Import bans and sanctions

The import ban on natural gas and liquified natural gas takes effect on 18 March 2026.

Transition period for imports of gas from Russia

It is possible to import gas originating in Russia to the European Union according to the transition periods laid down in Regulation (EU) 2026/261 in cases where gas delivery contracts were made before 17 June 2025. The transition period for importing gas ends on 1 November 2027, at which time no gas can be imported from Russia at all.

You can read more about the transition periods also in the Commission instructions on the application of the import ban.

You should submit the required information on gas deliveries to Customs at least one month prior to import if you are importing gas originating in Russia during the transition period, and you have entered into a delivery contract prior to 17 June 2025.

Country of production to be verified in advance with Customs

In order to prevent circumventions of the import ban, the authority in the country of import must be presented with documents proving that the country of production of natural gas or liquified gas is not Russia. However, it is not necessary to provide documentation when the gas is delivered from Norway, the United States, Great Britain or Northern Ireland, Algeria, Qatar or Nigeria.

If your import requires you to provide documents that verify the country of import, be sure to submit them no later than five working days prior to the gas arriving in the customs territory of the EU. In Finland, Customs decides on approving import. You should present the documentation that can be used to reliably verify the country of goods production and origin of the gas. Such documentation can for example comprise production documentation or delivery contract details.

Read more about customs declarations on required documentation on this page.

The Commission’s guidance

• Commission guidance on the implementation of the import ban

Legislation

• Regulation (EU) 2026/261 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 January 2026 on phasing out Russian natural gas imports and preparing the phase-out of Russian oil imports, improving monitoring of potential energy dependencies and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/1938
• Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/335 of 9 February 2026 establishing the list of third countries exempted from prior authorisation for gas imports into the Union pursuant to Article 5(4) of Regulation (EU) 2026/261 of the European Parliament and of the Council

Customs declarations on natural gas and liquified gas

You should find out the following information prior to importing natural gas or liquified gas:

• If the import goods fall under commodity codes subject to the import ban:
  • liquified natural gas (LNG) under commodity code (CN code) 2711 11 00
  • gaseous natural gas (LNG) under commodity code (CN code) 2711 21 00 
• Country of production when the natural gas or liquified natural gas is subject to commodity codes under an import ban.

Submit the following information on the natural gas or liquified natural gas in your customs declaration:

• When the country of production is Russia
  • You will need a prior authorisation from Customs during the transition period.
    • Submit the required documents in good time; no later than one month prior to import.
    • Please submit the documents by email to tulliselvitystuki@tulli.fi. 
    • Provide the information listed in Regulation 2026/261, Article 5, paragraph 2.
  • In your customs declaration, indicate the prior authorisation with the document code “C126”. Note that you can use this authorisation only until the end date of the transition period.
  • Also note that once the transition period has ended, import is no longer possible even with a prior authorisation.

• When you are importing from Norway, the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland, Algeria, Qatar or Nigeria
  • You will not need a prior authorisation, and you are not required to submit documents in advance, as the said countries are exempt by the Regulation ((EU) 2026/261, Article 5 paragraph 4). 
  • In your customs declaration, indicate condition code “Y104”.

• When you are importing from countries other than Norway, the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland, Algeria, Qatar or Nigeria
  • Submit documents verifying the production country of natural gas or liquified natural gas in good time, no later than five working days before the gas arrives in the customs territory of the EU.
    • Send the documents verifying the country of production to tulliselvitystuki@tulli.fi.
  • In your customs declaration, indicate the gas import authorisation from Customs in the goods item details with document code “C126”. 

Currently, the import of many very common goods from Russia is prohibited. 

For example,

• cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos
• various cosmetics and hygiene products
• toilet paper and other household papers
• many household appliances
• telephones
• cars or
• cameras

may not be imported from Russia. The ban also concerns products bought from tax-free shops. 

Fuel

Travellers are for the time being only allowed to bring in fuel from Russia in the regular tank of a motor vehicle. You are not allowed to bring in extra fuel in a portable container or a separate can carried in the vehicle.

Alcohol

You are currently not allowed to bring in strong alcoholic beverages (over 22%) such as whisky, rum, gin, vodka or liqueurs, from Russia to Finland.

You are also not allowed to bring in light alcoholic beverages to which alcohol has been added during production. These are, for example, some long drinks and hard seltzer drinks. The ban concerns also alcoholic beverages bought from tax-free shops.

However, you can bring in other light alcoholic beverages, for example beer as well as fermented wines and ciders. You can only bring in a restricted quantity of these for personal use or as a gift. Check the import restrictions on alcohol.

Boats, personal watercraft and pleasure boats

Travellers on vacation should not bring boats or personal watercraft from Russia to Finland, because they cannot be returned to Russia.

Arriving in Finland via ports and through canal locks from Russia is prohibited. This includes arriving from Russia through Saimaa Canal.

The regulations may change

Please note that the import and export regulations may change quickly due to the sanctions.