Government & Regulatory Affairs in Finland

Essentials guide · Source-checked research47% of statements checked against a source25 checked against an official source0 checked against a secondary sourceChecked 2026-10-1911 held back until checked against an official source11 topics include AI-written statements, not source-checkedNot yet professionally reviewed

• A new limited liability company is registered by filing a start-up notification with the Trade Register, kept by the Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH), through the online service at ytj.fi within three months of signing the memorandum of association; if the deadline is missed, the incorporation lapses.

  Limited liability companies. A foreign trader must notify its branch to the Trade Register before the branch starts operating (PRH page "Branch of a foreign trader",, updated 17 June 2026).Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PRH) · checked 2026-10-19

• Under the Act on the Screening of Foreign Corporate Acquisitions, a foreign owner acquiring at least one tenth, one third or one half of the votes or equivalent control in a defence or security sector company must apply to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment in advance, while notification of acquisitions of other companies critical to security of supply or functions vital to society is voluntary.

  A foreign owner is generally a person or organisation not domiciled in the EU or EFTA, or an EU or EFTA organisation in which such a person holds at least one tenth of the votes; for the defence sector, EU and EFTA buyers also count as foreign owners. Only a Government plenary session can refuse confirmation.Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (TEM) · checked 2026-10-19

• The Finnish Tax Administration keeps the VAT register and the register of employers; a business must register for VAT if its annual VAT-liable turnover exceeds EUR 20,000.

  Businesses with VAT-liable sales in Finland; regular employers register as employers.Finnish Tax Administration (Verohallinto) · checked 2026-10-19

• Banking, insurance, investment services and payment services require authorisation from the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA, Finanssivalvonta).

  Regulated financial activities; EEA firms may passport.AI-written, not source-checked

• Buyers from outside the EU and EEA, including EU or EEA entities in which a non-EU or non-EEA person holds at least 10% or equivalent influence, need a permit from the Ministry of Defence to acquire real estate in Finland.

  Individuals without EU or EEA nationality and entities domiciled outside the EU and EEA; permanent residence in Finland does not remove the requirement. Exceptions include some purchases with an EU or EEA spouse, purchases from close relatives and shares in housing companies.Ministry of Defence (Puolustusministeriö) · checked 2026-10-19

• Public procurement in Finland follows the EU procurement directives as implemented in the Finnish Act on Public Procurement and Concession Contracts.

  Contracting authorities and covered contracts.AI-written, not source-checked

• Business Finland is the government organisation for innovation funding, trade and investment promotion.

  Funding and investment support.AI-written, not source-checked

• Customs administration in Finland is carried out by Finnish Customs (Tulli).

  Customs declarations, duties and related controls.AI-written, not source-checked

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