Countries Where U.S. Citizens Can Buy Property 2025

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Can US Citizens Buy Property?

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Country
Can US Citizens Buy Property?
Additional Details
IndiaYes
United StatesYes
BrazilYes
EgyptYes
PhilippinesYes
GermanyYes
United KingdomYes
FranceYes
ItalyYes
ColombiaYes
South KoreaYes
  • Foreign nationals can acquire land in Korea through simple notification, with • the exception of land subject to prior permission. - Information about the necessity of prior notification or permission can be obtained from relevant divisions of the city/county/district offices
SpainYes
ArgentinaYes
GhanaYes
JordanYes
PortugalYes
IsraelYes
IrelandYes
Costa RicaYes
PanamaYes
MoldovaYes
JamaicaYes
LithuaniaYes
  • Foreigners can acquire all types of real estate in Lithuania, except agricultural and forest land
BelizeYes
BahamasYes
BarbadosYes
Saint LuciaYes
GrenadaYes
Antigua and BarbudaYes
DominicaYes
BermudaYes
Saint Kitts and NevisYes
AnguillaYes
ThailandProhibited
  • U.S. citizens are prohibited from buying land in Thailand, they can, however, apply for long term land leases of up to 30 years and build structures upon the land. They can also buy condominiums from property developers.
MyanmarProhibited
  • As a general rule, the TIPRA restricts foreigners from owning real property in Myanmar.
North KoreaProhibited
  • It is illegal in North Korea to buy, sell and rent out houses
IranPermit Required
  • Within the framework of the law and bylaws of aliens’ proprietorship, ownership of land within the confines of personal use is allowed for foreign natural persons. Establishing the ownership [however] requires acquiring special permit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
PolandPermit Required
  • Foreigners are allowed to buy properties in Poland. EU companies and citizens are unrestricted. While other nationals and corporations may be required to obtain permit from Ministry of Internal Affairs. Purchase of apartment predominantly does not require a permit.
CanadaNo
  • On December 2, 2022, the Privy Council passed an Order in Council confirming regulations related to the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act (the Act). The Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Regulations (the Regulation) was published on December 21, 2022, in the Canada Gazette. The Regulation came into force on January 1, 2023, along with the Act.
  • The Act prohibits "non-Canadians" from purchasing any residential property directly or indirectly from January 1, 2023, to December 31, 2024
SerbiaNo
  • Acquisition of real estate in Serbia is not only possible for foreign individuals, but also for foreign legal entities.
New ZealandNo
  • Overseas people usually cannot buy a house or land in New Zealand. If you have a residence class visa but you are not yet 'ordinarily resident', you can buy or build one home to live in as long as you get consent from the Overseas Investment Office before you buy. You can apply for pre-approval that lasts up to a year.
EstoniaNo
  • Aliens are not allowed to buy property in the border areas.
  • Conditions. Only citizens of Estonia, the EU, and the EEA, as well as legal persons, can do it, and only with the permission of the government.
ChinaMust Meet Conditions
  • According to the Chinese Property Law, foreigners cannot buy land in China, as the land belongs to the state. Even if some limitations exist, foreigners who work in China or want to relocate here can purchase a property according to their needs and budget
BangladeshMust Meet Conditions
  • Foreigners are only allowed to purchase flats for residential purposes, and they must obtain approval from the Bangladesh Board of Investment. In addition, the property must be located in an approved area, and the purchase price must be paid in full in foreign currency
MexicoMust Meet Conditions
  • Restrictions. As a foreigner, you are not allowed to buy property within 62 miles (100 km) of the international border or 31 miles (about 50 km) of the coast. However, these restrictions can be circumvented legally, either by purchasing the property through a Mexican land trust (fideicomiso) or through a Mexican corporation.
  • Ejido (land granted by the government to the indigenous peoples of Mexico) cannot belong to foreigners.
VietnamMust Meet Conditions
  • Foreign individuals can own apartments for a maximum of 50 years; foreign companies—for the period specified in their investment certificate.
  • Also note that resident foreigners cannot sublet residential property purchased in Vietnam.
TurkeyMust Meet Conditions
  • Non-residents may purchase real estate in Turkey, the total area of which does not exceed 25,000 square meters.
  • The Turkish government prohibits foreign nationals from buying property in border and military areas. Besides, each foreign citizen is allowed to own up to 10 percent of the real estate in a certain place or city.
