Finland Rejects 14 Foreign Land Purchases, Over 45 Cases in 3 Years
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen rejected 14 foreign real estate transactions on June 4, 2026, involving buyers from China, India, Turkey, and Ukraine. Since 2023, Finland has rejected at least 45 foreign property deals, expanding scrutiny from Russia to a global, case-by-case basis. A 2025 law now directly bans purchases by Russian and Belarusian citizens.
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- 📰 Published: June 5, 2026 at 13:48
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(Central News Agency, Helsinki, 5th) Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen yesterday rejected 14 foreign real estate transactions. The applicants were from China, India, Turkey, and Ukraine. According to statistics, since 2023, the Finnish Ministry of Defence has rejected at least 45 foreign real estate purchase permit applications, with the scale of individual rejections continuing to grow.
The list of rejections includes buyers from India and Turkey for the first time, a clear shift from the past pattern dominated by Russian and neighboring country buyers. Finland's national security review has expanded from an emergency mechanism targeting specific threat sources to a permanent mechanism that conducts a comprehensive, case-by-case review regardless of nationality.
Häkkänen stated in a ministry press release: "The decisions are based on a case-by-case and overall consideration. We want to block real estate transactions that could jeopardize national security."
The rejected properties are located in Asikkala, Hyrynsalmi, Imatra, Laukaa, Pöytyä, Rautjärvi, and Rovaniemi, with uses ranging from commercial, leisure, to residential.
Among these, Rovaniemi is the site of the Finnish Air Force's Lapland Air Base, which hosts active F-18 fighters and is gradually transitioning to F-35s. Many recent NATO Arctic exercises have been centered on this base. Imatra and Rautjärvi are adjacent to the eastern land border between Finland and Russia. The Ministry of Defence noted that acquiring real estate is one way for hostile forces to "gain a foothold" or "potentially weaken the state's operational capacity."
Since October 2023, the Finnish Ministry of Defence has issued at least seven batches of rejection notices, rejecting a total of over 45 applications. The first three cases were in Ruokolahti and Kitee, all involving Russian citizens.
In January 2024, three more cases were rejected in Ilomantsi and Sotkamo, involving Russian and British foreign capital. In September of the same year, six cases were rejected across several locations in Eastern Finland, with buyers from Russia, Ukraine, and Switzerland. In December, two more cases were rejected in Parainen and Kokemäki, both involving Russian citizens.
In October 2025, a single batch of 11 cases was rejected, spanning southern, central, and northern Finland. In March 2026, six cases were rejected, including buyers from Uzbekistan and Canada for the first time, alongside Russian and Chinese buyers. The 14 cases announced yesterday represent the largest single batch to date, including buyers from India and Turkey for the first time.
In April 2025, the Finnish Parliament passed a law amendment, based on a decision by the Council of the European Union and an assessment by the Finnish government, to directly reject all real estate purchase applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens and companies. The ban took effect in July of the same year. For other foreign buyers, applications are still reviewed on a case-by-case basis under regulations enacted in 2020 to determine if they pose a threat to national security, defense construction, or the security of critical material supplies.
The list of rejections includes buyers from India and Turkey for the first time, a clear shift from the past pattern dominated by Russian and neighboring country buyers. Finland's national security review has expanded from an emergency mechanism targeting specific threat sources to a permanent mechanism that conducts a comprehensive, case-by-case review regardless of nationality.
Häkkänen stated in a ministry press release: "The decisions are based on a case-by-case and overall consideration. We want to block real estate transactions that could jeopardize national security."
The rejected properties are located in Asikkala, Hyrynsalmi, Imatra, Laukaa, Pöytyä, Rautjärvi, and Rovaniemi, with uses ranging from commercial, leisure, to residential.
Among these, Rovaniemi is the site of the Finnish Air Force's Lapland Air Base, which hosts active F-18 fighters and is gradually transitioning to F-35s. Many recent NATO Arctic exercises have been centered on this base. Imatra and Rautjärvi are adjacent to the eastern land border between Finland and Russia. The Ministry of Defence noted that acquiring real estate is one way for hostile forces to "gain a foothold" or "potentially weaken the state's operational capacity."
Since October 2023, the Finnish Ministry of Defence has issued at least seven batches of rejection notices, rejecting a total of over 45 applications. The first three cases were in Ruokolahti and Kitee, all involving Russian citizens.
In January 2024, three more cases were rejected in Ilomantsi and Sotkamo, involving Russian and British foreign capital. In September of the same year, six cases were rejected across several locations in Eastern Finland, with buyers from Russia, Ukraine, and Switzerland. In December, two more cases were rejected in Parainen and Kokemäki, both involving Russian citizens.
In October 2025, a single batch of 11 cases was rejected, spanning southern, central, and northern Finland. In March 2026, six cases were rejected, including buyers from Uzbekistan and Canada for the first time, alongside Russian and Chinese buyers. The 14 cases announced yesterday represent the largest single batch to date, including buyers from India and Turkey for the first time.
In April 2025, the Finnish Parliament passed a law amendment, based on a decision by the Council of the European Union and an assessment by the Finnish government, to directly reject all real estate purchase applications from Russian and Belarusian citizens and companies. The ban took effect in July of the same year. For other foreign buyers, applications are still reviewed on a case-by-case basis under regulations enacted in 2020 to determine if they pose a threat to national security, defense construction, or the security of critical material supplies.
FAQ
Can foreigners buy real estate in Finland?
In principle, yes, but purchases can be rejected if deemed a threat to national security. Since July 2025, purchases by Russian and Belarusian citizens are completely banned.
How long does the Finnish real estate purchase review take?
The review period varies by case, but it assesses the impact on national security, defense, and critical material supply security under laws enacted in 2020.
Where are the rejected properties located?
Rejected properties are located across Finland, but many are in strategically important areas such as near the Russian border or in Rovaniemi, home to an air base.