Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland buy property in Croatia on the same terms as Croatian citizens, without any special approval.
| Buyer | Conditions | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EU, EEA and Switzerland | Same as Croatian citizens; no ministry approval needed | Swiss citizens attach a certificate of registered temporary residence to the registration application |
| Other countries | Approval of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation is required, subject to reciprocity with the buyer's country | Without approval the contract is void; agricultural land is not available |
What you need to buy
- OIBthe Croatian personal identification number. It is issued by the Tax Administration and can also be requested through a Croatian embassy or consulate.
- Passport or ID cardfor the notary to certify your signature.
- Power of attorneyif you cannot come in person, an authorised representative can sign the contract. A power of attorney certified abroad usually needs an apostille and a certified translation.
- Bank accountnot mandatory, but it makes paying utilities and taxes easier.
Buyers from outside the EU: the approval procedure
The application is submitted to the ministry in Zagreb together with the purchase contract, the land registry extract, a confirmation from the competent office on whether the property lies within the building zone, proof of citizenship and a power of attorney if a representative is involved. The ministry publishes the list of countries with reciprocity. Another option is to buy through a company registered in Croatia.
Buying remotely. Most steps can be completed without you travelling: video viewings, signing through a power of attorney, payment via a notary's or lawyer's escrow account, and the land registry entry.