Finnish Border Guard

Finnish Border Guard
Rajavartiolaitos (Finnish)
Gränsbevakningsväsendet (Swedish)
Emblem of the Finnish Border Guard
Ship racing stripe
AbbreviationFBG, RVL, GBV
Agency overview
Formed21 March 1919 (1919-03-21)
Employees3,800 career personnel, mobilised strength 12,600
Jurisdictional structure
Operations jurisdictionFinland
Specialist jurisdictions
  • Immigration
  • National border patrol, security, integrity
  • Coastal patrol, marine border protection, marine search and rescue
Operational structure
Elected officer responsible
Agency executives
  • Lieutenant general Pasi Kostamovaara, Chief of the Border Guard
  • Rear admiral Markku Hassinen, Deputy Chief of the Border Guard
Child agencies
  • 5 District Commands
  • 15 Battalions
Website
raja.fi/en/

The Finnish Border Guard (FBG,[1] Finnish: Rajavartiolaitos, RVL;[2] Swedish: Gränsbevakningsväsendet, GBV)[3] is the agency responsible for enforcing the security of Finland's borders.

Duties

Main duties of the Finnish Border Guard:

  • Protecting the land borders and territorial waters of Finland from unauthorised encroachment.
  • Passport control at border crossing points, airports and ports.
  • First line of defence against territorial invasions.
  • Rescue operations (mainly at sea and in the remote areas of Lapland).
  • Provide aid to other authorities such as the fire department in case of unusual events like wild fires.
  • Investigation of crimes pertaining to border security.
  • Aiding police forces in civil duties such as crowd control and riot control.
  • Military operations pertaining to internal security.
  • Customs control in the minor border crossing points without customs authorities.
  • Training of conscripts for wartime duty. These include rajajääkäri (border jaegers) and erikoisrajajääkäri (special border jaegers).
  • (During wartime) Long range patrols and guerrilla tactics behind enemy lines.

The agency has police and investigative powers in immigration matters and can independently investigate immigration violations with search and rescue (SAR) duties, both maritime and inland. Missions inland are often carried out in co-operation with local fire and rescue departments or other authorities.

Jurisdiction

For the discharge of its duties, the Border Guard has limited police powers in the areas where it operates.

It can, for example, seize and arrest persons and conduct searches in apartments and cars pursuant to same legislation as the police, when investigating a crime.

However, the power to arrest a person has been delegated only to the commanding officers of border control detachments and commanders and vice-commanders of larger units.

The Border Guard is not supposed to be used for the keeping of public order under normal circumstances, but it has two readiness platoons that can be used to support the police in exceptional situations in matters of crowd control and internal security (including incidents involving dangerous armed criminals).[4]

The readiness platoons have been used to supplement riot police during high-profile international events where there is a perceived danger of violent demonstrations, e.g. during the "Smash ASEM" demonstration in 2006.[5]

However, the main duty of the readiness platoons is to handle the most demanding border security incidents.[4] Border Guard helicopters have also been used to assist police and rescue authorities in various missions.

The Border Guard also has the power to keep public order in its own facilities and in their immediate vicinity. For the execution of its military exercises, any officer with the minimum rank of Captain can close an area temporarily.

The Border Guard is responsible for enforcing the 3–5 km (1.9–3.1 mi) border zone towards Russia and issues the permits to visit the zone.

Organisation

The Border Guard is a military organisation, subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior in administrative issues and to the president of Finland in issues pertaining to his authority as Commander-in-Chief (e.g. officer promotions).

Administrative units are responsible for the functions of the Border Guard.

These administrative units are the Border Guard Headquarters, Southeast Finland, North Karelia, Kainuu and Lapland border guard districts, the Gulf of Finland and West Finland coast guard districts, Air Patrol Squadron and Border and Coast Guard Academy.

The Border Guards have two readiness units; the 1st Special Intervention Unit, which operates in South-Eastern Finland, and the 5th Special Intervention Unit, which operates in the Gulf of Finland area.[6]

The Finnish Border Guard consists of 3,800 active duty personnel. Upon mobilization, it would be wholly or partly incorporated into the Finnish Defence Forces and its strength increased with reservists who have served their conscription in the branch.

