8 things to know about buying Croatian property
-
Loading... - Lucija Jukic
- 06 Jun 2022
- 295 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Croatia is a very safe place to live. If you don’t pay too much attention to the complicated bureaucracy, you can easily cast your anchor here. However, buying a property in Croatia can turn into a complicated process if you are not well informed.
Properties in Croatia are divided to:
- Apartments
- Family houses
- Agricultural lands
- Forest lands
- Construction lands
- Business properties
No matter what you decide to buy, you should familiarize yourself with some basic rules and best practices. It’s critical to have your eyes wide open when walking into the Croatian property market.
#1 Who can buy property in Croatia
Croatian citizens
Croatian citizens have the right to purchase all types of property, including agricultural land. In addition, citizens have access to housing loans with Croatian banks and also state subsidies. For example, there is a subsidy for young people who want to buy their first home. More information on this subsidy is available here.
EU/EEA and Swiss citizens
Nationals of EU/EEA member states and legal entities from EU/EEA member states can acquire the right of ownership under the same rules as Croatian nationals and legal entities with headquarters in Croatia, with regards to residential property. EU/EEA citizens are not allowed to purchase agricultural land as individuals, as there is currently a ban in place until 2023. They can only purchase agricultural land using a Croatian company.
An EU/EEA citizen can purchase residential property without obtaining consent from the Ministry of Justice.
Nationals of the Swiss Confederation can also acquire the right of ownership under the same guidelines as EU/EEA citizens. However, when applying for entry into the land registry, they must enclose proof of temporary stay together with the rest of the required documentation.
Non-EU/EEA citizens (including the UK)
If you are a third-country national, the right of ownership of a property in Croatia can be acquired on the basis of reciprocity. The principle of reciprocity is called “uzajamnost za stjecanje prava vlasništva na nekretninama u Republici Hrvatskoj”.
Croatia has mutual agreements with non-EU/EEA member states that define the right of ownership of property. These agreements vary by country. Generally speaking, these agreements mean “Our citizens can buy property in your country, your citizens can buy property in our country.”
Each of these agreements defines conditions for their citizens to own property in each country. Some conditions require having a permanent stay in Croatia, some define the size of the property, and some require that you live in the purchased property.
For the US and Canada, reciprocity agreements are defined at the state and province levels. If you are from the US or Canada, the Croatian Ministry of Justice will determine your rights according to your last residence (prebivalište) in US or Canada. Provide them with your ID card and a passport. Read More...
