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Buying land and property in Suriname
Much land in Suriname is state land, issued on land lease (grondhuur). You can also buy freehold land. On transfer you pay 4% transfer tax and everything goes through a notary.
Land lease or freehold?
| Land lease (state land) | Freehold | |
|---|---|---|
| Term | 15 to 40 years, with an annual fee (canon) | Unlimited |
| Who | Surinamese citizens living in Suriname and Surinamese legal entities; others only with Council of Ministers consent | Bought from an owner |
| Reselling | With ministerial consent, not within 2 years | Free, through a notary |
Converting lease to freehold
Under the 2023 Land Conversion Decree you can convert a housing or horticulture lease into freehold, up to 2,500 m². The price was SRD 25 per m² in the first year and can be adjusted yearly. Notary fees range from SRD 2,000 to 5,000 depending on the area. Since May 2025 holders of expired leases with a pending renewal can also apply. Apply at the Conversion Unit; decision within 2 months.
Costs when buying
- Transfer tax: 4% of the value (reduced from 7% in October 2022). 0.5% for transfers to relatives up to the second degree.
- Notary fees and registration in the land registry.
- A mortgage if any: interest is deductible for income tax up to a debt of SRD 871,500. Income tax and returns
Check before you buy
- Get an extract from the mortgage register at MI-GLIS (land registry): who owns it, are there mortgages or seizures on it?
- For a lease: is the fee paid and is the term still running?
- Have the boundaries measured and compare with the cadastral map.
- Never pay the seller without a notary.
Convert amounts from euro or dollar · Living and working in Suriname
Sources
- Decreet Uitgifte Domeingrond
- Besluit Grondconversie 2023 (S.B. 2023 no. 159)
- Wijziging Besluit Grondconversie (S.B. 2025 no. 74)
- S.B. 2022 no. 119, overdrachtsbelasting 4%
Checked on 17 October 2026. General information, not legal advice. Consult a notary.