The mobilized strength of the Finnish Border Guard is 12,600 servicemen.

The Finland–Russia border is actively monitored. The western sea borders and the western and northern land borders to Sweden and Norway are free to cross under the Nordic passport union, the Border Guard does however maintain personnel in these regions owing to its SAR duties.

Cooperation

There is a separate Finnish Customs agency, and immigration is also handled by the Finnish National Police and the Finnish Directorate of Immigration.

PTR (police, customs and border guard) co-operation is well-developed and allows the authorities to conduct each other's duties if necessary.

Training

The basic training of border guard personnel is based in Imatra, while the sea training for coast guards is based in Turku.[7]

Equipment

Watercraft

Class In service Images Type Origin Builder Ship Comm. Displacement Notes
Offshore patrol vessels
Turva class 1
(+ 2 on order)[8] 		Offshore patrol vessel
(border surveillance, maritime SAR, EEZ monitoring, traffic monitoring, public order, environmental protection and oil spill response)
  Finland Rauma shipyard
(STX Finland) 		Turva 2014 4,000 t (3,900 long tons) [9][10][11]
Improved Turva class 0
(+ 2 on order)[8] 		– Offshore patrol vessel
(border surveillance, maritime SAR, evacuation, EEZ monitoring, traffic monitoring, public order, environmental protection and oil spill response)
  Finland Turku shipyard
(Meyer Werft) 		Karhu 2026 (plan) – [9][12][13][14]
– 2027 (plan)
Tursas class 1 Offshore patrol vessel
(border surveillance, maritime SAR, EEZ monitoring, traffic monitoring, public order)
  Finland Uusikaupunki shipyard
(Rauma-Repola) 		Uisko 1987 1,250 t (1,230 long tons) [9]
To be replaced with the Improved Turva class.[15] Lead ship Tursas was transferred to the Finnish Navy on January 2026.[16]
Patrol boat
RV20 class
 7
(illustration) 		Patrol boat
(border surveillance, maritime SAR, oil recovery)
  Finland Työvene shipyard – 2020 to 2022 44.5 t (43.8 long tons) [9][17][18]
Equipped with a small RHIB for recovery. Note: the RV90 was the prototype .
RV15E class
1 Patrol boat
(border surveillance, maritime SAR, oil recovery, training)
  Finland Työvene shipyard – – 14.1 t (13.9 long tons) [9]
First received in 2017.[19]
Watercat 1300 class
 23 Patrol boat
(border surveillance, maritime SAR, oil recovery)
  Finland Marine Alutech Oy – 2007 to 2013 17.2 t (16.9 long tons) [20][21]
Alucat W18 CAB6 RVL class – – Patrol boat - inland waters
(border surveillance, maritime SAR, oil recovery)
  Finland Marine Alutech Oy – – – [9]
Speedboat
Zodiac MilPro SRA 850 (NV17 series) 26 – RHIB  France Zodiac MilPro – – – 21 + 5 ordered in two phases.[22][23]
Hovercraft
Griffon 2000TD class
 3 Hovercraft  United Kingdom Griffon Hoverwork – 1994 to 1995 – Received in the 1990s, to be replaced by new ones.[24]
Griffon 2000TD class
 0
(+ 3 on order)[8] 		– Hovercraft  United Kingdom Griffon Hoverwork – 2026 to 2027 – [25][26]
Order in December 2025.
Ivanoff IH-6 – Rescue hovercraft  Sweden Ivanoff Hovercraft AB – – – [9][27]

Vehicles

Note: most vehicles are used as dog cars.

