As the introduction of vaccinations in Finland progresses and the autumn break approaches, the authorities have issued a reminder to people planning a trip abroad to ensure that they have all the right documents in place according to the requirements of the destination country.
This usually means proof that the holder has received two doses of Covid, has recovered from the virus or has recently had a negative test result.
In Finland, adults can use the EU’s digital vaccine "passport" health portal My Position, and can then choose whether to print the certificate or display it on the mobile device screen.
Anyone who is unable to use the online service can request a printed vaccination certificate from their local health care provider.
However, a paper published at the time of vaccination is not a sufficient document to cross international borders because it does not contain personal information.
Use of the EU digital Covid certificate:
- Log in to My Position using authentication, such as an online banking ID.
- From the menu on the left, select the Covid-19 certificate (or the Corona certificate in Finnish). The My Kanta home page also has a direct link to the certificate section.
- Click the pdf link to open the Covid-19 certificate. It should open in a new tab.
- Save the pdf file to your phone or other device. You can also print a paper version of the certificate.
Children’s Covid Vaccination Certificates
Only some parents or guardians of Finnish children can view their children’s Covid certificate in electronic form and print it from the My Kanta portal.
This is due to the fact that many children over the age of 12 have been vaccinated and My Kanta services comply with Finnish law on age limits for patient confidentiality. By law, not all health information for children over the age of 10 is automatically visible to parents and guardians.
"In most situations, the best option is to ask your child for a written coronavirus vaccination certificate. Some municipalities have provided an e-mail address where they can be contacted," Kela expert Mari Holmroos advised.
However, he added that different municipalities use different practices, but detailed instructions for each region can be found on websites maintained by municipalities or regional hospital districts.
Holmroos mentioned the City of Helsinki’s website as an example advises that certificates can be printed at the vaccination point by showing an ID card or Kela card.
In contrast, Kuopio’s instructions are to contact the local health center to obtain a certificate, while residents of North Karelia are encouraged to request a certificate using the application form or by calling the telephone number provided.
For children, if the young person already has a bank ID or mobile certificate, they can use the My Kanta portal themselves.
For privacy reasons, the Covid vaccination certificate cannot be sent to a parent’s email either.
However, some parents and guardians may view information about their children over the age of 10, such as information about coronavirus vaccination.
This is because different health services have, at different rates, introduced the ability to store health information that a child is willing to share with their parents or guardians.
The Reopen the EU website provides up-to-date information on travel instructions and restrictions on EU Member States.
Source: The Nordic Page