Buying real estate in Croatia as a private person

In Croatia, there are a number of features in the procedure of buying real estate for different categories of foreign citizens. Citizens of foreign countries which are not members of the European Union has the right to purchase real estate as individuals if the country of citizenship has an Agreement on reciprocity (reciprocity) with Croatia and only after obtaining the approval of deal from the Ministry of Justice of the country.

In addition, citizens of foreign countries can not purchase agricultural land, forest fund lands and facilities in protected areas - buying a property of this kind requires the registration of a legal entity.

Citizens of the European Union, including Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, as well as companies registered in the EU, can purchase real estate on an equal footing with citizens and legal entities of Croatia, without approval of deal in the Ministry.

Obtaining the approval of deal from the Ministry of Justice of Croatia

For citizens of foreign countries which are not members of the European Union, obtaining the approval of deal is a necessary stage of purchase of real estate. This procedure follows after conclusion of the contract of sale and payment of value.

Only after the adoption of a positive decision of the Ministry the right of a new owner can be registered in the Land Register (Zemljisna knjiga) . This procedure is formality, but it can take several months (usually 3-5 months), depending on the degree of workload of the relevant department of the ministry. But during this time legal instruments provides to protect the rights of the buyer, which don’t allow the seller to dispose of the property and the buyer may already  live in new house.