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Responsible for the service Metsähallitus

Metsähallitus off-road traffic permits

  • Permit or other obligation
  • Nationwide except the Åland Islands
  • Public service

Off-road traffic refers to the use of motorised vehicles in terrain. Terrain means land areas that are not roads intended for motor vehicles or official snowmobile trails. You always need the landowner’s permission for off-road traffic. On state-owned land, permits are granted by Metsähallitus.

For snowmobilers, Metsähallitus maintains snowmobile trails on state-owned land. These trails are fee-b ...

Do the following

The paid trail permit for Metsähallitus trails can be purchased from the Eräluvat.fi online service. The same service can also be used to submit an application for an off-road traffic permit for use outside the trails.

If you operate as a safari entrepreneur or organise sled transports on state-owned land managed by Metsähallitus, you must agree in advance with Metsähallitus on the activity and the snowmobile trails used. For safari operations, the company needs Metsähallitus’ consent to use the agreed trail and an off-road traffic permit for each safari, which is obtained by submitting a safari notification in the Eräluvat.fi service.

For sled transports, the company needs Metsähallitus’ consent to use the agreed trail and an off-road traffic permit for the snowmobile driver.

To whom and on what terms

An off-road traffic permit cannot be granted to persons under the age of 15 (age limit: Off-Road Traffic Act 1995/1710, Section 6).

Off-Road Traffic Act (22 December 1995/1710), Section 4; Act on Metsähallitus (234/2016), Section 24; Ministry of the Environment Decree on fees for certain public administrative tasks performed by Metsähallitus (1571/2015), Section 4.


Period of validity

The permit is valid for the period specified in the permit decision.

The service is provided by

Metsähallitus

Responsible for the service

Metsähallitus
Text edited by: Metsähallitus
Updated: 12/12/2025