Can you buy an apartment in Finland in 2026
A flat held as housing company shares needs no permit; a house or land needs a Defence Ministry permit for non-EU buyers, and some nationalities are barred. Prices, taxes and steps.
In short
- Flats held as housing company shares can be bought without a permit.
- Prices: about $3,300 per m2 in older housing nationally, about $5,100 in the capital region.
- Houses and land: buyers from outside the EU and EEA need a Defence Ministry permit; for some nationalities the purchase is barred since 15 July 2025.
- Tax: 1.5% for a flat, 3% for a house with land.
- No residence is granted for buying.
In detail
A foreigner can buy an apartment in Finland in 2026: most city flats are shares in a housing company, and no permit is needed for them. A house or land is different: buyers from outside the EU and EEA need a Defence Ministry permit, and for citizens of some countries the purchase has been barred since 15 July 2025. A detailed look at the rules and transaction support is on the page property in Finland; here are short answers to the main questions.
How much an apartment in Finland costs in 2026
According to Statistics Finland, at the start of 2026 a square metre in older housing averaged about $3,300 (€2,920) nationally. In the capital region it was about $5,100 (€4,490), and in the rest of Finland about $2,500 (€2,170). In the second quarter of 2026 prices kept falling: by 3.9% over the year nationally and 4.3% in Helsinki.
| Where | Average per m2 | 50 m2 flat |
|---|---|---|
| Helsinki and the capital region | ~$5,100 | ~$260,000 |
| Whole country | ~$3,300 | ~$170,000 |
| Finland outside the capital region | ~$2,500 | ~$130,000 |
Who can buy an apartment in Finland
- A flat as housing company shares - any buyer, no Defence Ministry permit needed.
- A house or land, EU and EEA citizens - without a permit.
- A house or land, citizens of other countries - with a Defence Ministry permit; the ministry has already refused on security grounds.
- A house or land, some nationalities - barred since 15 July 2025, see the section on restrictions below.
The ministry permit and the ban apply to real property, that is houses and land. City flats are usually held as shares in a housing company that owns the building, and the law does not restrict such a purchase.
A flat as shares in a housing company
Most city flats in Finland are formally shares in a housing company that owns the whole building. The buyer gets the right to live in the flat and pays a monthly maintenance charge, sometimes also for renovations. Before the deal, the manager's report on planned renovations is checked: replacing pipes or the facade can mean noticeable extra payments.
A Finnish housing company is like a neighbour who warns you about renovations in advance: unpleasant, but at least honest.
Taxes on buying and owning
| Tax | Rate |
|---|---|
| Transfer | 1.5% for housing company shares, that is a flat; 3% for a house with land |
| Property | 0.41-2% of taxable value a year, set by the municipality |
| Capital gains on sale | 30% up to $34,000 (€30,000) and 34% above; your own home is exempt after 2 years of living in it |
More on the page taxes in Finland.
Without the ministry permit no deal goes through in Finland
The law does not stop eligible buyers from purchasing a flat in Finland on their own. But mistakes cost more than the tax: a deal without the Defence Ministry permit, a housing company with debts or a large renovation ahead, and for Russian citizens a scheme through acquaintances or a company that breaks the law. We check whether you may buy and need a permit, analyse the housing company's documents and handle the deal, and for Russian citizens we find a legal alternative in another EU country. We guarantee professional work and a transparent process, and in most cases a result on the first application.
The cost of support depends on your status, the property and whether a ministry permit is needed; our manager in the chat will calculate it.
Does buying give residence
No. Finland has no residence through property, and a purchase gives no immigration status. The bases for moving are work, business, study or family; more on the page Finland: all programmes.
Restrictions for certain nationalities
Since 15 July 2025 citizens of Russia and Belarus may not buy houses or land in Finland, unless they hold a Finnish permanent residence permit or an EU long-term residence permit issued by Finland. A flat held as housing company shares is not covered by the ban. Workarounds through acquaintances or controlled companies are expressly prohibited.
Payment is the main difficulty: under EU sanctions rules banks do not accept deposits above $120,000 (€100,000) from such citizens without an EU residence permit. If the payment route is closed, property in another EU country is the legal option, for example a flat in Cyprus or property in Greece.
How we help
The law does not stop you from filing on your own. But mistakes cost more than the taxes: a deal without the ministry permit, a housing company with debts and a large renovation ahead. We check whether you may buy, analyse the housing company's documents and handle the deal, and where a purchase is not allowed we find a legal alternative.
Property in Finland
Checking the right to buy, the housing company's documents and transaction support.
Learn more →Property in Greece
An EU market with no purchase restrictions by citizenship.
Learn more →Property in Cyprus
A flat in the EU and permanent residence for new housing.
Learn more →FAQ
Which nationalities face restrictions when buying property in Finland?
How much does an apartment in Finland cost in 2026?
Does a foreigner need a permit to buy property in Finland?
Does buying an apartment give residence in Finland?
What tax applies when buying an apartment in Finland?
Where in the EU can I buy an apartment if Finland is restricted for me?
Don’t want to figure this out alone?
We handle the whole process end to end: we check your documents, match a program to your situation and give you honest timelines and costs. Ask your question in the chat: the free consultation starts right here. Legal representation before authorities and courts is handled by Murblz specialists together with locally licensed partners.
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