Foreigners – acquisition of the real estate in the Republic of Croatia

Foreigners are allowed to acquire the real estate in the Republic of Croatia under the special conditions provided under the Ownership and Other Proprietary Rights Act. Therefore the Ownership and Other Proprietary Rights Act provides the conditions for acquisition of the real estate by the foreign citizens who are not citizens of the member states of the European Union and the conditions for acquisition of the real estate by the foreign citizens who are citizens of the member states of the European Union.

Foreigners who are not citizens of the member states of the European Union

Foreign natural and legal persons are allowed to acquire the real estate in the Republic of Croatia under the presumption of reciprocity if the Minister of Justice grants his approval for such acquisition. The request for granting such approval can be submitted by the foreign person intending to acquire the ownership of a certain real estate or by the person intending to transfer his ownership right to a foreign person. In general, there are no difficulties for obtaining the approval, if there are no exceptional circumstances, so it could be considered a formality.

Foreign person cannot acquire the ownership of the real estate located in excluded areas in order to protect the interests of the Republic of Croatia, agricultural plots, protected parts of nature and woods and woodland areas.

Foreigners who are citizens of the member states of the European Union

Legal and natural persons originating from the member states of the European Union can the ownership of the real estate under the same conditions valid for the Croatian citizens and Croatian legal persons. This rule does not apply on the real estates located in excluded areas, such as agricultural areas or protected natural areas according to the special law.