• Life in Croatia: Where to look to buy a car abroad
• What happens when you bring the car to Croatia?
• Documentation and homologisation
• Importing a car to Croatia: tax payments
• Insurance and registration
• Starting a new life in Croatia with a foreign car?
• EU citizens moving to Croatia
• Life in Croatia: you could be fined if…

It remains my biggest bureaucratic triumph of my 16 years in Croatia. Left to my own devices by my very patient Croatian wife and armed only with a huge hangover, I went to do battle with Croatian customs to import a car I had bought in Germany a month earlier.

The idea of technical inspections and going from office to office meant that I had delayed the inevitable torture until the very last minute. But I triumphed in the end. And I emerged about 4 hours later with a legally imported vehicle. You can read how I did it way back in 2014.

That was then. I have had hundreds of emails since that article. It seems more people than ever are looking to import cars into Croatia. Here is what you need to know.

Life in Croatia: Where to look to buy a car abroad

First things first – buying a car in Croatia is expensive. Like many things in the country, you will get a lot more for your euro if you buy abroad.

While most of the people searching for this article will be foreigners who want to bring a car to Croatia, the reality is that locals own the majority of foreign cars in Croatia.

I know of several people, for example, who make their living through regular trips to Germany buying cars for friends and contacts. With 1-2,000 euro profit per trip, it makes for a very relaxed life.

Ah, life in Croatia…

Here are a couple of resources if you are looking to buy a car abroad, living in Croatia.

What happens when you import a car to Croatia?

After you buy the car, you will have temporary plates on your new purchase, which will include insurance. You then have one month after you enter Croatia to import the vehicle.

These plates will remain until the technical inspection. You should have in our possession either a sales invoice (if you bought from a business) or a sales contract if you bought from a private person. You should also make sure you have the registration licence document (prometna dozvola in Croatian), which will outline the vehicle’s technical characteristics.

The COC (certificate of conformity) document, or manufacturer’s certificate – this comes from the manufacturer – or in Croatia from the authorised representative.

Documentation and homologisation

If the certificate comes from the authorised representative in Croatia, a fee is due here.

After all the documents are in place, the vehicle enters the homologisation procedure, which is done at a technical inspection station. The price for the homologisation certificate is around 600 kuna.

This happens at the Centar for Vozila Hrvatske and the Hrvatski Autoklub, at one of 57 certified technical inspection stations.

Importing a car to Croatia – tax payments

The tax is determined by the Customs Administration, according to the value of the vehicle and the CO2 emission levels. The value of used vehicles is determined from the official catalogue or by estimate, while the value of new cars is determined from the invoice.

You must take the car to the customs office. Although no tariffs are paid on cars imported from the European Union, there is a special tax.

The customs office will inspect your documents as well as the car.

The Customs Administration unofficial tax calculator.

Here is the other unofficial tax calculator. The calculation formula was be changed in January 2019 and this calculator includes the changes.

The administrative tax you can calculate here.

How to report and pay the tax?

At a customs office, by filling in a paper application form.

Through an online application, by filling in the e-application.

Insurance and registration

The final step before registering your car is to obtain car insurance. The car will have to pass the technical inspection, and you will need to pay for the new car licence document and licence plates to be issued.

This all happens at the technical inspection station. You need to bring with you all the documents which you have from the seller, as well as documents obtained in Croatia. At the end of the process, you will receive new licence plates.

What you need to pay in the process

1. special tax (amount depends on the value of the car and the CO2 emissions)
2. car ownership transfer tax (5%)
   You’ll pay this only if you do not have an invoice with VAT specified, i.e. if you bought the car from a physical person. If you bought the car from a company that issued you an invoice with specified VAT, you do not pay this tax.
3. homologisation
4. disposal fee around 1000 kuna
5. registration costs (technical inspection, insurance, new car licence documents, new licence plates, and other costs) – the same as if you bought the car in Croatia

Starting a new life in Croatia with a foreign car?

Cars registered abroad owned by foreigners with temporary residence in Croatia or a Croatian citizen who has temporarily come to Croatia are valid with exiting documents for up to three months after they enter Croatia.

For foreign vehicles whose owners have temporary residence, a car licence document will be issued. This is valid until the end day of their temporary residence, or for the period to which the temporary import of the vehicle has been approved, provided that the period is shorter than the temporary residence period.

When registering a car imported to Croatia, only the Croatian technical inspection certificate is valid. This means that the vehicles of persons moving to Croatia must be technically inspected in a Croatian station before registration.

You need to have documentation proving that you have used the car in your country (i.e. that it is not new).

Cars registered abroad owned by foreigners with temporary residence in Croatia are valid for 3 months. This is also the case for Croatians living abroad.

For vehicles owned by foreigners with temporary residence, a car licence document is available, which is valid until the end day of their temporary residence, or for the period to which the temporary import of the vehicle meets the rules, as long as that period is shorter than the temporary residence period.

If you are looking for more information, here are two great resources.

EU citizens moving to Croatia

If you are moving to another EU country with your car, specific conditions apply to car registration. This depends on the length of your stay and the country you are moving to. (This section with thanks to Europa.eu).

Moving for more than 6 months

If you move to another EU country and take your car with you, you have to register it within 6 months from your date of entry into your new country. You also have to pay car-related taxes in your new country if you have your normal residence there.

You usually have 12 months to bring your car to your new country after changing your normal residence.

Sample story

Cristina from Spain found a job in France and moved there. In a couple of months, she decided to bring her Spanish registered car to France but didn’t re-register it there. She regularly used her car to go to work, however, the traffic police who were carrying out a routine check stopped her on one occasion.

As she was driving with a Spanish registration plate, she received a large fine. Cristina didn’t know that in France she needs to re-register her car within 6 months after changing her main residence to a French one.

