platforms reinforce the transnational character of the extreme right.
Political Violence and Civil Unrest
The U.S. Department of State has assessed Helsinki as being a LOW-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Finland. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.
Elections/Political Stability
The Finnish system has produced a level of political stability and economic continuity not seen in most countries. Finland is one of the most politically stable countries. The main reasoning is Finland's well established and functioning state bureaucracy, an effective rule of law, and various personal freedoms and civil liberties.
Finland’s electoral laws are robust and generally well implemented by the relevant authorities. In 2024, The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) expressed a high level of confidence in all aspects of Finland’s electoral process and did not see the need for election monitoring for Finland’s 2024 presidential election.
The president, whose role is mainly ceremonial, is directly elected for up to two six-year terms. In 2024, former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb, of the center-right National Coalition Party (KOK), won the presidential term, defeating several challengers. Stubb is pro-EU, a strong supporter of Ukraine, and has taken a tough stance towards Russia. The election was broadly considered free and fair.
Finland’s next Parliamentary elections are scheduled for April 2027.
Protests & Demonstrations
The biggest groups organizing demonstrations are far-left and far-right groups, and climate activist groups. Protestors in Finland must notify the police at least six hours ahead of any planned demonstration. There are approximately 300 protests a year in Helsinki; most protests are small, peaceful, and unrelated to U.S. interests.
Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.
Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment
Anti-U.S. sentiment remains very low. Certain small segments of the population tend to hold marginally less favorable views of the United States.
Law Enforcement
Finland has ten regional police forces and one metropolitan police force (Helsinki) under the command of the National Police Board; together, they maintain internal security. Finnish Customs and the Border Guard have law enforcement responsibilities related to their fields of responsibility. The Border Guard has additional law enforcement powers to maintain public order when it operates in joint patrols and under police command.
The national police and Border Guard report to the Interior Ministry, which is responsible for police oversight, law enforcement, and maintenance of order. The National Bureau of Investigation serves as Finland’s sole investigative agency for major crimes and organized crime. SUPO and its police officer staff serves as Finland’s sole civilian intelligence and national security agency.
The Police University College (POLAMK) is Finland’s only police educational institute – a center of expertise in police education, research, and development. POLAMK has a special position in the field of higher education as a university of applied sciences and a police unit, and operates under the Interior Ministry.
All new police officers graduate from the Police University College in Tampere. POLAMK is also responsible for further and continuing education for the police. Additionally, POLAMK also offers education to other groups, such as stakeholders and the private security sector.
The defense forces are responsible for safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity and providing military training. The defense forces also have some domestic security responsibilities, such as assisting the national police in maintaining law and order in crises. The Defense Ministry oversees the defense forces.
Police Response
Finland has one of the most professional police forces in the world. Most Finnish police speak English. Due to the high effectiveness level of individual officers, Finland maintains the lowest police-per-capita ratio in the industrialized world. Finnish law allows the police to demand identification on the spot.
In Finland, emergency service dispatching has been centralized to the joint Emergency Response Centers of the police, rescue services, and social and health care services. The Emergency Response Centre receives all calls for assistance in case of emergencies and dispatches the necessary authorities.
Armed Conflict
The war in Ukraine prompted Finland to end decades of non-alignment by joining NATO in 2023. Sharing an 830-mile border with Russia, Finland has closed most crossings and begun building a high-tech border fence to counter hybrid threats. To deter Russian aggression, the Finnish Air Force has increased surveillance and "Alpha" scrambles to intercept frequent airspace incursions by Russian military jets over the Baltic Sea. Due to recent drone incursions in 2026, The Finnish Defense Forces reminds all aviators to check pre-flight for the airspace restrictions concerning prohibited and restricted areas and to comply with regulations issued by the authorities. The Finnish Border Guard has also coordinated Counter-UAS (CUAS) capabilities with the Finnish Defense Force. Finnish emergency services are developing enhanced warning applications for mobile devices to better prepare the populace for these incursions.
Economically, Finland has fully decoupled from Russian energy, instead investing heavily in domestic defense spending and providing billions in military aid to Ukraine.
