Property in Finland: buying and support
Helsinki and the lake district: apartments are open to foreigners without permits, while a house on its own plot requires Ministry of Defence clearance for non-EU buyers.
Why Finland
Most apartments are housing-company shares
An apartment in Finland is usually legally structured as shares in a housing company (asunto-osakeyhtiö) — buying these needs no permit.
EU and Schengen member
EU and Schengen membership gives a European buyer a clear legal framework.
Honestly, about a house with land: Ministry of Defence permission required
A standalone house with land requires permission from Finland's Ministry of Defence for non-EU/EEA citizens — a separate step that housing-company shares do not need.
Honestly, about the tax: the rate depends on the form
The transfer tax rate differs between housing-company shares and land-registered property — we confirm it for the specific property.
Honestly, about the Åland Islands: a special regime
The Åland Islands have a separate regime: even EU citizens need a permit to buy without five years' domicile on the islands.
Smaller budget — we'll source it
Tell us the amount and the goal, and we'll come back with options from developers and partners that are not in the catalogue.
Send a requestHow the purchase works
- 1
We map your goal
An apartment (housing-company shares) or a house with land, city, budget.
- 2
We identify the property's legal form
Housing-company shares or standalone land property — this determines the whole procedure.
- 3
If needed — Ministry of Defence permit
For a house with land, non-EU/EEA citizens need a permit — we file the application ahead of time.
- 4
We check the property
For shares — the housing company's finances; for land — the title register.
- 5
Purchase contract
We sign the contract and pay the transfer tax at the rate that applies to the property's legal form.
- 6
Registration
For shares — entry in the housing company's shareholder register; for land — registration with the land registry.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner buy an apartment in Finland?+
Yes, and without special permits. Most Finnish apartments are legally held as housing company shares, and buying them is open to foreign purchasers on general terms.
And a house with a plot of land?+
Citizens from outside the EU and EEA need a permit from the Ministry of Defence to buy real estate with land. It is obtained before the transaction. EU and EEA citizens face no such requirement.
What does buying housing company shares mean?+
You acquire not the premises as real estate but a shareholding that confers the right to use a specific apartment. This is the standard form of housing in Finnish cities and it affects registration, financing and the structure of monthly costs.
What is a collective building loan and why does it matter?+
Some buildings carry a collective loan, with a share allocated to each apartment. That share effectively increases the real price of the property, as it is repaid through the monthly charge. Request the outstanding balance for the specific apartment before buying.
Does buying property grant residency in Finland?+
No. A purchase is not a basis for a residence permit or visa. Status is obtained on other grounds: work, study, entrepreneurship or family reunification.
What is special about the Åland Islands?+
They operate under a separate regime: a permit is required even of EU citizens unless they hold the right of domicile, which is acquired after five years of residence. The general rules for mainland Finland do not apply there.
What taxes does the owner pay?+
On purchase, a transfer tax whose rate differs between housing company shares and real estate with land. Annually, municipal property tax. Apartment owners additionally pay a monthly charge to the housing company.
Do you have property in Finland?+
Not in the public catalogue at present. If the market interests you, send us a request — we will source through our partner network and help you navigate the form of ownership and, where needed, the permit for property with land.
Overview
Finland has an unusual split: most apartments here are legally held as housing company shares, and buying them is open to foreigners without permits. A house on its own plot, however, requires a Ministry of Defence permit for citizens from outside the EU and EEA.
Why buy here
Apartments held as housing company shares are bought without any permit procedure — this is the standard form of housing in Finnish cities. High legal protection and transparent transactions. Proximity to the Baltic and Nordic states, with developed infrastructure in the lake district for seasonal homes.
Taxes, costs and yield
Benchmarks for taxes, purchase and holding costs and rental yield. Exact figures depend on the property and your situation.
A transfer tax on purchase; rates differ for housing company shares and for real estate with land. Annually, municipal property tax.
A transfer tax is payable on purchase, at rates differing between housing company shares and real estate with land. Also payable: legal fees, processing charges and, with a mortgage, bank costs. Annually the owner pays municipal property tax. Apartment owners additionally pay a monthly charge to the housing company covering building upkeep and often part of the utilities.
1. Establish the form of the property: housing company shares (most apartments) or real estate with a plot of land. 2. For non-EU and non-EEA citizens buying real estate with land, apply to the Ministry of Defence for a permit. Housing company shares require no permit. 3. Sale contract; for real estate with land the transaction is attested by an authorised witness. 4. Registration of title, or entry in the housing company's share register.
Finnish banks lend mainly to clients with income and ties in the country. Credit is largely unavailable to non-residents.
Buying property in Finland does not grant residency and is not a basis for a visa. Status is obtained on grounds unrelated to a purchase.
Ownership through housing company shares is the market's defining feature. You acquire not the premises as real estate but a shareholding that confers the right to use a specific apartment. This affects registration, financing and the structure of monthly costs. Note also the Åland Islands, which operate under a separate regime where even EU citizens require a permit unless they hold the right of domicile acquired after five years of residence. We do not currently list property in this country in our public catalogue. If the market interests you, send us a request — we will source through our partner network and support the transaction.
What to bear in mind: — a Ministry of Defence permit is required of non-EU and non-EEA citizens buying a house on its own plot, and is obtained before the transaction; — the housing company charge may include a share of the building's collective loan — check the outstanding balance before buying, since it effectively increases the price; — the Åland Islands run on separate rules, and general conclusions about Finland do not apply there. Checked in September 2026. Thresholds, rates and programme terms change — confirm the current requirements with a lawyer in the country before you buy.
Request a selection in Finland
Figures are indicative, change over time and depend on the specific property and your circumstances. Obtain independent legal, tax and financial advice before any purchase.
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