Citizens of EU countries free to acquire properties in Croatia

On 5 December 2008, the Act on Amendments to the Act on Ownership and Other Real Rights was adopted, which has equalized citizens and legal persons from EU Member States with domestic persons by removing from the current Act special assumptions (reciprocity and consent of the Minister of Justice) for acquiring the right to real property ownership in the Republic of Croatia (article 60/2 SAA) Therefore, when the Amendments to the Act enter into force on 1 February 2009, the citizens of the European Union Member States will acquire the right to real property ownership in the Republic of Croatia under the same condition as domestic persons.

Concerning persons who are not citizens of EU Member States, but who plan on acquiring real property in RC, reciprocity and consent of the Minister remain as assumptions which must be fulfilled in order for a person to acquire real property.

Procedures which have been motioned by citizens of EU Member State for acquiring real property ownership in the RC, but have not been completed by a final decision before the Act on Amendments to the Act on Ownership and Other Real Rights has entered into force, will be discontinued by official duty.

Legal transaction which was concluded before the Act on Amendments to the Act on Ownership and Other Real Rights has entered into force, has the aim of acquiring the right of real property ownership in the Republic of Croatia which a citizen or legal person from the EU Member States has concluded as the acquisitor, is considered valid if the general assumptions have been fulfilled for the validity of that legal transaction and if the legal transaction is completed (convalidation – retroactive enforcement of the Act on Amendments).

However, foreigners will not be allowed to acquire agricultural land, maritime good and protected areas of nature as private individuals.