Latvia forbade to acquire real estate to citizens of Russia and Belarus

The Latvian Sejm adopted the Law “On the restriction of transactions that threaten national security”, which prohibits citizens of Russia and Belarus to acquire real estate in the country, reports LSM.

The ban applies both to individuals - citizens of the Russian Federation and Belarus, and to legal entities registered in these countries. It will act only in relation to transactions concluded after the law entered into force - previously acquired real estate may remain with Russians and Belarusians in the property.

The banners of a permanent residence permit issued by Latvia, if we are talking about the acquisition of only housing, do not fall under the ban. Also, citizens of the Russian Federation can inherit property in Latvia from relatives.

• In April 2025, a similar law was adopted in Finland. According to him, only citizens of the Russian Federation with a permanent residence permit can buy real estate in the country. Since 2023, similar measures have been operating in Lithuania - however, unlike Finland and Latvia, they are formalized as temporary sanctions, and not a constant norm of legislation, and do not apply to owners of any residence permit, including temporary.