What to do if you move to another EU country:

• register your car.
• change your number plate.
• show proof of car ownership and proof that the car is roadworthy.
• pay car registration and road taxes in your new country.

What to do when you leave:

• deregister your car.
• hand in the number plate.
• show proof of car ownership and a proof that the car is roadworthy.
• put in a claim for a car registration tax refund.

If you have already paid car registration taxes in your previous country of residence, you may be able to apply for a tax refund there. In some cases, however, you may end up paying double taxes depending on the country you are moving to.

Moving for less than 6 months

If you move to another EU country and you are going to stay for less than 6 months, you don’t have to register your car or pay any registration taxes there. You can keep your car registered in your country of residence. You may, however, need to pay road taxes. Road taxes are due for the use of your car, in your new country. It is a good idea to always have your car registration certificate, certificate of ownership and a proof of your permanent residency with you when driving in case you are stopped by the police and need to prove where you are subject to taxation.

If you haven’t registered your car in your new country, you may not lend or rent it to a resident of that country if you aren’t in the car with him/her. You may, however, lend your car to visiting friends or family members as long as they do not have their permanent residence in the new country.

When registering a car in Croatia from abroad, only the Croatian technical inspection certificate is valid. This means that the vehicles of persons moving to Croatia have to be technically inspected in one of the stations in Croatia before they can be registered.

You need to have documentation proving that you have used the car in your country (i.e. that it is not new).

Life in Croatia – you could be fined if…

• you have to register your car but you fail to do so on time;
• the relevant taxes go unpaid;
• you drive with a number plate from another EU country without a proof of residency and a valid roadworthiness test.

The post How to import a car to Croatia in 2022 appeared first on Total Croatia.

• The National and Nature Parks of Croatia
• Land of Nikola Tesla and the EV Revolution
• Keeping the Beaches Clean
• Waste Management and the EU
• Pesticides and Organic Farming
• Useful Contacts and Information Resources

The National and Nature Parks of Croatia

What better advert for the clean environment in Croatia than the fact that some 10% of the country belongs to national and nature parks?

There are 19 of these in total, and the respresent some of the most spectacular natural beauty in all Europe. From islands to wetlands, mountains to lakes, get to know the 8 national and 12 nature parks of Croatia. All in one page, each with its own video.

Land of Nikola Tesla and the EV Revolution

Croatia is, of course, the birthplace of one Nikola Tesla. His genius transformed the world, and Tesla’s birth village of Smiljan is set in a region of spectacular regional beauty.

His legacy lives on in many forms, not least in the annual electric vehicle rally named after him.

The Nikola Tesla EV Rally gets described as the ‘quietest and cleanest rally in the world’. It’s already had more than half a dozen of installments and so far attracted none other than Mate Rimac, Maye Musk (mother of Mr. Modern-Day Tesla, Elon), and Paul Runge, the first purchaser of Rimac’s Concept One, who also took part in the 2016 rally.

The rally is the showpiece of one company, E.V.A Blue, which has done more than any other to push the electric vehicle environment in Croatia.

There were just 4 charging stations and 5 registered electric cars in Croatia in early 2014. That was the year the rally began. Today, there are more than 300 charging stations, including several Tesla Supercharger stations. Much more progress is on the way, and you can follow it on the E.V.A. Blue website.

Keeping the Beaches Clean

The beaches of Croatia are one of the country’s great natural treasures (find out Total Croatia’s recommendations to the best ones).

Keeping the beaches clean is a constant challenge, however. Not only is there the issue of lazy tourists (and locals), but the tides of the Adriatic also wash up trash from the sea.

Annual clean-ups before the season begins are now a well-established way of life in many communities. There are also several excellent initiatives to raise awareness and get visitors involved in the cleanup. One of my favourites is Blue Bag – why not get involved next time you’re in Croatia?

Waste Management and the EU

EU entry has brought some of Croatia’s environmental strategies into question. EU law enforcement is also forcing the country to adopt better practices in its environmental policies.

One of the key areas where some change is urgent is waste management. Land fill has been the basic strategy for too long, and recycling is still in its infancy. This is slowly changing, however, and you can follow progress in our Total Eco Croatia section.

Pesticides and Organic Farming

Croatia has a large agricultural sector, and its potential to develop organic farming is huge. While there are certainly plenty of initiatives in this field, progress is slow. The use of pesticides is a major problem in Croatia, and elsewhere.

The use of pesticides is one of the key areas local NGO Eco Hvar has been addressing in recent years. An epic piece on the use of Glyphosate is well worth a read, and you can follow Eco Hvar’s well-researched work here.

Useful Contacts and Information Resources

Ministry of Environmental Protection and Energy

Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency Fund

Croatian Environment and Nature Agency

PDF with All the Latest Environmental Info

European Environment Agency on Croatia

Total Eco Croatia

The post Environment in Croatia: Facts, Laws, Initiatives & Groups appeared first on Total Croatia.

Croatian banks are mostly foreign-owned these days, and there is an extensive network all over the country.

ATMs are available in the smallest towns, and getting access to your cash through the wall is not a problem. Be aware, however, that there are usually daily limits in the region of 1,600 to 2,000 kuna.

Opening times can catch you out, however. Perhaps I am sensitive to this after years of island living. Opening times seem to be getting shorter and shorter. In Jelsa on Hvar, for example, the banks close promptly at 15:00 (it used to be 20:00). Saturday is a half-day (midday closing) and banks are closed on Sunday as you would expect. More often than not, even the banks will have the summer schedule and the winter schedule, and be open for longer during the summer season.

The Croatian National Bank supervises all. The main banks in Croatia are PBZ, Zagrebačka Banka, Raiffeisen, and Erste. Check out the shortcuts below to sections of this article.

• Opening a bank account for foreigners in Croatia
• Applying for a bank loan for foreigners
• Currency in Croatia
• List of main Croatian banks

Opening a bank account in Croatia

If you are moving to Croatia, you will almost certainly want to open a bank account.

