Purchase, sale and rental of real estate

Real estate purchase for foreign nationals

Get informed how and under what conditions foreign nationals can acquire ownership rights in real estate in Croatia 

Citizens of the EU, Republic of Iceland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Kingdom of Norway and Swiss Confederation

If you are an EU citizen or a legal person from an EU Member State, Republic of Iceland, Principality of Liechtenstein or Kingdom of Norway, you can acquire ownership rights in real estate in Croatia under the same conditions as Croatian nationals and legal persons with a registered seat in Croatia, with the exception of real estate in exempted areas – agricultural land is governed by a special law, so acquisition of ownership rights in such land is not subject to consent by the Minister of Justice and Public Administration. However, please note that citizens and legal persons from the European Union cannot acquire agricultural land until 30 June 2023.  
 
If you are a citizen of the Swiss Confederation, you can acquire ownership rights in real estate in Croatia under the same conditions as Croatian nationals and legal persons with a registered seat in Croatia, with the exception of real estate in exempted areas – agricultural land is governed by a special law, so acquisition of ownership rights in such land is not subject to consent by the Minister of Justice and Public Administration. However, please note that the documents enclosed with the proposal for registration of ownership that you submit to the competent land registry court must include a certificate of temporary residence in Croatia.
 

Citizens of countries other than EU Member States, Republic of Iceland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Kingdom of Norway or Swiss Confederation 

Consent for the acquisition of ownership rights in real estate in Croatia by foreign nationals is a matter of administrative procedure conducted at the request of the foreign person who intends to acquire ownership of specific real estate or a person who intends to alienate the real estate, provided that there is reciprocity in the matter of acquisition of real estate ownership between the country of citizenship of the prospective owner and the Republic of Croatia. An updated list of countries which comply with the reciprocity principle is available under Information on reciprocity in the acquisition of ownership rights in real estate between the Republic of Croatia and countries other than EU Member States, Republic of Iceland, Principality of Liechtenstein, Kingdom of Norway or Swiss Confederation.

A written application must be submitted to the Registry and Archives Department or by post to the following address:

Ministarstvo pravosuđa i uprave Republike Hrvatske
Uprava za građansko, trgovačko  i upravno pravo
Ulica grada Vukovara 49
10000 Zagreb.
 
The following documents must be enclosed with the application:
  • legal basis of the acquisition of ownership (real estate purchase agreement, deed of gift, lifelong support contract, etc.), the original or a certified copy,
  • proof of ownership by the seller of the relevant real estate, i.e. a copy from the land register,
  • certificate of the administrative body competent for urban and physical planning, according to the location of the real estate, on the legal status of the real estate (whether it is within boundaries of the construction area envisaged by the urban development plan),
  • proof of citizenship (e.g. certified copy of passport) or proof of legal entity status (copy from the court register) if you are a foreign legal entity,
  • if you are represented by an attorney-in-fact, the original power of attorney or a certified copy thereof must be submitted.
  • if you are abroad and have not designated an attorney-in-fact to represent them, they must designate an attorney-in-fact for receipt of documents with a domicile in Croatia.
 
You will be invited to submit additional documents, within an appropriate period, if they are required for the procedure.