Finland, officially known as the Republic of Finland, is located in Scandinavia. Finland was a part of Sweden until 1809. The country’s population according to the World Bank is estimated around 5.5 million.

Helsinki is the capital city of Finland with around 1 million residents in and around the region.

Finland is home to many shipping ports. The largest shipping port is the Port of Helsinki, followed by medium-sized ports which include the Port of Rauma, the Port of Hamina, the Port of Jakobstad, and the Port of Kokkola. The Port of Helsinki specializes in cargo traffic, container shipping, trucks and trailers.

Cargo Shipping to Finland – Duty Free Shipping and Duty Fees and VAT

Before shipping duty free items to Finland it is important that you have lived for at least one year outside of the country, and that you intend to settle in Finland. In addition, the goods that you ship to Finland duty free may not be for commercial use.

You are allowed to ship used household goods and personal items to Finland duty-free, in appropriate quantities. It is important that the goods you are shipping to Finland have been owned and used by you abroad, and are not re-sold in Finland for at least six months.

Shipping to Finland: Dutiable and Restricted Items

When you ship cargo to Finland, you may have to pay duty fees on certain items. Please make sure that all dutiable items that you ship to Finland are stowed for easy access for customs inspections. For example, new items less than six months old are dutiable. It is advisable to have invoices on any new items.

In addition, food and fabrics, precious metal objects, and business equipment may all be subject to certain fees and regulations.

If you are interested in bring a firearm and/or ammunition to Finland, it will be held by the Finnish Customs office until you receive a valid Firearm Certificate.

There are restrictions on certain items when shipping to Finland, including collectors’ items that are unusable and electronic devices like walkie-talkies and radios.

If you want to ship plants to Finland or vegetable products, you will need a Phytosanitary Certificate. If you do not have this important document, your plants and vegetables will stay in Finnish custody for inspection and you will be billed for any charges. There are also restrictions on certain types of feathers, furs, tusks, skins, etc. of animals that fall under regulations pertaining to protected species.

Please note, if you are interested in shipping tobacco products or alcohol to Finland, you will likely have to pay high duty fees.

Documentation Required When Shipping to Finland

When you are shipping to Finland, there is some important documentation required. Some of the documents you need before you can ship to Finland include the following:

1. Passport (copy)
2. Proof of Employment
3. Customs Declaration – This is a document that typically provides information about the nature of the goods you are shipping, the value of your cargo, and the final destination.
4. Inventory – of the items you are shipping. This can be written in English, Finnish, German, or Swedish. Make sure you document the exact number of boxes you are shipping, with a detailed list of the contents in each carton. Please make note of dutiable items like alcohol.
5. Owner’s Declaration – stating that the goods you are shipping belong to you, have been used abroad, and are for your continued use in Finland.

Please note that you should plan to be in Finland at the time of the customs clearance process. An experienced international shipping company can give you additional information about the customs process for shipping to Finland.

Prohibited Items When Shipping to Finland

Certain items are restricted when shipping to Finland and others are prohibited. Here are some of the restricted items if you are shipping to Finland:

When shipping to Finland, please note that you are not allowed to bring certain items. For example, the following items are not allowed to be transported into Finland:

• Explosives, fireworks, clasp-knives, and other dangerous sharp-edged weapons
• Automatic weapons of any kind
• Narcotics and drugs
• Pornographic materials
• Products made from animals listed under protected species regulations

Vehicle Shipping to Finland

If you want to ship a car or motorcycle to Finland, you must plan to go to the customs office in Finland to clear your vehicle. Any vehicle entering Finland must be in compliance with the U.S. or European vehicle exhaust regulations.

You are allowed to import one vehicle duty-free if you have owned and been using it abroad for at least six months prior to shipment. You must also qualify for duty-free import of household goods.

Keep in mind that the duty free value for a vehicle entering Finland is up to $34,000. If the car you are shipping to Finland is valued at more than this amount, you will be required to pay duty fees on the excess value. In addition, the Finnish Customs Department determines the value of vehicles.

Also, for duty free vehicle shipping to Finland, you are not allowed to sell your vehicle or allow others use of your vehicle for two years. If you plan to do either of these things, you must submit full payment of all duties and taxes.

Finally, if you are interested in shipping a new vehicle or if your vehicle does not qualify for exemption for some other reason, vehicle import taxes to ship a car to Finland will be between 50% and 60% of the retail price of a similar new vehicle in Finland. Calculated duties will also be based on the types of accessories and equipment your vehicle includes.

Before shipping a car to Finland, please make sure you have the following original documents in order:

• Purchase-deed and receipts of payment
• Vehicle registration documents
• Employment Certificate proving your vehicle was purchased with earnings from abroad
• Passport
• Finnish car insurance policy
• Foreign car insurance policy
• Driver’s License

Moving to Finland and Bringing a Pet

If you are moving to Finland or returning to the country after having been away for a while, you may be interested in bringing a pet with you. You can bring a dog or cat with you to Finland duty free as long as you follow the rules and regulations and provide proof of ownership.

If you bring a dog or cat to Finland, the animal must have a valid vaccination against rabies. Your pet may also be subject to a minimum of three months quarantine and a veterinary examination.

Make sure you have a Health Certificate for your animal and that you complete an Import Permit from the Finish Ministry of Agriculture.

Choosing the right international sea shipping agency can help make your experience shipping to Finland or to some other international destination much easier.