{"id":23546,"date":"2026-05-27T11:16:30","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:16:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/?page_id=23546"},"modified":"2026-05-27T11:16:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T09:16:32","slug":"faq-buying-real-estate-in-croatia","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/faq-buying-real-estate-in-croatia\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ: Buying Real Estate in Croatia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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1. What is the process of buying real estate in Croatia \u2013 what are a down payment, a pre-contract, and a tabular statement (tabularna izjava)?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

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If you want to buy property in Croatia, you first need to agree on the terms of sale, and if necessary, sign a pre-contract and pay a down payment. A pre-contract is a document that defines the essential terms of the sale, such as the price, deadlines, and property details. The down payment (kapara) serves as a guarantee that the contractual obligations will be fulfilled, and it usually amounts to about 10% of the property’s value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following this, the main purchase agreement is signed and notarized by a public notary. Please note that ownership is not acquired simply by signing the agreement, but by registration in the land registry. To facilitate this, the seller signs a tabular statement (tabularna izjava), a document that grants you unconditional permission to transfer the ownership title into your name. Before making a purchase, always ensure that the property has all the necessary documentation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2. Can foreign citizens buy property in Croatia, and is mortgage financing available?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yes, foreign citizens can buy an apartment or a house in Croatia, but the conditions depend on their citizenship. EU citizens enjoy the same rights as Croatian citizens, while third-country nationals (non-EU\/EEA) may, in some cases, require additional approval from the Ministry of Justice. As for financing, obtaining a mortgage is possible, but banks assess each buyer on an individual basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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3. What are the total costs of buying real estate in Croatia, and how much is the property transfer tax?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The purchase price of the property is not the only cost. There is a property transfer tax of 3%, which is paid by the buyer. Additionally, you should budget for public notary fees, attorney fees, and potential real estate agency commissions. When everything is added up, these closing costs typically range between 5% and 10% of the property value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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4. What is the deadline for paying the property transfer tax?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The property transfer tax is not paid immediately upon purchase. After the contract is signed, the public notary submits the documentation to the Tax Administration within 30 days. You will then receive a tax assessment notice (rje\u0161enje), and you have 15 days from the day of receipt to make the payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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5. What if the house or apartment has multiple co-owners, encumbrances, registered claims, or an active mortgage?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If there are multiple owners, all of them must agree to the sale; if even one co-owner does not consent, the transaction cannot proceed. Regarding encumbrances\u2014such as mortgages, bank loans, or registered legal claims\u2014these do not necessarily mean the purchase is impossible, but it is crucial to verify exactly what they entail. All this information can be found in the land registry certificate (vlasni\u010dki list). In most situations, a portion of the purchase price is used directly to clear the remaining loan, which subsequently removes the mortgage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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6. What is an occupancy permit (uporabna dozvola), and can it be obtained retroactively?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An occupancy permit confirms that the building was completed in accordance with the building permit and is safe for its intended use. If a property lacks this permit, you may face issues regarding its sale, securing a mortgage, or legally using the property. In certain situations, it is possible to obtain it retroactively, but this depends on the state of the existing documentation and the building’s compliance with regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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7. How do I check the building permit and the construction potential of a plot of land? Is there a deadline to start construction?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, you need to check whether the land is located within a designated zoning\/construction area (gra\u0111evinska zona), as construction is prohibited outside of it. Next, you should request a location information document (lokacijska informacija) from the competent local authority. This document outlines the specific zoning requirements and conditions for the plot, which you can then analyze with a professional (such as an architect). If a building permit has already been issued, make sure it is still valid, as construction must commence within 3 years from the date the permit becomes final.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1. What is the process of buying real estate in Croatia \u2013 what are a down payment, a pre-contract, and a tabular statement (tabularna izjava)? If you want to buy property in Croatia, you first need to agree on the terms of sale, and if necessary, sign a pre-contract and pay a down payment. A…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"slim_seo":{"title":"FAQ: Buying Real Estate in Croatia - Zadar-dienst.hr English","description":"1. What is the process of buying real estate in Croatia \u2013 what are a down payment, a pre-contract, and a tabular statement (tabularna izjava)? If you want to bu"},"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-23546","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23546","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23546"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23546\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23547,"href":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/23546\/revisions\/23547"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/zadar-dienst.hr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23546"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}