The Estonian Ministry of the Interior has developed amendments that will prohibit citizens of Russia and Belarus without permanent residence permits from acquiring real estate within the country, marking a step towards strengthening national security.
The Estonian Ministry of the Interior is actively working on changes to legislation regarding the acquisition of real estate. These amendments aim to prohibit citizens of Russia and Belarus, who do not have a permanent residence permit, from purchasing properties within the country. This initiative is aimed at strengthening control over property ownership.
Goals and Justification
According to ERR, citing the explanatory note to the draft, the main goal of these measures is to prevent the use of real estate by hostile states or individuals under their control. This concerns potential threats such as espionage, sabotage, or influence operations directed against Estonia.
Who Will Be Affected by the Restrictions
The ban will apply not only to individuals but also to companies registered in Russia and Belarus. Legal entities where citizens of these states act as actual beneficiaries will also fall under the restrictions.
It is important to note that the new restrictions do not have retroactive effect and will not affect those who already hold long-term residence permits. These individuals have already undergone sufficient scrutiny by the state, confirming their reliability.
Exceptions and Flexibility
However, the Estonian government reserves the right to grant permits for real estate purchases in exceptional cases. This may occur for significant state reasons or for humanitarian considerations, providing certain flexibility in the application of the law.
The Ministry of the Interior emphasized that the proposed measures are a "moderate and legitimate restriction." They serve an important purpose of protecting national security while not affecting existing property rights and not depriving anyone of their current assets.
Impact Assessment and Timelines
According to the authors of the bill, this ban will affect about 600 transactions per year. It is expected that this will not have a significant impact on the overall real estate market in the country. The law is set to come into force on January 1, 2027.
Current Statistics
As of April 2025, there were 36,952 Russian citizens and 896 Belarusian citizens among property owners in Estonia. As of January 2026, 70,237 Russians and 1,190 Belarusians held permanent residence permits, while 7,797 Russians and 1,476 Belarusians held temporary permits.
