The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the British Embassy in Helsinki are keen to ensure that their buildings and services are fully accessible to disabled members of the public. Wherever possible, we have made our buildings and services accessible. Sometimes however, this is not possible due to security or other restrictions. In these situations we will endeavour to provide a service or access to a building in an alternative way to ensure equality of access for disabled people. To assist disabled visitors, we have set out below details of disabled access at this Embassy. We hope this information is helpful.

General physical access

• Main pedestrian gate is too narrow for wheelchair access, entry via the main gate. Consular section and main entrance doors have unobsctructed entry. Assistance required to manouvre from car park onto path due to a high kerb. Some doors are heavy and may require assistance.
• Main lobby steps are edges with blck/yellow tape.
• Mobile ramps are available, stored near main entrance lobby.
• All floors are accessible via the lift, assistance to wheelchair users required to open lobby doors on all floors.
• Toilet for disabled persons/wheelchair users situated in the management section on the 2nd floor.
• Parking spaces available upon request. Possibility to transfer directly to lift via the garage. Notice required.
• All floor coverings are safe and even.
• Handrails are widely available and easy to grip.
• Some doors may require assistance for disabled person/wheelchair user.
• Lighting is good throughout the embassy building.
• Emergency evacuation takes into account ALL visitors. The disabled toilet does not have a distress button.
• Phones are easily accessible.

Access for visually-impaired visitors

• Signs are clear, easy to read, and use internationally-recognisable symbols.
• Guide dogs are welcome

Access for deaf/hard of hearing visitors

• Hearing loops are not installed.
• Minicom and textphones are not installed.
• Hearing dogs are welcome.

Contact us

If you need to visit us or use our services and feel that they may be inaccessible to you, please contact Tony Falzon on tel: 09 2286 5100 who will try to find an alternative way of providing access for you.