How to establish my business and buy a home as foreigner

[strounchette]

Hello,

I am a French self-employed guide specialized on the Nordic countries. For the last 6 years I have been renting a chalet in Lapland to welcome French guests over the winter season. Since I spent a lot of money on the rental every year I am now considering on buying a chalet but I do not intend to be a permanent resident in Finland. I will be there just 4-5 months per year and the rest of the time I will be working in Iceland, Norway and other destinations as usual.

My home country is France, therefore my idea is to buy the chalet I usually rent as a second home but depending of the legal aspects I might need to create a company in Finland or to register (or not?) to be able to run my business (?). The owner of the chalet is ready to sell his property and he provided the information I need. As my French bank doesn't fund the purchase of real estate abroad I need to find a Finnish bank and to move quickly.

I spent hours on websites but my situation being a bit specific I would really appreciate any advice or contacts you may have.

Many thanks in advance !

Marc

[betelgeuse]

I am a French self-employed guide specialized on the Nordic countries. For the last 6 years I have been renting a chalet in Lapland to welcome French guests over the winter season. Since I spent a lot of money on the rental every year I am now considering on buying a chalet but I do not intend to be a permanent resident in Finland. I will be there just 4-5 months per year and the rest of the time I will be working in Iceland, Norway and other destinations as usual.

My home country is France, therefore my idea is to buy the chalet I usually rent as a second home but depending of the legal aspects I might need to create a company in Finland or to register (or not?) to be able to run my business (?). The owner of the chalet is ready to sell his property and he provided the information I need. As my French bank doesn't fund the purchase of real estate abroad I need to find a Finnish bank and to move quickly.

I spent hours on websites but my situation being a bit specific I would really appreciate any advice or contacts you may have.

This implies you should have already been filing tax returns in Finland. You should get help from an accountant to get things in order. You don't need a company as it's possible to do things as a private trader. However, it's not often the most tax efficient structure.

[strounchette]

Thank you for your advices. I forgot to mention that the travelers are all paying their trip in France via my partners. As self employed I was told that I do not need to register in Finland if working there less than 6 months.

If you know any French entrepreneurs in Finland or have any connection with bankers or accountants, please let me know.

Thanks again.

Marc

[betelgeuse]

Thank you for your advices. I forgot to mention that the travelers are all paying their trip in France via my partners. As self employed I was told that I do not need to register in Finland if working there less than 6 months.

I interpreted welcoming French guests to mean that they stay at the chalet. In this case you would have been receiving rental income which always needs to be declared. The chalet might also mean you have a permanent establishment which means the 6 months wouldn't apply. For social security purposes you also need to have had an A1 certificate from France.

[FinlandGirl]

I am now considering on buying a chalet but I do not intend to be a permanent resident in Finland.
...
As my French bank doesn't fund the purchase of real estate abroad I need to find a Finnish bank

I would be surprised if you manage to find a Finnish bank willing to grant a mortgage to a foreigner without Finnish credit history who does not even live in the country.

[inkku]

Thank you for your advices. I forgot to mention that the travelers are all paying their trip in France via my partners. As self employed I was told that I do not need to register in Finland if working there less than 6 months.

If you know any French entrepreneurs in Finland or have any connection with bankers or accountants, please let me know.

Thanks again.

Marc

Perhaps asking the Chambre de Commerce?
https://www.ccff.fr/

[inkku]

or https://twitter.com/salutfinlande

[betelgeuse]

I would be surprised if you manage to find a Finnish bank willing to grant a mortgage to a foreigner without Finnish credit history who does not even live in the country.

What's a good way to establish credit history in Finland?

The only way to do it is by permanent residence status in the population register. The longer you have had it while having no negative events, the better. There's no positive register in Finland (against the current law).

[betelgeuse]

The only way to do it is by permanent residence status in the population register. The longer you have had it while having no negative events, the better. There's no positive register in Finland (against the current law).

Is right of residence (eu family) considered permanent status?

It's separate from immigration status. The other term for the status is having a municipality of residence. For example, an EU family member in Finland on a 4 month holiday (would still need to register right of residence) would not have a municipality of residence.

What is an example of a negative event?

A court order for the purpose of collecting a debt.

How can one check these negative events record?

https://www.asiakastieto.fi/web/fi/kulu ... yynto.html

[FinlandGirl]

I would be surprised if you manage to find a Finnish bank willing to grant a mortgage to a foreigner without Finnish credit history who does not even live in the country.

What's a good way to establish credit history in Finland?

The only way is living for several years in Finland without defaulting on any debt.

[FinlandGirl]

or have any connection with bankers or accountants,

http://www.paritilit.fi/?lang=en

[agroot]

Would it help to move holding of investment (stocks etc) from 3rd party to local banks here?

[FinlandGirl]

Would it help to move holding of investment (stocks etc) from 3rd party to local banks here?

There are no stocks in self-employment.

[betelgeuse]

Would it help to move holding of investment (stocks etc) from 3rd party to local banks here?

There are no stocks in self-employment.

Not true. It’s possible to have stocks handled under EVL. However, passive long term investing is likely to be TVL.

[FinlandGirl]

Would it help to move holding of investment (stocks etc) from 3rd party to local banks here?

There are no stocks in self-employment.

Not true. It’s possible to have stocks handled under EVL. However, passive long term investing is likely to be TVL.

It is possible for a person residing in France to have stocks in their self-employment business handled under EVL?

In reality moving a self-employment business from France to Finland requires the person to move their residence.