Even though Croatia is an EU member state, it hasn’t adopted the euro yet. To facilitate your transactions (paying rent, paying the bills) and to receive your salary, you might want to open a Croatian account in kunas (HRK), even though opening an account in foreign currency is also possible.

However, this requires a lot of research because there are more than 30 banks in Croatia. Some of them you’ll recognize by their global names like Sberbank, Raiffeisen, Erste & Steirmärkische, Addiko Bank, or OTP. There are also Croatian banks who are part of global groups, like Privredna banka Zagreb (Intesa Sanpaolo) or Zagrebačka banka (UniCredit Group). There is only one major mostly Croatian-owned bank, Hrvatska poštanska banka.

Some companies do business with specific banks, so you might want to check with your employer if they have a preference first.

All banks have a website in English, so you can choose a bank based on your preferences. The services offered are more or less the same everywhere, such as opening and servicing accounts, deposits, money transfers, foreign exchange transactions, asset management, credit cards, insurance, etc. The average service cost is €10-12 a year.

Types of account and online banking

The most typical account types are giro, current and savings account. Some banks offer automatic overdraft once you open an account, while in others you have to apply for overdraft once the account has been set up.

Most banks offer Internet and mobile banking services, which comes in handy when paying the bills, for example, because you can simply scan the QR code that can be found on every payment slip and the payment information is filled in automatically, so you simply have to authorize the payment and that’s it.

Zagrebačka banka and Privredna banka Zagreb have the biggest number of offices and ATMs across Zagreb, so if convenience and accessibility are crucial for you, one of them might be a good choice. On the coast, other banks might be more popular than those two.

In general, the documents you need for opening a bank account are a valid passport, residence permit and the application form that you can find online or get directly at the bank. Most of the staff speak good English, so you shouldn’t have any communication difficulties.

Applying for a bank loan for foreigners

Applying for a bank loan is a modern reality in a society which lives increasingly on credit. Croatia is no exception in putting things on the plastic. Many households have loans from the bank for a variety of reasons.

I would like to say that the procedure for getting a bank loan in Croatia is simple. But unless you are armed with a ton of patience and have a passion for providing lots of documents and filling out forms, frustration will be your main companion.

Many foreign buyers of Croatian real estate enquire want to borrow from the bank to help fund the purchase. Despite lots of promises and claims, there is still no mortgage product for foreign buyers.

If you want to apply for a loan, here are some places to try:

Housing loans – Erste Bank

Housing loans – Zagrebacka Banka

Cash loans – Erste Bank in kuna

Loans in Cash – Erste Bank in euro

Cash loans – Zagrebacka Banka

Currency in Croatia

The Croatian currency is the kuna. It is loosely aligned the euro at an exchange rate of around 7.5 to the euro. While there is much talk of Croatia joining the euro, it has not happened yet.

Although the euro is not official currency in Croatia, many tourist businesses will accept it. And dollars and pounds as well, although this is less frequent. Total Croatia has a comprehensive overview of currency in Croatia.

List of main Croatian banks

ADDIKO BANK
Slavonska avenija 6, 10000 Zagreb, www.addiko.hr

BANKA KOVANICA
Petra Preradovića 29, 42000 Varaždin, www.kovanica.hr

CROATIA BANKA
Roberta Frangeša Mihanovića 9, 10110 Zagreb, www.croatiabanka.hr

ERSTE&STEIERMÄRKISCHE BANK
Jadranski trg 3a, 51000 Rijeka, www.erstebank.hr

HRVATSKA POŠTANSKA BANKA
Jurišićeva 4, 10000 Zagreb, www.hpb.hr

IMEX BANKA
Tolstojeva 6, 21000 Split, www.imexbanka.hr

ISTARSKA KREDITNA BANKA UMAG
Ernesta Miloša 1, 52470 Umag, www.ikb.hr

J&T banka
Aleja kralja Zvonimira 1, 42000 Varaždin, www.jtbanka.hr

JADRANSKA BANKA
Ante Starčevića 4, 22000 Šibenik, www.jadranska-banka.hr

KARLOVAČKA BANKA
Ivana Gorana Kovačića 1, 47000 Karlovac, www.kaba.hr

KENTBANK
Gundulićeva 1, 10000 Zagreb, www.kentbank.hr

OTP BANKA HRVATSKA
Domovinskog rata 3, 23000 Zadar, www.otpbanka.hr

PARTNER BANKA
Vončinina 2, 10000 Zagreb, www.paba.hr

PODRAVSKA BANKA
Opatička 3, 48300 Koprivnica, www.poba.hr

PRIMORSKA BANKA
Scarpina 7, 51000 Rijeka, www.primorska.hr

PRIVREDNA BANKA ZAGREB
Radnička cesta 50, 10000 Zagreb, www.pbz.hr

RAIFFEISENBANK AUSTRIA
Magazinska cesta 69, 10000 Zagreb, www.rba.hr

SAMOBORSKA BANKA
Trg kralja Tomislava 8, 10430 Samobor, www.sabank.hr

SBERBANK
Varšavska 9, 10000 Zagreb, www.sberbank.hr

SLATINSKA BANKA
Vladimira Nazora 2, 33520 Slatina, www.slatinska-banka.hr

VENETO BANKA
Draškovićeva 58, 10000 Zagreb, www.venetobanka.hr

ZAGREBAČKA BANKA
Trg bana Josipa Jelačića 10, 10000 Zagreb, www.zaba.hr

The post Croatian Banks: Account Opening, Loan & Money Exchange appeared first on Total Croatia.