Transportation Security
Road Safety
The Finnish Road network is safe, comprehensive, and well maintained, despite severe winters. Winter driving in Finland can be hazardous. Daylight hours are very short, and drivers should be comfortable driving in darkness. Icy road conditions are common. Your vehicle must have snow tires (or M/S rated) from December through February. Engine heaters are strongly recommended. When driving at night, drivers must be alert to moose wandering onto major roadways. Striking a moose can severely damage a vehicle and fatally injure its occupants.
Traffic approaching from the right has priority, even if entering a primary roadway from a secondary one. Stop signs are rare. It is common practice in Finland, including in large cities, to turn off traffic lights at certain intersections in the early morning hours. Road signs use standard international symbols and Finnish text. Many urban streets have traffic lanes reserved for public transportation only. Vehicles must always use headlights.
Finnish laws governing driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) are extremely strict; driving with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) level at or above 0.05% is illegal.
A valid U.S. driver’s license is legal for driving in Finland, but drivers must be at least 18 years of age.
Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.
Public Transportation Safety
Public transportation in Finland is of good quality, and is the recommended method of travel. Passenger trains, intercity buses, and air flights provide regular service over longer distances. Public transportation in urban centers includes buses, subways, trams, suburban trains, and taxis. Taxis are more expensive than in major U.S. cities. Rates vary widely depending on the company providing the transportation service. Most residents use public transport in Helsinki, as parking is expensive and can be hard to find.
Aviation Concerns
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of Finland’s Civil Aviation Authority as compliant with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of Finland’s air carrier operations.
Review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.
Maritime Security
Mariners must adhere to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code in harbors within the European Union. The code has established security areas in the harbors; access to and movement within these areas is permitted only with an access permit.
The Port of Helsinki’s harbor operations are steered by international and national level ISPS code that requires all those moving around in the harbor area, except for the open harbor area and public spaces, to have a permit and be monitored. In addition to ISPS code, the port operates according to certified quality, environmental, and occupational safety systems.
Travelers with Special Considerations
For specific traveler concerns in Finland, review the local laws and circumstances on the U.S. Department of State’s Country Information Page.
Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Finland.
If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately.
Finland’s electoral laws are robust and generally well implemented by the relevant authorities. Laws permitting access to public information are generally well enforced, though there are some limits on the disclosure of information related to national security, foreign affairs, trade secrets, and criminal investigations. All citizens, including government officials, are required by law to make public asset declarations, though there are no penalties for noncompliance. While companies perceive corruption risks and favoritism within public procurement as low, informal networks and personal associations, notably at the local level, are still believed to hold influence over procurement decisions.
Corruption is not a significant problem in Finland and is generally punished under relevant laws when discovered.
Health Concerns
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Health “H” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Finland. Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) country-specific Travel Health Notices for current health issues that impact traveler health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters.
The medical emergency line in Finland is 112. Finland’s medical system is one of the best in the world. A combination of public and private providers offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art treatment in all areas of medicine.
Finland has a well-developed air ambulance system for acute trauma cases and inter-hospital transfers throughout the country. Regardless, outside of a major metropolitan center, it may take more time for first responders and medical professionals to stabilize a patient and provide life-saving assistance.
Local medical centers, clinics, or first-aid stations are located at hospitals and will provide a full range of services to tourist and temporary visitors. For anyone who does not pay Finnish income tax, however, the public and private medical systems alike require payment at the time of service.
Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Review the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on health insurance overseas.
See OSAC’s Guide to U.S. Government-Assisted Evacuations; review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad; and visit the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on Your Health Abroad for more information.
Vaccinations
Vaccination coverage in Finland is high. Thanks to vaccinations, many diseases and their secondary diseases and complications have become very rare, or have been eradicated in Finland.
Review the CDC Travelers’ Health site for country-specific vaccine recommendations.
Issues Traveling with Medications
You may bring a 90-day supply of most personal prescription drugs with a formal doctor’s note. Prescribed narcotics may only be brought into Finland for your personal use for a maximum of 14 days, and must be accompanied by a medical certificate stating why you need them. Finnish customs regulations prohibit you from receiving medication shipments from abroad. Local physicians may be reluctant to prescribe equivalent quantities or dosages.