Model Variant Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
Road patrol vehicle
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Sprinter 319  Germany 4×4 heavy patrol van – [28]
Sprinter 419
Mercedes-Benz Vito –  Germany Patrol van – Four variants used, among which the Mixto and the 129E (8-seat).[29]
Volkswagen Transporter VW T6  Germany Patrol van – Two variants used.[30]
Off-road patrol vehicle
Mercedes-Benz G-class G350 (W463) –  Germany 4×4 offroad patrol vehicle – [31]
Toyota Land Cruiser Land Cruiser J150 –  Japan 4×4 offroad patrol vehicle – [32]
Toyota Hilux Hilux (gen 7) –  Japan 4×4 offroad patrol vehicle – [33]
Volkswagen Amarok – –  Germany 4×4 offroad patrol vehicle – [34]
Motorcycles
Yamaha WR250 – –  Japan Enduro motorcycle – [35]
All-terrain vehicles
Polaris Sportsman 570 –
(illustration) 		 United States Wheeled / tracked ATV – [36]
Can-Am Max 650 –
(illustration) 		 Canada ATV 6×6 – [37]
Snowmobile
Lynx Ranger 600 E-Tec Wide-track
(illustration) 		 Finland Snowmobiles – [38]
Narrow-track – [39]

Aircraft

Model Variant Image Origin Type Quantity Notes
Aeroplanes (2)
Dornier 228 Dornier 228-212  Germany Surveillance aircraft 2 In service since 1995, to be replaced by the Bombardier Challenger 650 (Rapcon-X) from 2027.[40]
Bombardier Challenger 650 SNC Rapcon-X  Canada
 United States 		Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance aircraft 0
(+ 2 on order) 		Successor of the Dornier surveillance aircraft, selected in the MVX proggramme.[41]
The Border Guard ordered 2 Bombardier Challenger 650 in June 2024. The critical design review was completed in March 2025.[41]
The deliveries are planned for 2027 and 2028.[40][41]
Helicopters (12)
Agusta-Bell 412 AB412EP  United States
 Italy (licence made)
Border control, maritime SAR, medical transport 5 [42][43][44]
Purchased in the 1980s.
AgustaWestland AW119 AW119Ke  Italy Border control, transport, civil service duties 4 [42]
3 ordered in 2008, with an option for 1 additional helicopter which ended up being exercised.[43][45]
Equipment: thermal camera, forest fire suppression.[46]
Eurocopter Super Puma AS 332L1 / H215  France Transport, border control, maritime SAR, medical transport 3 [42]
3 AS 332 purchased in the mid 1980s.[47]
These were modernised in the 2010s, and equipped with new surveillance equipment.[48]
AS332L1e / H215 2 [42]
2 additional Super Puma ordered in 2013.[49]
They were modernised to the Airbus H215 standard.
The first was delivered in 2016.[50]

Other equipment

Officers carry on a daily basis:

History

After the Finnish Civil War in 1919, the control of the Finnish borders was given to the former Finnish Russian frontier troops under the command of the Ministry of Interior. Until 1945, only the Russian border was supervised by the Frontier Guard, the Swedish and Norwegian borders having only customs control. In 1929, a separate Sea Guard was founded to prevent the rampant alcohol smuggling caused by the Finnish prohibition of alcohol (1919–1932).

At the start of the Winter War there were nine Border Companies (Rajakomppania) on the Karelian Isthmus. North of Lake Ladoga the Frontier Guards were combined into six Detached Battalions (Erillinen pataljoona). Further north in Petsamo the defence was left to the 10th Detached Company (10. Erillinen komppania). After the war Marshal Mannerheim awarded all frontier guards the title "Border jäger" (Rajajääkäri). During the Continuation War, the Frontier Guard companies were combined into 12 Border Jäger battalions (Rajajääkäripataljoona) and later during the Lapland War into a Border Jäger Brigade (Rajajääkäriprikaati).