• Buying property in Croatia: an introduction
• Development of the property market in Croatia
• Croatian property paperwork – is it really that bad?
• The Croatian property buying process
• Finding the right real estate agency and lawyer
• Legalisation of property in Croatia – usage permits, 1968 and all that
• Can foreigners buy property in Croatia?
• Paperwork required in a Croatian property sale and purchase
• Zoning and urban planning rules
• Taxes for property in Croatia

Buying property in Croatia: an introduction

There is no property buying experience quite like the Croatian one. It is possible to go from viewing and pre-contract in 55 minutes and final sale the following day. Or to still not be the 100% owner several years later due to unclear situations with the paperwork and shady lawyers and real estate agencies.

There are tales of fantastic deals, more tales of frustrating paperwork, as well as various scams. One thing is for sure – buying property in Croatia is different from many other countries and can be challenging. On the flip side, prices are still lower than in many other countries. The quality of construction is generally high, good rental income is possible, and there are amazing cities, towns and other locations where setting up your everyday life or rental business could be very pleasant and lucrative.

And so the story begins….

Development of the property market in Croatia

The war and post-war years in Croatia affected the market severely and there was hardly any activity. After the war, with the privatisation of state and communal property, economic recovery, capital becoming available and the situation with the paperwork becoming more regulated, the property market exploded. The years between 2000 and 2006 were the most active, affected positively by foreign investment, the rise of local developers, easier access to capital for private persons, investors and developers, a drop in interest rates, and a rise in all macroeconomic indicators. In a positive environment, demand initially outstripped supply, construction exploded, and prices rose.

Negative trends were already visible in 2006, and the market crashed in 2009, as it did globally. The crisis initially saw a sharp fall in the number of transactions, and only later, after Croatia joined the EU in 2013 (which forced banks to clear their portfolios of toxic loans and unprofitable property portfolios), with a drop in prices. It persisted longer than in most other countries. The market finally started showing signs of recovery in 2016. Since then, we have been seeing year-on-year increases in prices and numbers of transactions in Zagreb and the larger cities on the coast. This is due to accumulated capital, rising demand from both locals and foreigners, low interest rates, government subsidised loans for the purchase of a first property, rising macroeconomic trends, and a positive economic outlook, driven by tourism.

2019 already indicated a need for the market to ‘cool’, with a drop in the number of transactions. Average income earners started putting off purchases due to unrealistically high prices and a lack of average-priced properties. The pandemic and the earthquake in Zagreb have left a significant mark, and the market is currently in a state of uncertainty.

The Croatian market by region overview

The Croatian market is very segmented. Zagreb, as the capital, financial and cultural centre, is always active. The last few years have seen the construction of mainly high-end new builds, lack of affordable and average-priced properties in older buildings, lack of stock in the parts of the city which have been affected by the tourism boom, with many properties being converted into Airbnbs, and a rise in prices.

The larger cities and tourist hubs on the coast, namely Dubrovnik, as the most expensive. Split, Zadar, Pula (and the whole of Istria) have also developed over the last decade. Tourism drives the market, these cities’ major source of income, and the basis of their economy. Many properties have become rentals, creating a lack of stock and thus an increase in prices. New builds are selling at above-average price.

The situation in some continental parts, namely Slavonia and Lika, is in stark contrast to the coast and Zagreb, as these parts of the country have been experiencing a demographic and economic decline for the past decade. The pandemic has slightly shifted the focus of buyers to these rural and less developed parts of the country, but not significantly, so the number of transactions and prices are still well below the country average.

The northern continental areas of Croatia, those around Varaždin and Čakovec, and increasingly those around smaller cities near Zagreb, namely Bjelovar, have a stable market. These parts of the country base their economy on small entrepreneurship and family businesses, and there have been no sharp changes in the numbers of transactions and prices over the past decade.

Croatian property paperwork – is it really that bad?

The situation with title deeds and other property paperwork in Croatia is far from straightforward due to historical reasons. A very important thing to note is that are three property registries in Croatia: the Cadastre (‘’Katastar’’), which determines the situation in space i.e. the shape and size of the plots, and what is on them, and the two registries which determine ownership: The Land Book (‘Zemljišna knjiga’) and the Book of Deposited Contracts (‘Knjiga položenih ugovora).

The Land Book and Cadastral Registry came into being while Croatia was still in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and were later badly maintained by the authorities in Yugoslavia. After the 2nd World War, the Yugoslavian socialist government nationalised many private properties, mostly flats in buildings, houses less often, and moved in residents who became the State’s ‘Tenants’, governing the scheme with the so-called ‘Stanarska prava’. The state also built many buildings for the rising working and middle classes which were flocking to the cities. The Tenancy i.e. ‘Stanarsko pravo’ was in both situations registered in the Book of Deposited Contracts.

The right of use of such properties could be inherited by first-line descendants and traded, but not sold/bought. Foreign property sales were illegal in Yugoslavia. Consequently, sales were few and far between, mainly of those properties which remained privately owned. Throughout this period, neither the Land Book, in which private ownership was still registered, nor the Cadstre, were updated.

Updating the ownership books

After Croatia gained independence in the early 90s, the process of de-nationalisation began. Some nationalised properties were returned to their original owners, while in parallel, the Tenants who had been living in nationalised or state-constructed properties for 50 years, were given the option to purchase the ‘Stanarska prava’ at affordable prices, to fill Croatia’s empty coffers.

The updating of all the three registries, both at the point of nationalisation and de-nationalisation, wasn’t done. It still needs completing in some cases. The Book of Deposited Contracts (a completely obsolete entity, since the abolishment of Stanarska prava) and the Land Book have still not been merged completely. However, the Cadastre and Land Books have also not been fully aligned yet. Houses, and more recently constructed properties (both houses and flats), from the end of the 90s onwards, have all been registered in the Land Book, so the situation with those is clearer.