Review OSAC’s report, Traveling with Medication.
Water Quality
In Finland, drinking water supplied by water supply plants is of very good quality and is safe to use. Legislation on the quality of drinking water requires that drinking water must not contain any organisms or substances that may cause health hazards to the user.
Review OSAC’s report, I’m Drinking What in My Water?
Natural Disasters
The U.S. Department of State has not included a Natural Disaster “N” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Finland.
Finland experiences extreme cold. Travelers should prepare for the cold with specialized clothing and transportation protocols during appropriate seasons.
Cybersecurity
While the number of cybersecurity incidents remains relatively low by global standards, Finnish statistics show high yearly growth rates, especially in information systems interference, hacking, and data protection crimes. Problems have increased particularly in the construction, transportation, and logistics sectors.
Finnish and EU privacy laws are strict, although a great deal of personal information remains available via government sources, including address, telephone, and vehicle information. In 2018, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect; an updated Finnish Data Protection Act went into effect in 2019.
Finns have lost millions of Euros due to banking fraud. Distinguishing fake banking websites from genuine ones may be difficult, and fake websites are a common vector for fraud. It is typical of these offenses that criminals gain access to victims' online banking details and then unlawfully transfer money from their accounts. Criminals have targeted several banks and their customers in Finland.
In April 2025, during Finland’s regional and municipal elections, the pro-Russian hacktivist group NoName057(16) launched a massive Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) campaign. The attack targeted nearly all major Finnish parliamentary party websites and critical election platforms like vaalit.fi. The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation is a highly trained law enforcement agency that dedicates a large portion of their portfolio managing criminal data breaches and denial of service attacks.
Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling Abroad with Mobile Devices, and Guide for Overseas Satellite Phone Usage.
Counterintelligence Issues
Authorities continue to express concern over the threat posed by economic espionage facilitated by cyberattacks. In 2017, Helsinki opened The European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats (Hybrid CoE) to coordinate a response against political, diplomatic, economic, cyber, and disinformation measures. Finland also operates a National Cyber Security Center (NCSC-FI), which operates under the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency.
Finland is a target of systematic cyber espionage operations by the same countries that show intelligence-related interest towards Finland in general—Russia and the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Cyber espionage is currently more active than usual and identifying security anomalies is now more challenging than in normal circumstances. SUPO’s 2025 and 2026 National Security Overviews noted that these operations are increasingly integrated with political influence campaigns aimed at monitoring Finland's NATO-related decision-making and stealing intellectual property from high-tech firms.
In May 2025, Finnish intelligence identified Iran as a growing espionage threat, warning that Tehran may use organized crime groups as proxies for surveillance or sabotage operations within Finland, mirroring similar alerts in Sweden.
Import/Export Restrictions
The export of some goods is restricted, or it has been fully prohibited by either Community or national regulations. Restrictions apply for example to exports of weapons, weapon supplies, dual use products, defense materiel, cultural objects, and ozone-depleting materials.
In Finland, Customs is the supervising authority in matters concerning export restrictions. However, other authorities administer restrictions and grant export permits. For example, the Police Board is responsible for weapons and weapon supplies, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs sees to dual use products, and the National Board of Antiquities handles cultural objects.
The Customs restrictions manual will give you more information on valid export restrictions. The Customs restriction manual features all the statutory import, export and transit restrictions in which Customs is designated as the supervising authority. The restriction manual consists of separate sections that are grouped according to goods that are subject to restrictions. In each section, the restrictions involved with goods are clarified regarding different customs procedures. A license must be acquired prior to the goods arriving in Finland. Restrictions can be found in the Customs restrictions manual.
Some goods are subject to import restrictions and import prohibitions, and the import of restricted goods often requires a license, even when importing from within the EU. These goods include: Medicines; Live animals; Plants; and animal-based foodstuffs; Pleasure craft, personal watercraft and outboard engines; Endangered animals and plants and goods made out of them; and Firearms and ammunition.
There are no restrictions on the import and use of satellite phones or similar devices.
A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.
Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.