Ranks

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
Finnish Border Guard[51]
Kenraali/
Amiraali 		Kenraaliluutnantti/
Vara-amiraali 		Kenraalimajuri/
Kontra-amiraali 		Prikaatikenraali/
Lippueamiraali 		Eversti/
Kommodori 		Everstiluutnantti/
Komentaja 		Majuri/
Komentajakapteeni 		Kapteeni/
Kapteeniluutnantti 		Yliluutnantti/
Yliluutnantti 		Luutnantti/
Luutnantti 		Vänrikki/
Aliluutnantti
General/
Amiral 		Generallöjtnant/
Viceamiral 		Generalmajor/
Konteramiral 		Brigadgeneral/
Flottiljamiral 		Överste/
Kommodor 		Överstelöjtnant/
Kommendör 		Major/
Kommendörkapten 		Kapten/
Kaptenlöjtnant 		Premiärlöjtnant Löjtnant Fänrik/
Underlöjtnant

Other ranks

The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
Finnish Border Guard[51]
Sotilasmestari Ylivääpeli/
Ylipursimies 		Vääpeli/
Pursimies 		Ylikersantti Kersantti Alikersantti Korpraali/
Ylimatruusi 		Sotamies
Militärmästare Överfältväbel/
Överbåtsman 		Fältväbel/
Båtsman 		Översergeant Sergeant Undersergeant Korpral/
Övermatros 		Soldat

Current activities

After the Second World War, the Border Guards were placed on all Finnish borders. In the 1950s, the Sea Guard was attached to the Border Guard. Since then, the Border Guard has received a fine public image. It is famed for the wilderness skills of its guards foot-patrolling the forest-covered Russian border, its good efficiency in catching the few illegal border crossers and for the fact that it is the only state authority in large parts of Lapland. In these matters it resembles the popular image of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The Border Guard of Finland is one of the links of the chain of protectors of the external borders of the European Union and Schengen agreement.

Nearly every Border Guard District trains small number of conscripts for long range reconnaissance (Finnish: Sissi). Conscripts in Border Guard companies are mostly volunteers and preferably selected from the occupants of border areas, and while trained by Border Guard, they do not perform regular border control duties. Rivalry between Sissi from Border Guards and Defence Forces is traditionally high.