Another major issue that muddles the waters is the inconsistent and imprecise descriptions of properties in the titles. This is due to the fact that the process of separating all the buildings into condominiums is often incomplete. It requires the agreement of all the co-owners about which ratios of the common areas belong to whom, measurement and recording of all the individual units and common parts, and the bureaucratic process of registering the actual surface areas and ratios in the titles.

On the plus side, most of the paperwork relevant for property transactions is available online. This makes the process of due diligence easy and quick.

Legality of properties

The final aspect to consider is the legality of a property. Many properties were built illegally, or outside the framework of their building permits, in Yugoslavia, including some built by the State, as well as during the construction boom of the early 2000s, which is why the Law on the Treatment of Illegally Constructed Buildings was introduced in 2012., enabling owners to legalise their properties, if they were built within a construction area. The end result of the process is that properties should have a valid ‘Uporabna dozvola’ (Usage permit).

Before purchasing a property, it is of paramount importance to check the Cadastral registry and the title. And request the Usage permit from the owner. A real estate agency and/or a lawyer should check all documentation relating to a property.

The Croatian property buying process

Finding a property

You can search on your own via property advertising sites, but this comes with lots of challenges. Not all sites have English versions. As an ex-pat, you may not have a clear picture about which locations, micro-locations and local criteria add up to a sound investment.

Very few listings in Croatia are exclusive to one agency, and are hence available several times on property advertising sites. The listing for the same property can be different from agency to agency, with even a different price advertised, making it impossible to realise that you are looking at an ad for the same property before you actually view it. Some agencies do not describe the properties precisely, so you may not have all the necessary information about them when looking at the ad, consequently leading to disappointment when you come to the viewing. You could come across the listing with an unreputable agency with little experience, thus exposing yourself to risk. It is less time-consuming and easier to hire a reputable agency whose job will include proactive search activities and filtering based on your criteria, budget and expectations.

Making an offer

Offers are non-binding until a Pre-Contract or Contract signature. Prices of most properties are between 5-10% above the seller’s completion price. Property prices in Croatia are pegged to the Euro, though the legal tender is Kuna, so when paying in kuna, the buyer is most often expected to pay according to the selling exchange rate for EU/KN, as this enables the seller to buy the stated amount of euros. If you are working with an agency, leave the negotiating process to them.

Getting to a legally binding document

A Pre-Contract or Contract will be signed once the property has been chosen, and all the paperwork, including the legal status, checked. Consult with your lawyer and agency about which is more appropriate, but in most cases, it will be the first. One of the reasons for signing a Pre-Contract is that the buyer doesn’t pay Property Transfer Tax at this point, as it is levied at the time of the signing of the Contract. A Pre-Contract does not require a notary.

Whichever document is signed, the buyer will be expected to make a downpayment (‘kapara’) immediately after the signing, which is most often 10% of the total sale and purchase price.  If the buyer doesn’t fulfill their obligations from the Pre-Contract and doesn’t sign a Contract, the full downpayment remains with the seller. On the flip side, if the seller doesn’t do so, they must return the double amount of the downpayment to the buyer.

The Pre-Contract and Contract will define all the other rights and obligations of the contracting parties, the sellers’ most important being the guarantee that they are the rightful owner and will not sell the property to anyone else, as well as the rhythm of payments, the date of the possession handover etc.

Making a payment

Laws that govern money laundering and financing of terrorism are becoming increasingly strict, especially in the property segment. Banks, real estate agencies, notaries, currency exchange offices and any legal entities, must by law conduct thorough reviews of the buyer’s and seller’s sources of income and must report any dubious transactions, persons and legal entities to the Ministry of Finance.

Essentially, no cash transactions for purchasing property are possible and are a serious risk indicator requiring the entity witnessing it to report immediately. Buying property in Croatia, from a Croatian seller, will be via a bank transfer, in Croatian kuna. Foreign currency transfers within Croatia are against the law.

Registering the ownership of a property

One used to have to go the relevant land book registry office and hand in all the paperwork physically in order to transfer the ownership of a property. This step of the sale and purchase process has been simplified and can be done by the public notary in whose office the Contract is being signed and notarised. Depending on the time of year, i.e., holiday seasons, and the efficiency of the individual offices, the ownership transfer takes from within a few days to a few weeks.

The documents which are needed for the transfer of ownership are the signed and notarised Sale Contract, the ID cards of the contracting parties, and most importantly, a signed and notarised Clausula Intabulandi, a document with which the sellers confirm that they have received the wholesale and purchase price, and which they are obligated to hand over to the buyer once the funds have been received.

Paying the tax

The main tax in property sale and purchase transactions is the Property Transfer Tax, which is levied on the buyer at the rate of 3% of the total sale and purchase price, once the Sale Contract has been signed and notarised. The notary does the application and the buyer doesn’t need to do anything further. Other taxes which might affect the buyer or seller differ depending on their income, legal status etc.

Handing over possession

In the majority of cases, handing over the possession of a property happens on the day the seller receives the total agreed sale and purchase price. The property should be handed over in the seen condition and with fittings previously agreed by the contracting parties. The handover needs to be recorded, with the utility meter numbers and readings included, as these are needed for the transfer of utility consumption agreements with the providers from the seller’s to the buyer’s name. It is very important that the buyer brings proof of payment of all the utilities up to the day of the handover of possession.

Transfer of bills

The Handover record, signed by the buyer and seller which states the utility meter numbers and readings, a bill for the relevant utility, a notarised and certified copy of the Sale Contract and the ID card of the buyer and seller, have to be submitted to the relevant providers. Anyone can do this, not the buyer in person, and some providers accept online or postal applications.

Getting an OIB

An OIB is available from the Tax Office, in person, with a valid ID document.

