The property of foreigners: challenges

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  1. How much data is collected by your national land registry about a foreigner when making a real estate transaction?

In Finland we always check the nationality of the applicant and the personal identification information (passports for foreigners). We save the person’s name, birth date, nationality, and contact details. The nationality of the owner is not public information after the title registration is done, but it is shown in our system. Therefore, the nationality is known for all property owners.

2. Do you use a uniform person identification number?

2.1. If Yes, do you use persons assigned number or make your own national number?

Yes, all Finnish nationals have a unique personal identification number that consists of the persons birth date and a series of letters and numbers. Persons with foreign nationality living in Finland can get a Finnish identification number, if they are staying legally in Finland and there are grounds for registration; for example, working or studying in Finland.

For foreigners not living in Finland (and therefore not having a Finnish ID-number), but buying property, the National Land Survey creates an artificial identification number based on the persons birth date.

 3. Do all State information systems use the one/same person identification number?

Yes, for persons with Finnish nationality or foreign persons who have gained a Finnish ID-number based on living in Finland, all authorities use the same identification number (also banks, insurance companies and other private companies). Regarding foreign persons not living in Finland and not having a Finnish ID-number, the procedure might vary.

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