The Estonian Ministry of the Interior has prepared amendments to the law restricting real estate purchases. The changes, which will affect citizens of Russia and Belarus, are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Citizens of Russia and Belarus who do not have permanent residency in Estonia will be prohibited from purchasing real estate in the country. The Estonian Ministry of the Interior has already prepared amendments to the relevant law, the Estonian National Broadcasting ERR reported on Monday, April 27.
The ban will also extend to companies from these countries and legal entities in which these citizens are the actual beneficiaries. Furthermore, it will affect apartments, which until now were outside the scope of the law restricting real estate purchases.
The document does not have retroactive effect and will not be applied to those with long-term residency in the country. At the same time, the government will retain the option to grant permission to purchase in exceptional cases.
"The goal is to protect the security of the Estonian state"
"The proposed measure is a moderate and legitimate restriction that serves a very significant purpose - the protection of the security of the Estonian state," the explanatory note states.
According to the authors, the project also complies with EU law, which allows for the restriction of the free movement of capital on grounds of public order.
"Individuals will still have the opportunity to rent or lease real estate, and the government of the republic may grant permission to acquire real estate for significant state reasons or for humanitarian considerations," the note further emphasizes.
Amendments to Take Effect in 2027
The restriction will affect approximately 600 transactions per year. The amendments are set to take effect on January 1, 2027.
As of April 2025, 36,952 Russian citizens and 896 Belarusian citizens owned real estate in Estonia. As of January this year, there were 7,797 Russian citizens with temporary residency and 70,237 with permanent residency in Estonia, as well as 1,476 Belarusian citizens with temporary residency and 1,190 with permanent residency, according to "Deutsche Welle."
