Finland denies Israeli, Chinese buyers´ real estate purchase moves

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen on Wednesday denied two prospective buyers from outside the EU and EEA permissions to buy real estates in Finland, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release.

The ministry denied an Israeli citizen's application for buying a real estate in Mikkeli while the other decision concerned an application of a Chinese-owned company for a real estate in Rovaniemi, in the vicinity of an exercise area of the Finnish Defence Forces.

The decisions to deny the buyers permission for the real estate acquisitions were based on the Act on Transfers of Real Estate Requiring Special Permission.

The Ministry of Defence justified the decisions by stating, among other things, that the acquisitions could threaten national security and hinder the organisation of national defence.

The ministry, however, said that the decisions are not yet final.

Earlier on April 11, 2025, the Parliament approved a government proposal seeking ban on selling real estate citizens outside of EU and EEA.

The government in October 2022, submitted a proposal to the parliament to bring necessary amendments to the law with the view to ensure that real estate acquisitions would not endanger national security.

In December, 2024 Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen made two negative permit decisions concerning real estate acquisitions by buyers from outside the EU and EEA.

Earlier in September 2024 Finland made six negative permit decisions concerning real estate acquisitions by Russian buyers.

In October 2023, the Ministry of Defence issued three negative permit decisions concerning real estate acquisitions by buyers from outside the EU and EEA.

In December 2022, the Ministry of Defence decided not to allow a group of Russian citizens to buy a former elderly care home at Lohikko, in Kankaanpää under South-West Finland region.