Finding the right real estate agency and lawyer

Legal agencies-the first step in finding the right partner

Back in the late ’90s and early 2000s, literally EVERYONE was a real estate agent. Lawyers, architects, construction engineers were handling property transactions If you were a foreigner visiting out of season, the restaurant waiter would come out with 5 property deals when serving your starter. There was no regulation whatsoever. Anyone who wanted to could become a real estate agent. The good news is that there is much more regulation in the industry these days, after the introduction of The Law on Property Mediation in 2007. All legal real estate agencies and agents are in the Register, which is public and available on this link.

In order to be legal, an agency has to fulfill several important requirements: at least one of the real estate agency’s employees must pass the expert exam at the Croatian Chamber of Economy, and has to be a full-time employee. The real estate agency has to operate out of adequate, professional-looking offices, with a separate space for confidential meetings, must have insurance, and must keep a so-called mediation log. The real estate agency has to display the mediation terms and conditions on a visible location, and its logo in all its adverts and online listings.

Very importantly, the real estate agency has to check the paperwork of all the properties it lists, and inform its clients of any potential issues. Agency fees can be set freely and negotiated with the client, can be charged from either party in the sale or renting process (or both), with all the terms of the Mediation process agreed in writing. Ensure that you are collaborating with a legal agency to avoid damages, and sign a Mediation Agreement with the agency, which should outline all the terms and conditions of your collaboration.

High quality agencies-the 2nd step in finding the right partner

Make sure you are collaborating not just with a legal, but also a reputable real estate agency. Although all agencies have to be legal, their licence is not a guarantee of professionalism and reliability. What should you consider besides the agency’s legal status?

Expertise

Make enquiries about the agency’s owners, directors and agents, and what their areas of expertise are. You should have access to marketing, sales and negotiation experts. It would be an advantage if the particular agent you are dealing with has passed the expert exam. Check the real estate agency’s references and client list. Make sure they have a website, and don’t only list on commercial property advertising sites. Have a browse through it, because a reputable real estate agency will invest in their online presence and appearance.

Focus on client needs

A reputable agency will strive to understand its clients and their needs, in order to offer a service focused on finding solutions and the right property. Buyers and tenants will especially benefit from the services of a real estate agency which tries to gain an in-depth understanding of their search, gives advice and ultimately resolves one of the biggest challenges they might face finding an ideal home or investment opportunity.

Legal Support

Bear in mind that a legal agency does not have to guarantee this by law, but reputable and experienced agencies will have a legal team specialising in property law, so can thus guarantee legal support and protection to its clients. If you are not 100% sure the agency is reputable, seek independent legal advice.

Market Insight

Expert agencies have the best market insight and understanding of the trends shaping it. This means they will give you informed advice, and the longer they have been operating, the more you will be able to rely on it. An agency which has been operating for long, and has thus had many completions, will inform the owners and buyers of precise and realistic market values as it will keep its own databases, but will also have access to the Tax Office’s database ”E-nekretnine”, which is not available to the public. This is important, as prices advertised on search engines are unrealistic and misleading, because they often represent the owners’ wishes and not the true market value of a property.

Marketing

This is more relevant to sellers, but can also help the buyer get a clearer picture of the agency’s quality. An agency has to be a marketing expert. Its website is the primary channel through which the properties present themselves, and those with good websites get more enquiries. Web sites should be attractive, user-friendly and responsive.

They should rank well on Google, so that the listings are visible to as many prospective buyers and tenants as possible. Agencies that keep up with trends will have Facebook pages and Instagram feeds. The presentation of the flats, houses or other properties is important, as a listing with a well-written description containing all the relevant information on the property, and high quality, realistic photos, is more visible and attractive to buyers.

Additional Services

Besides offering marketing, useful market information and expert advice, high-quality real estate agencies will offer additional services related to property transactions. Managed handovers, energy efficiency certificates, access to architects and interior designers, construction and legalisation experts, are just some of the services or recommendations that high-quality agencies provide.

How to find a good property lawyer in Croatia?

Things are MUCH better now with better regulation, but back in the 2000s rush, the stories were quite astonishing. It used to be the case that you could find a lawyer who had a power of attorney for both the buyer and the seller AND was the real estate agent. The same lawyer insisted the papers were clean. And STILL there would be a problem.

Generally speaking, lawyers often make bad mediators, as they need to predict the worst possible outcome and protect their client against it, often undermining the final goal, which is a completion. They often procrastinate and over-complicate, as the latter enables them to justify their fees. Many do not specialise solely in property law, making them inexperienced and thus unreliable.

Do your research thoroughly before instructing a lawyer. Ask about their areas of expertise, ensure you have not been assigned to a junior lawyer without experience, but neither to a very senior one who will not have enough time for you. Enquire about whether they have any mediation experience, and try to informally check their credentials. Expat forums are a good place to start, as most foreigners living here will have had some lawyer experience. Reputable real estate agencies will also be able to recommend a lawyer focusing of property law, whose goal is to complete a transaction to the benefit of both sides, while at the same ensuring appropriate legal protection.

Legalisation of property in Croatia – usage permits, 1968 and all that

Croatia had lots of illegal properties, though the exact numbers were hard to ascertain. Illegal properties are those which were built after 1968 either

1. outside of a designated building zone or

2. in a building zone, but were over-developed in comparison to the building permit. High numbers of illegal properties, especially in the 2nd category, are the result of the combination of a historically loose legal framework and granting of planning permission, which was lengthy and expensive in Yugoslavia.

Illegal construction was prevalent on the coast, where it started to occur in parallel with Yugoslavia’s development of tourism in the ’70s, and in rural areas, where the costly and lengthy permit-issuing timelines often exceeded the cost of constructing agricultural buildings. Many properties from the late 1990s, when the market was immature, demand was high and levels of stock were low, were also illegal, as developers, who were small to medium-sized, applied a very loose framework to their projects, and laws governing construction and urban planning were either unclear or not in force.

