Rajavartijoiden

Rajavartijoiden, the genitive form of rajavartijat, is Finnish for border guards. The term can refer to the individuals who perform border guard duties, or collectively to the border guard service and its personnel in Finland.

Duties include border control at land borders, airports and seaports; verification of identity and travel documents; processing of asylum requests and coordination with immigration authorities; surveillance and patrols along borders using land, air and sea assets; search and rescue operations in territorial waters and on inland waterways; and efforts to prevent smuggling and other border-related crime.

Organization: In Finland, border guards operate within the Rajavartiolaitos, the government agency responsible for border control under the Ministry of the Interior. The workforce includes uniformed border guards, civilian staff, and support personnel, organized into regional units and border-control points, equipped with patrol vessels, aircraft and surveillance systems.

Training and equipment: Border guards receive specialized training in border enforcement, immigration procedures, and maritime safety. They use a range of equipment, including patrol vehicles, boats, helicopters or fixed-wing aircraft, and protective gear suitable for coastal, remote and border terrain operations.

Legal basis: The duties and powers of the rajavartijoiden are defined by Finnish border and immigration laws, as well as Finland's international obligations relating to border management and search-and-rescue operations. The Border Guard operates in coordination with other authorities, such as the police and customs.