Customs rules in Finland

There are different customs rules for removal goods and other goods brought to Finland from EU countries than for goods from non-EU countries.

Removal goods from another EU country

If you move to Finland from the EU customs and fiscal territory, you do not need to make customs declarations to Finnish Customs. However, be aware of any import restrictions. Alcohol and tobacco products are also exceptions. 

If you move to Finland from the EU customs territory but outside the fiscal territory, you must clear your removal goods through customs. Under certain conditions, you can bring your removal goods into Finland free of VAT. Find out more on the Finnish Customs website.

If you are bringing a car or other vehicle into Finland as removal goods, read more on the Finnish Customs website.

If you move to Finland from outside the EU's customs and tax territory, you must clear your removal goods through customs.

You can usually import removal goods into Finland duty-free and VAT-free if you have been permanently resident outside the EU for at least 12 consecutive months without interruption and you have been in possession of and used the goods for at least 6 months. Your removal goods must be cleared through customs when they arrive in Finland.

If your normal place of residence has been outside the EU for less than 12 months, goods that you bought in Finland as taxable goods and took with you when you moved outside the EU’s customs and tax territory may, under certain conditions, be treated as 'returned goods', in which case no customs duty or import VAT is payable. Goods bought abroad are cleared through customs in the normal way. Read more on the Finnish Customs website.

If you are bringing a car or other vehicle into Finland as removal goods, read more on the Finnish Customs website.

If you have been travelling outside the EU’s customs and fiscal territory, you can bring purchases in your personal luggage free of tax and duty up to a certain maximum amount. 

If you have been travelling within the EU’s customs and fiscal territory, you can bring in goods from your travels without value limits. Please note, however, that there are restrictions for certain products. Find out more on the Finnish Customs website.

Pets, alcohol, tobacco, snuff, electronic cigarettes and nicotine liquids, medicines, foodstuffs, firearms and dangerous objects as well as vehicles are subject to special import rules. Read more on the Finnish Customs website.

If you order a parcel and it comes from within the EU, you do not have to pay VAT or customs duties on it.

If a parcel comes from within the EU but from outside the EU fiscal territory, it must be cleared through customs and VAT must be paid. However, no customs duty is payable. 

If your order is delivered to you from outside the EU, you will have to clear it through customs and pay VAT on it, and if the price of your purchases, excluding transport costs, is more than €150, you will also have to pay customs duty. 

For some products, such as alcohol, excise duty must be paid regardless of which country the order is sent from. Find out more on the Finnish Customs website.

If you are receiving a gift from within the EU, you do not have to pay VAT or customs duties on it. 

If your gift comes from within the EU but from outside the EU’s tax territory, it must be cleared through customs. You will have to pay VAT if the value of the gift is over €45, but you do not have to pay customs duty. 

If you are receiving a gift from outside the EU, you must clear it through customs. You must also pay VAT on it if the value of the gift is over €45 and customs duty if the value of the gift excluding transport costs is over €150. 

Alcohol and some tobacco products are subject to excise duty regardless of which country the gift is sent from. Find out more on the Finnish Customs website.

Where can I get more information?