EU accession

With Croatia’s accession to the EU, the resolution of the problem of illegal construction became a priority, and resulted in the Law on the Treatment of Illegally Constructed Buildings, passed in 2012, which enabled the owners of illegal properties in building zones to legalise them if they were recorded on aerial photos of Croatia from 2011 or earlier. Properties outside building zones were designated for demolition.

The legalisation project had a sound goal, as legal properties have higher market values and once legalised could be precisely registered in the cadastre and land books, but the process was complicated and lengthy. For owners with lots of illegal volume, the costs were high. The process involved a multidisciplinary approach, and proved challenging both for the owners and the authorities having to deal with the applications. There are 4 types of property categorisation, with the easiest legalisation process applied to auxiliary buildings such as garages and barns.

The legislation process, in laymen terms.

1. Organise an architectural and geodesic plan, depending on the type of building. The architect draws up a plan of the actual building. The geodesic expert ascertains whether the building aligns with its cadastral registration. Costs of such plans depend on the size of the building, both are not requirements for all buildings.

2. Paperwork and the legalisation request into the local authority.

3. An inspection by the local authority.

4. A confirmation is issued to the owner about the property being able to remain in space, subject to fines being paid and no further construction occurring.

5. The owner pays a fine for the illegally constructed volume.

6. The owner pays a fine for the unpaid infrastructural contributions to the local authority and utilities. This is based on the illegally constructed volume.

7. New architectural and geodesic plans are drawn up to ensure that the owner hasn’t illegally constructed further since the 1st inspection.

8. Conformation of plans.

9. The owner hands in the plans to the cadastral registry.

10. The owner hands in the plans to the land books registry.

Legalisation deadline

Initially, the government set the deadline for the submission of legalisation requests for 30.06.2013. As many owners handed in only partial requests, and the authorities were not able to process requests efficiently enough. The government then decided in 2017 to enable all those owners of illegal properties who would have satisfied criteria for legalisation in 2012 to start the process. The new deadline for applications became 30.06.2018. The Law is no longer in force, but one can still legalise buildings under the provisions of other laws. Namely, the Law on Construction, and in consultation with the Ministry of Physical Planning, Construction and State Assets.

Can foreigners buy property in Croatia?

EU and Swiss citizens

EU and Swiss citizens (private persons) can acquire most types of property as Croatian nationals and companies headquartered in Croatia, without restrictions, with an additional requirement for Swiss citizens, who, when registering their ownership, have to show proof of temporary residence. No foreign nationals can purchase agricultural land for now, and there is a moratorium in place for EU and Swiss nationals until 2023.

Non-EU citizens, including the UK:

There has been no indication that non-EU/EEA citizens will ever be able to purchase land in Croatia, with one exception: if they open a business in Croatia, because of which they will be employing and paying taxes, the companies will contribute to the Croatian economy, and thus become ‘Croatian’.

For other property types, the basis of purchase for non-EU and UK citizens is the principle of reciprocity. (“uzajamnost za stjecanje prava vlasništva na nekretninama u Republici Hrvatskoj”). The principle is based on agreements between Croatia and other countries, which differ, but generally mean that if Croatian citizens can buy in a certain country, the citizens of that country can buy in Croatia. The agreements define the conditions under which the citizen of a certain country can buy property, which can be the requirement of having permanent residence in Croatia, or the property size, or the requirement for the buyer to live in the acquired property. For the US and Canada, reciprocity agreements are at the state and province levels.

The list of agreements defining reciprocity is available on this link

The request for purchase of non-EU and Swiss nationals goes to the Ministry of Justice, in person, or by post to the following address:

Ministarstvo pravosuđa i uprave Republike Hrvatske
Uprava za građansko, trgovačko  i upravno pravo
Ulica grada Vukovara 49, 10000 Zagreb

Paperwork required to submit as foreign buyer

The request has to include the following paperwork:  

• Original or certified copy of the Sale-Purchase Agreement, Gift Agreement, etc.
• Seller proof of ownership, title deed.
• Proof of property being in a construction area, issued by the local authority under whose jurisdiction the property is in
• Proof of the buyer’s citizenship (‘dokaz državljanstva stjecatelja’). This means a notarised copy of the passport, or the proof of the legal status of the buyer. If it is a company, i.e. the registration of the company from the Trade Court registry
• Original of notarised copy of the power of attorney, if the buyer has another person or legal entity
• Proof of paid fees

The legal requirement for the Ministry to approve the sale and purchase is 60 days. But most requests get approval sooner.

Paperwork required in a Croatian property sale and purchase

The first step in any sale and purchase process should be the due diligence of the paperwork. Most of the relevant paperwork is available online. Since 2003. the government has been working on reforming and linking the various registries. The aim is to ensure transparency and clarity in property transactions.

Issues remain. Many properties still have a different nomenclature in the cadastre to that in the land book. For example, a certain municipality may ‘Centar’ in the land book, but ‘Grad Zagreb’ in the cadastre. The plot surface areas may also differ in the cadastre to that in the land book. The persons registered as possessors in the cadastre may be different to those in the land book title. The property may not have a precise description in the title. In order to have a clear picture and understanding of potential discrepancies, and in order to understand what is and what isn’t a hindrance to the completion of a sale and purchase, you should hire a reputable real estate agency and lawyer.

Also, documents like building and usage permits are not available online, they should be obtainable from the owners. But if they do not have these documents, try their local Municipal office or the City.

GeoPortal

A very useful and user-friendly tool which represents the central information point for all geodesic information by presenting aerial photos of the whole Croatian territory with the cadastral and urban planning information superimposed.

Documents can be printed.

Cadastre

The registry shows the situation in space based on aerial photos and provides information on the plot. This includes shapes and sizes, who is in their possession and what is constructed on them. One can search via an address or the name of the cadastral municipality is in and the plot numbers.

The cadastral excerpt and possession title can be printed.