United Arab EmiratesMust Meet Conditions
  • The right to buy property in full ownership anywhere in the UAE belongs to the citizens of this country as well as foreigners from the Middle East, such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. Companies registered in these states also have this opportunity.
  • A non-Arab foreigner can buy housing and commercial properties only in certain freehold areas of the UAE. Objects located in free zones are in full private ownership and can be sold, rented, donated, or passed on by inheritance.
  • Can a foreigner buy a house in Dubai? Yes, between 2006 and 2008, regulations were passed that approved a list of free zones in Dubai, Umm Al Kuwait, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ajman. In 2019, freehold ownership became available to foreigners in Abu Dhabi as well. In Dubai, for example, there are currently more than 60 freehold areas.
  • In the United Arab Emirates, there are also freehold areas where the property is sold as a long-term lease (with a maximum term of 99 years). At the end of this period, the tenant must return the property to the owner, but it is possible to extend the contract for a similar period for yourself or a relative. It is also possible to sell the property before the lease expires by transferring the remaining lease time to the buyer. This type of property is available only to citizens of Arab countries.
GreeceMust Meet Conditions
  • Foreigners who are not citizens of the EU and the EEA (European Economic Area) are not allowed to buy real estate in Greece near military bases and national boundaries, in particular in some regions of Northern Greece, Crete and Rhodes, the East Aegean Islands, and the Dodecanese Archipelago.
HungaryMust Meet Conditions
  • Foreigners are required to obtain permission from the local authorities to purchase the property. It is not required if the purchase is made by the company, i.e., a legal entity.
AustriaMust Meet Conditions
  • To buy property in Austria, you must meet one of the following requirements:
  • - have the citizenship of a country of the European Union;
  • - have an Austrian residence permit;
  • - to buy in the name of the legal entity registered in the EU;
  • - obtain a permit from the local authorities at the Land Commission
SwitzerlandMust Meet Conditions
  • Foreigners are allowed to buy real estate in Switzerland, but the conditions vary depending on the type of property and the buyer's country of origin. Switzerland has a specific federal law regulating how foreigners can buy property, known as the “Lex Koller” (after former justice minister Arnold Koller)
DenmarkMust Meet Conditions
  • A foreigner may buy property in Denmark only for their main place of residence or business.
  • Conditions. But only if he meets one of the requirements:
  • 1. The Person has previously lived in Denmark for at least five years;
  • 2. The Person is a citizen of the EU and works in Denmark;
  • 3. The Person is a citizen of a non-EU country with a valid permit to stay or do business.
SingaporeMust Meet Conditions
  • Foreigners can buy property in Singapore, but with certain restrictions. Only Singapore nationals and permanent residents can avail of the subsidized housing by the Housing & Development Board (HBD).
FinlandMust Meet Conditions
  • Buyers of real estate in Finland from outside the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) must obtain a purchase permit from the Ministry of Defense of this country. It will not be needed if the apartment is owned by a housing company.
  • Restrictions. Foreigners are not allowed to buy property in Åland. This is only possible with the right of residence in Åland, to which only the children of the original inhabitants of the archipelago and Finnish citizens may apply.
SloveniaMust Meet Conditions
  • Restrictions. Individuals who are not EU citizens may not buy property in Slovenia.
  • Conditions. To buy real estate or land, it is possible to buy a legal entity registered in Slovenia.
CyprusMust Meet Conditions
  • Non-EU and EEA citizens who want to buy property in Cyprus will need official permission from the Council of Ministers of the country. It is usually readily granted for the purchase of a house or plot of land not exceeding 4014 square meters.
MontenegroMust Meet Conditions
  • Foreigners can not buy property less than one kilometer from the state border, as well as facilities on islands and objects of strategic importance.
MaltaMust Meet Conditions
  • To buy property in Malta, a foreigner must:
  • Obtain official permission from the authorities—Acquisition of Immovable Property Act (AIP Permit). An AIP permit is required to buy property in any area except Special Designated Areas. EU citizens who have lived on the island for the past five years, as well as their spouses who do not have European citizenship, will not need a permit, and these benefits also apply to EU citizens who acquire real estate for business or services.
  • Acquire an object worth more than a certain minimum set by the National Bureau of Statistics (€136.9 thousand for apartments and €236.5 for other objects). This amount is often revised.
  • Specifics of property purchases can vary greatly by country.
  • For example, while many countries allow foreigners to purchase property with no residency requirement, others may require the purchaser to make the purchased property their primary residence.
  • Also, many countries offer an accelerated path to citizenship for foreign individuals willing to invest in property.