Finland’s Ministry of Defence announced on 28 October that it has rejected eleven recent applications by Russian, Israeli, Kazakh and Kyrgyz nationals to buy property in ten Finnish regions. The rejections are the first high-profile use of a law that came into force in July 2025 requiring non-EU/EEA buyers to obtain a security clearance before any real-estate deal can close. For Russian and Belarusian citizens, the new regime amounts to an outright ban: applications can be summarily denied if authorities believe the transaction could facilitate “hybrid influence” or jeopardise critical infrastructure.
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen told reporters that land and buildings can serve as forward bases for intelligence gathering or supply-chain disruption. “The permit system allows us to act quickly and decisively,” he said, noting that Russia remains a long-term security risk. Parliament had approved the measure in April after evidence surfaced that shell companies linked to sanctioned individuals were buying forest plots near military training areas.
From a global-mobility standpoint, the ban has immediate consequences for Russian executives on assignment in Finland. Leasing remains possible, but employers must steer clear of company-owned housing acquisitions and should review relocation policies to account for the prohibition. Banks and real-estate agents can face fines for facilitating deals that have not cleared the permit process, so due-diligence costs are expected to rise for all foreign buyers, not just Russians.
Legal advisers say corporates should factor in an additional six-to-eight-week security review when planning any property deal involving non-EU assignees. Companies with mixed EU and non-EU ownership structures may also need to restructure purchases through Finnish subsidiaries to avoid uncertainty. Although the immediate headlines centre on Russia, analysts predict the government could expand the list of “high-risk” nationalities if geopolitical tensions spread.
The measure underscores a broader shift in Finland’s immigration and investment climate towards security-driven scrutiny. Combined with tighter citizenship and residence-permit rules, it signals that organisations will face a more complex compliance landscape when moving talent — and capital — into the country.
Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen told reporters that land and buildings can serve as forward bases for intelligence gathering or supply-chain disruption. “The permit system allows us to act quickly and decisively,” he said, noting that Russia remains a long-term security risk. Parliament had approved the measure in April after evidence surfaced that shell companies linked to sanctioned individuals were buying forest plots near military training areas.
From a global-mobility standpoint, the ban has immediate consequences for Russian executives on assignment in Finland. Leasing remains possible, but employers must steer clear of company-owned housing acquisitions and should review relocation policies to account for the prohibition. Banks and real-estate agents can face fines for facilitating deals that have not cleared the permit process, so due-diligence costs are expected to rise for all foreign buyers, not just Russians.
Legal advisers say corporates should factor in an additional six-to-eight-week security review when planning any property deal involving non-EU assignees. Companies with mixed EU and non-EU ownership structures may also need to restructure purchases through Finnish subsidiaries to avoid uncertainty. Although the immediate headlines centre on Russia, analysts predict the government could expand the list of “high-risk” nationalities if geopolitical tensions spread.
The measure underscores a broader shift in Finland’s immigration and investment climate towards security-driven scrutiny. Combined with tighter citizenship and residence-permit rules, it signals that organisations will face a more complex compliance landscape when moving talent — and capital — into the country.