Employment in Border Guard is much sought for, especially in North and Eastern Finland, which suffer from chronic unemployment problems. Typically a vacancy in the Border Guard receives at least 50 applications.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Border Guard: Rise in Syrians entering Finland illegally through Russia". Yle Uutiset. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  2. ^ Pulliainen, Mikko (14 October 2022). "Rajavartiolaitokselle uutta valvontakonekalustoa etsivä MVX-hanke etenee: Nyt on valittu ne konetoimittajat, jotka kutsutaan tarjouspyyntökilpailuun". Tekniikka&Talous (in Finnish). Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  3. ^ Lehtihaara, Maarit (10 June 2018). "Räcker det att man vilar på hanen?". Hufvudstadsbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b Valmiusjoukkueet Archived 2017-10-29 at the Wayback Machine. Finnish Border Guard. Retrieved 2015-07-07. (in Finnish).
  5. ^ Smash ASEM: mielenosoitus joka ei koskaan alkanut. Yle Elävä arkisto. 10.1.2012. Retrieved 2015-07-07. (in Finnish)
  6. ^ "Flashbang - 5th Unit & 1st Unit".
  7. ^ Lindberg, Camilla, ed. (2020). Ett rum för alla – Folktingets arbete för svenskan i Finland under 100 år (in Swedish). Helsinki: Swedish Assembly of Finland. ISBN 978-952-9700-61-5.
  8. ^ a b c "New patrol vessels".
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Boats".
  10. ^ "Vl Turva". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  11. ^ "STX Finland's Rauma Shipyard Launches OPV". MarineLink. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  12. ^ "The Finnish Border Guard's new offshore patrol vessel, built by Meyer Turku, was christened". 22 August 2025.
  13. ^ "Meyer Turku Diversifies by Building Finnish Border Guard Vessels". The Maritime Executive. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  14. ^ "The Finnish Border Guard's new offshore patrol vessel, built by Meyer Turku, was christened". Finnish Border Guard. 22 August 2025. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  15. ^ "Border Guard to acquire two new multi-purpose patrol vessels". 29 June 2022.
  16. ^ "Rajavartiolaitos luopuu vartiolaiva Tursaasta" (in Finnish). Finnish Border Guard. 2 March 2026. Retrieved 2 March 2026.
  17. ^ "Rajavartiolaitokselle neljäs RV20-sarjan partiovene - Osto&Logistiikka". www.ostologistiikka.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  18. ^ Demant, Michael (12 November 2021). "Another RV20 delivered to the Finnish Border Guard". Työvene. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  19. ^ Demant, Michael (7 December 2017). "RV15E patrol boat delivered". Työvene. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  20. ^ "Watercat 1300 Patrol |". www.marinealutech.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  21. ^ Watkins, Valentine (22 July 2013). "Marine Alutech delivers final patrol boats". Baird Maritime / Work Boat World. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  22. ^ "Rajavartiolaitos uudistaa nopeaa venekalustoaan – partiovene mukana myös venenäyttelyssä – Päivän Lehti". www.paivanlehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  23. ^ Björn, Satu (18 November 2019). "Rajavartiolaitokselle viisi uutta nopeaa rib-venettä". Kipparilehti.fi (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  24. ^ "Overview". www.militaryperiscope.com. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  25. ^ "Three new hovercraft for the Finnish Border Guard". 17 December 2025.
  26. ^ "Finnish Border Guard orders three hovercraft in fleet renewal". Maritime Journal. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  27. ^ "Ivanoff Hovercraft AB". hovercraft.se. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  28. ^ "Maalla - Heavy patrol vehicle Mercedes Benz Sprinter 419 / Medium heavy patrol car Mercedes Benz Sprinter 319".
  29. ^ "Maalla - Mercedes Benz Vito patrol car / Mercedes Benz Vito 129e Tourer / Mercedes Benz Vito Mixto patrol car".
  30. ^ "Maala - VW Transporter patrol car".
  31. ^ "Maalla - Mercedes Benz G350 Off-Road Patrol Vehicle".
  32. ^ "Maalla - Toyota Land Cruiser off-road patrol vehicle".
  33. ^ "Maalla - Toyota Hilux off-road patrol vehicle".
  34. ^ "Maalla - Volkswagen Amarok off-road patrol vehicle".
  35. ^ "Maalla - Yamaha 250 WR -moottoripyörä".
  36. ^ "Maalla - Polaris Sportsman 570 -traktorimönkijä".
  37. ^ "Maalla - Can Am Max 650 tractor ATV".
  38. ^ "Maala - Lynx Ranger 600 E-Tec snowmobile, wide track".
  39. ^ "Maala - Lynx Ranger 600 E-Tec snowmobile, narrow track".
  40. ^ a b "Rajavartiolaitoksen monitoimilentokoneiden hankinta - Rajavartiolaitos". Rajavartiolaitos (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 17 December 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  41. ^ a b c "MVX Design Phase Completed". The Finnish Border Guard. Archived from the original on 12 June 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  42. ^ a b c d "Aircraft".
  43. ^ a b "The Border Guard Museum: Saving lives and chasing smugglers - The Finnish Border Guard". The Finnish Border Guard. Archived from the original on 28 September 2025. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  44. ^ "Patria developed major changes to Agusta Bell 412EP certified by EASA". Patria. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  45. ^ "Finnish Border Guard Orders Three AW119 Ke Helicopters". Vertical Mag. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  46. ^ yllapito (5 June 2024). "The Finnish Border Guard". Vaasa Airshow. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  47. ^ "Frontier Guard". Suomen ilmailumuseo. 14 February 2017. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  48. ^ "L-3 surveillance system selected for Finnish Border Guard". Vertical Mag. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  49. ^ "2 more AS332L1 to the Finnish Border Guard". Helis.com. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  50. ^ "6-Finnish Border Guards receive their first H215 from Airbus Helicopters | Airbus". www.airbus.com. 28 October 2021. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  51. ^ a b Tasavallan presidentin asetus rajavartiolaitoksen sotilaskäskyasioista, sotilas- ja palvelusarvoista sekä tunnuskuvasta, ansiorististä ja ansiomitalista annetun tasavallan presidentin asetuksen muuttamisesta [Decree of the President of the Republic on amending the Decree of the President of the Republic on Border Guard Military Instructions, Military and Service Grades and Emblem, Cross of Merit and Medal of Merit] (Decree of the President of the Republic 761) (in Finnish). 12 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020.
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