Border management

The duty of the Finnish Border Guard is to ensure effective border management.

This is achieved by controlling the external border and carrying out border checks at international border crossing points. Border checks are checks on persons crossing or intending to cross the border, including their means of transport and objects in their possession. During border checks, persons may also be interviewed. Checks are usually performed at border crossing points but they may also be performed in vehicles used for public transport or in other places.

In land border areas, the focus of border control is on southeastern Finland and, in maritime areas, on the Gulf of Finland. Effective border management ensures the smooth flow of cross-border traffic and internal security across the country.

Effective border management requires that particular attention be paid to maritime security and safety, crime combating, international cooperation and military defence. Effective border management helps to prevent and combat irregular immigration, trafficking in human beings and human smuggling.

Combating crime

One of the key duties of the Border Guard is to combat cross-border crime. The Border Guard has the right to conduct a pre-trial investigation in cases where there is reason to suspect that an offence has been committed involving human smuggling, human trafficking or facilitation of illegal entry, for example. Moreover, the Border Guard investigates border offences, forgeries, and offences related to drinking and driving, drinking and boating, fishing, hunting and nature conservation.

International cooperation

It is essential for Finland's border security that we maintain good relations with the border guard authorities of all our neighbouring countries. International cooperation is constantly increasing, and it is important to stay in close contact with the border guard authorities of the other EU Member States and Schengen countries as well as the countries applying for EU membership.

Finnish and Russian border delegates meet regularly. The Finnish Border Guard cooperates with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board and the Swedish Coast Guard in the field of maritime surveillance. The Finnish Border Guard has also supported for several years now the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board, the Latvian Border Guard and the Lithuanian Border Guard Service by training their personnel and giving them equipment.