Finland blocks 13 property purchases this year on security grounds

Finland has blocked 13 property transactions in 2024 due to national security concerns, public broadcaster Yle reports. The number of rejected applications has risen in recent years, according to the Ministry of Defence.

The ministry may deny a purchase if it poses a threat to national defence, border security, or supply resilience, said Emma Tuomela, an expert at the ministry. Rejected transactions this year have occurred in municipalities including Sipoo, Kouvola, and Miehikkälä, near the Russian border.

In March alone, Finland prevented six property purchases by foreign buyers. Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen (National Coalition Party) stated that transactions posing potential risks to national security, defence, border integrity, or supply security would be blocked.

“We counter property acquisitions where threats to national security, defence, border security, or supply resilience cannot be ruled out,” Häkkänen said in a statement.

Rejections are based on case-by-case assessments, Tuomela noted, without confirming whether proximity to the eastern border influences decisions. The ministry evaluates whether a purchase could compromise territorial surveillance, border control, or critical infrastructure.

Last year, 15 transactions were denied, up from previous years. Since 2020, when the current permit system was introduced, over 4,230 applications have been approved. A 2023 legal amendment expanded restrictions to include Russian and Belarusian buyers, excluding dual citizens with EU/EEA nationality or permanent Finnish residency.

The ministry assesses corporate ownership structures and actual control to determine eligibility. Permits must be sought within two months of a purchase; failure to comply or providing false information can lead to rejection.