Finland blocks foreign property purchases in a new wave of national security measures. The government has rejected 11 property transactions involving buyers from outside the EU and EEA. The decision, announced by Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen on 24 October, reflects Finland’s growing vigilance over real estate ownership linked to non-EU citizens.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the rejected properties were intended for residential, commercial, and forestry use. Applicants were citizens of Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Officials stated that each case was assessed individually to determine whether it posed a risk to national security or defence logistics.
“These decisions are part of efforts to counter hybrid threats,” said Häkkänen. “We are rejecting property acquisitions that are judged to endanger national security, supply readiness, or the organisation of defence.”
The rejected land deals are spread across southern, eastern, and northern Finland. Municipalities affected include Mikkeli, Parainen, Puumala, Taipalsaari, Savonlinna, Simo, Kouvola, Parikkala, Kolari, and Tornio.
Some of these properties are near military zones, critical transport routes, or border areas. Others are located along strategic waterways that hold importance for national logistics and security planning.
Finland’s authority to restrict foreign land ownership comes from the Act on the Obligation to Obtain Permission in Certain Real Estate Acquisitions (470/2019). Under this law, citizens from outside the EU and EEA must apply for permission before buying real estate in Finland.
The law allows the government to deny purchases that may compromise defence readiness or the functioning of critical infrastructure. The recent decisions were based on risk assessments that considered proximity to military areas, possible surveillance use, or interference with defence operations.
The new rejections follow a full ban on property acquisitions by Russian and Belarusian citizens, which was implemented earlier this year. That measure was introduced as part of Finland’s response to regional security tensions and fears of foreign influence through strategic land purchases.
Under the current restrictions, Russian and Belarusian nationals cannot buy real estate in Finland, regardless of intended use. The latest decisions expand scrutiny to other third-country nationals who may present similar security concerns.
None of the recent decisions have yet taken legal effect. Applicants still have the right to appeal through administrative procedures. The final outcomes will depend on those appeals and further evaluations by defence authorities.
Finland’s move sends a clear message about how seriously it treats land ownership linked to foreign individuals. The combination of stricter laws and targeted case reviews shows that the government aims to protect national defence, infrastructure, and sovereignty from potential hybrid threats.
