Four species of the soldier fly genus Nemotelus are recorded from Finland. One of them, Nemotelus (Nemotelus) infortunatus sp. nov., is described as new to science from material collected from south-eastern Finland and the adjacent Russian Republic of Karelia. The new species differs from the other North European Nemotelus species by the partially black postpronotum, darkened fore and mid tibiae and details of the male genitalia. Details of six Nemotelus occurring in North and northern Central Europe are presented for comparison and all six species are shown in colour photographs. A revised key to the North European species of Nemotelus is presented.