Guide
Buying Property in Lapland
Finland's property market is open to international buyers. Here's everything you need to know, from first enquiry to handing over the keys.
Finland's property market is open to international buyers. Here's everything you need to know, from first enquiry to handing over the keys.
EU and EEA citizens can purchase property in Finland without restrictions. Citizens of other countries may also buy Finnish property. There are generally no additional restrictions for real estate purchases in Lapland.
There is no requirement to reside in Finland or hold a Finnish bank account to complete a purchase. We assist international buyers through the entire process in English.
Property transactions in Finland are handled through a licensed real estate agent (LKV). The process is transparent and well regulated.
We identify properties matching your criteria, including off-market options. Once you find a property you are interested in, we arrange viewings and provide all relevant documentation.
Offers are made together with your agent. If the seller accepts the offer, we can proceed to completion. In Finland, an offer on housing company shares is legally binding once accepted.
For new developments, apartments are reserved before the binding purchase with a reservation fee, typically €2,000–€10,000. This fee is fully refundable if the buyer decides not to proceed to a binding purchase.
The purchase agreement (kauppakirja) is signed in the presence of a licensed agent. For shares in a housing company (asunto-osakeyhtiö), this takes place at the agent's office. For real estate (kiinteistö), at the Land Registry office or digitally via the national DIAS system.
The agreement can be signed electronically, or we can act on your behalf using a power of attorney, which is useful for international buyers who cannot attend in person. If we identify you fully remotely, we require notarisation of your passport by a notary public to verify its authenticity.
Transfer tax (varainsiirtovero) is paid within two months of signing: 1.5% for housing company shares (asunto-osakeyhtiö) and 3% for real estate (kiinteistö). The buyer pays this at the time of purchase. The purchase is then registered with the Land Register of Finland.
Many Finnish properties, particularly holiday apartments, are sold with a housing company loan (yhtiölaina). This is a shared loan held by the housing company, not the individual buyer. The asking price shown in listings is typically the debt-free price (velaton hinta), which includes your share of this loan.
In new developments, a housing company loan is included in the property. Buyers are not obligated to take on this loan. It can be paid off in full at the time of purchase.
We explain all of this clearly for each property we present. You will always know the true cost of ownership before making any commitment.
Required for identity verification at the time of signing.
Your agent may request confirmation that funds are available. Finnish banks can provide mortgage financing to international buyers, subject to standard eligibility criteria.
We offer a dedicated buyer service for international clients starting from €5,000 per person. This includes:
The purchase agreement is typically signed electronically. We can also act on your behalf using a power of attorney.
If we identify you fully remotely using a valid passport, we require notarisation of the passport by a notary public to verify its authenticity.
If you are a citizen of a country outside the European Union or European Economic Area, Finnish law requires you to obtain a permit from the Ministry of Defence (Puolustusministeriö) before purchasing real estate (kiinteistö). This applies to land and detached houses, but not to housing company shares (apartments and holiday apartments in housing companies).
As part of our international buyer service, we assist you in applying for this permit. Processing times vary, so we recommend starting early. The permit application does not guarantee approval, but in practice permits are routinely granted for residential and holiday property purchases.
In summary: Buying a housing company share (lomahuoneisto, asunto): no permit needed, regardless of nationality. Buying a plot or detached house (kiinteistö) as a non-EU/EEA citizen: permit required from the Ministry of Defence before purchase.
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