Tallink-Silja Ferry Onboard Rapid Antigen Covid Testing

Last Updated February 25, 2022

Note: As of February 2022 the onboard ferry covid antigen test is not available because the government of Finland has relaxed their covid entry requirements. If the testing requirement returns, Tallink-Silja will surely return this service.

Did you know that it is possible to get an covid rapid antigen test onboard many Tallink-Silja ferries, which is valid for entry into Finland? From December 2021, a negative antigen has been required for entry into Finland, despite your vaccination status. If you are on a tight schedule, trying to find an antigen test in Tallinn can be quite annoying¹, and it is much more convenient to have it on your journey to Helsinki aboard a ferry.

Onboard testing is available on most ferry departures from Helsinki to Tallinn

How to get an antigen or PCR test in Tallinn?

If you are going to take a ferry to Finland, we would 100% recommend doing the test onboard the ferry. The cost is 39 euros (with cash or card), payable on the ferry itself, or purchased ahead of time. It is also possible to do the antigen test in the Port of Tallinn, though not fully recommended because you have to arrive earlier and wait for the results. If you take the ferry, you have to wait there 2-3 hours anyway, and you don’t have to go out of your way.

On a recent journey aboard Tallink-Silja’s Star ferry, we got an antigen test onboard and are documenting our experience here.

Go to the info desk on the ferry, it is usually located on the main deck. On Tallink’s Star ferry, it is located on deck 7. Ask to pay for an antigen covid test. You will need to pay 39 euros, and will be given a payment receipt.
Go to the makeshift laboratory onboard and give the workers there your payment receipt. There are only certain times that the laboratory works on each ferry trip, so check accordingly.

Basic but effective onboard laboratory.
They will give you a small white paper where you write your contact information. You can choose to get the certificate in a paper copy or electronic copy. You will need to show a valid identity document at this point.

Some instructions for the onboard covid testing laboratory with Tallink-Silja.
Wait for them to call you and collect your sample from your nose.
Come back in approximately 45 minutes to receive your test result.

The test result is valid for getting you into Finland (assuming the result is negative!). If you have a positive covid result, well, we don’t know what happens to you.

Rapid antigen test result from onboard Tallink-Silja ferry.

1: We had an awful time in Tallinn with ordering covid PCR tests from the company Confido because:

Most of their laboratories at this time were full, and you had to book a specific time at a specific location in Tallinn
We were promised results within 24 hours, but they came after that
Their support doesn’t email you back

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