Helsinki, April 12, 2025 — Finland’s Parliament has unanimously approved a landmark bill that bans the sale of real estate to non-resident Russian citizens, citing national security concerns in the wake of growing geopolitical tensions.
The law, passed on Friday, has been welcomed by officials across the political spectrum as a necessary measure to safeguard Finnish sovereignty.
The new legislation, reported by Finland’s public broadcaster YLE, applies not only to Russian citizens living outside of Finland but also extends to foreign nationals and corporate entities deemed by the European Union to be engaging in wars of aggression or presenting a security risk to Finland.
Russian nationals who are permanent residents of Finland will still be allowed to purchase property, but under the new rules, they must first obtain special permission from Finnish authorities.
The move has been widely interpreted as a direct response to Russia’s ongoing military actions and growing concerns about foreign influence within Finnish territory.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland has increasingly aligned its national defense and foreign policies with NATO and the European Union. The country officially joined NATO in April 2023, breaking a long-standing tradition of military non-alignment.
“This decision sends a clear message — we will not allow Finland to be undermined,” said Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen following the vote.
“I consider it very important, and I was very pleased that Parliament so comprehensively supported this proposal, which aims to strengthen national security.”
Häkkänen emphasized that the government is preparing further policies to specify which countries or actors may be classified as hostile.
His ministry is currently drafting a framework to assess whether nations or foreign entities pose a risk to Finland’s sovereignty, public safety, or critical infrastructure.
While no specific countries besides Russia were named in the legislation, officials made it clear that the law serves as a deterrent to any foreign attempt to gain a foothold in Finland through strategic property acquisitions.
In recent years, Finnish authorities have grown increasingly concerned about purchases of land and real estate near military installations and key communication infrastructure, often linked to Russian buyers.
The new restrictions are part of a broader legislative effort to strengthen Finland’s defense posture and internal security, particularly along its eastern border.
The move also reflects a trend among other Nordic and Baltic countries to tighten foreign ownership rules in sensitive areas.
The law is expected to come into force later this year, following procedural reviews and the development of a clear permitting process for eligible foreign residents.
Analysts say Finland’s latest decision could strain already fraught diplomatic relations with Moscow. Russia has yet to respond officially to the law, but previous Finnish actions aligned with NATO have drawn sharp criticism from the Kremlin.
Nevertheless, Finnish lawmakers appear unified in their resolve.
“Security comes first,” said one member of Parliament during Friday’s debate. “This is not about xenophobia or discrimination — it is about protecting our homeland.”