Rajankäynnissä

Rajankäynnissä is a Finnish term that translates literally to "border crossing" in English. It is used in both everyday conversation and official contexts to refer to the point where a person, vehicle, or vehicle exceeding the border between two countries or regions is inspected and permit procedures are carried out. The word is a compound of “raja” meaning border and “käynnissä” meaning in operation or front.

The concept of rajankäynnissä has a long history in Finland, dating back to the era of the Swedish Empire when Finnish territories were part of Sweden’s northern frontiers. With the Treaty of Åbo in 1743, new borders were drawn and the first formal customs checkpoints were established, especially around Ostrobothnia and Kalmar. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the organization of border controls evolved under Russian, German, and finally Soviet influence, making rajankäynnissä a central point for regulating trade, collecting tariffs, and monitoring migration.

Modernly, Finland’s membership in the European Union and the Schengen Agreement has changed the nature of rajankäynnissä. Physical border checks are largely limited to non-EU neighbors, such as Russia and Norway, where customs inspections still occur for goods, even though passport checks for persons are generally abolished within Schengen territory. In practice, rajankäynnissä now refers primarily to customs points where goods are declared and inspected.

In addition, the term finds stylistic use in literature and journalism. Authors like Arto Paasilinna refer to “rajankäynnissä” to evoke a sense of border on the edge of geographical and cultural boundaries. The term is also employed in legal documents, particularly those related to customs law, immigration policy, and international trade agreements, to specify the official location and procedures at a border point.