There is an electronic link to the land book, but not the book of deposited contracts.

Land book

The registry shows the ownership and legal status of properties, as well as claims by banks and third parties. And also any registered proceedings (‘plomba’) which may be a hindrance to the sale and purchase. The information needed to access the title deed is the name of the cadastral municipality the property is in and the land book excerpt or land plot numbers.

The title deed can be printed.

Book of deposited contracts

A registry dating back to socialist times, into which the properties given into rent or constructed by the state for renting were registered. For years the government has planned to transfer all the properties from this registry into the land book. But the process is still incomplete.

The title deed can be printed

Zoning and urban planning rules

Crucial information if you are buying land, but also if you planning to reconstruct or further develop existing properties. What can be constructed is determined by the urban plans, which are drawn up and issued by the local authorities. The urban plans are not always available online (though it is always worth searching). But zoning and urban planning information are available from the ‘Upravni odjel za graditeljstvo i prostorno uređenje’. (Administrative Department for Construction and Physical Planning). The list of all the offices by county is available here https://mpgi.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/8584

Taxes for property in Croatia

The table lists all the taxes which may arise from buying or renting property in Croatia. Please note that Croatia introduced and then withdrew the Property Tax and there is no clear timeline for its reintroduction. However, the EU is pressuring Croatia to introduce it, as most EU countries already have this tax.

More information

The TC Property in Croatia page was a collaboration with real estate specialists, Zagreb West. drawing on their decades of experience in the industry.

The post Property in Croatia: Buy, Sell, Papers, Lawyers & Agents appeared first on Total Croatia.

• Should you bring your pet to Croatia for your vacation?
• Transporting a pet to/from Croatia
• What’s the general situation/attitude with pets in Croatia?
• Laws regarding pets in Croatia
• What about accommodation with pets in Croatia?
• Taking pets on public transport
• What to do if you find a stray in Croatia / Dog Shelters in Croatia?
• Veterinary services in Croatia
• What should you worr about in Croatia?
• Pet shops in Croatia
• Dog beaches in Croatia
• What Do Dalmatians have to do with Dalmatia?
• What other breeds are Croatian, according to FCI?

Should you bring your pet to Croatia for your vacation?

Mostly, the answer to that question is a heartfelt – yes. People in Croatia are mostly very friendly to well-behaved pets (which we’re guessing yours are). There are numerous opportunities for your pets to have a great time in Croatia. Swimming, trekking, or doing anything else you and your pet enjoy doing.

One small word of warning: maybe it would be best, if you plan on bringing your pet to Croatia for a vacation, to avoid the peak tourist season (that would be late June, July and August) or at least the most popular tourist places in Croatia. It tends to be hot and very crowded here in that period. Let’s be honest – most dogs won’t really appreciate that. Unless of course you’re planning on spending almost all of your time away from any tourist-oriented places. And that won’t be easy.

Transporting a pet to/from Croatia

The rules and regulations regarding the entry of pets to Croatia are what you’d expect from a European Union country. Pets must have a microchip, have a pet passport or authorised certificate. This must confirm a clean bill of health, and they need to be vaccinated against rabies.

For pets younger than three months, things are somewhat more complicated. But you shouldn’t really take your pet for a vacation anyway if it’s less than three months old. All those rules are valid for non-commercial entry of animals to Croatia (under 5 animals), for low-risk countries (listed in the bylaw), and for dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, rabbits and some other species (also listed in the bylaw).

There is an additional bylaw, defining which border crossings are possible for animals to enter Croatia. But it includes almost all major border crossings in Croatia, including ports and airports, so you shouldn’t worry about that, as it is highly unlikely you’ll find yourself passing Croatian border on any of the border crossings that are not in that bylaw.

Similar rules apply for when an animal is leaving Croatia and going to a different country, it should be clearly identified by a micro chip and vaccinated. It is possible that any country to which you plan to bring the pet might have more stringent rules, so if you choose to do so, please make sure you know what they might be expecting.

What’s the general situation/attitude with pets in Croatia?

Over the past several decades, the situation with (and the conditions of) pets in Croatia has drastically improved. These days in most places in Croatia dogs and cats live as spoiled pets. While, to be fair, it is still possible to run into animals that seem to have less-than-ideal lives, especially in smaller town or rural places in Croatia (which means that dogs can sometimes be seen permanently chained and cats allowed to live “freely” without any attempts to control their population, as it was done in the past).

But, in most situations, the pets you’re probably going to meet in Croatia have a good life. Most of the pets in Croatia are microchipped and vaccinated every year, most of them will be held on leashes.

In most places in Croatia it is against the local bylaws to let pets roam around freely, without leashes. Although, to be honest, the chances are you’ll meet a local dog whom everyone knows, roaming around freely, especially in smaller Dalmatian towns. And, yes, we’ll get back to the topic of Dalmatians, I assure you!

Laws regarding pets in Croatia

We’ve already mentioned the most important laws regarding pets in Croatia: they should have a microchip and they should have all of the necessary vaccinations (for dogs, the most important one remains the rabies shot). There are other national laws regarding pets. The most notable one concerns “the dangerous breeds”. This refers to dogs from the group of breeds usually known as bull terriers, including the miniature variant.

There are some special conditions for keeping those animals. This includes the provision that the dogs belonging to the group can only enter Croatia if they have a pedigree issued by a member of the International Canine Organisation. These dogs should always be on the leash and have a muzzle on at all times while in public.

In addition to national laws, there are many local bylaws telling you where dogs can be off-leash, as well as manage other pet-questions for the local community. These vary, honestly, but most are really reasonable (more on this topic here).

Keep your pet on the leash in populated areas (unless it’s a clearly marked dog-park where the dog can be off-leash). And ask if you can sit at a bar or a restaurant with your pet! In most situations, in most tourist-oriented places, the answer will be a clear “Yes!”, and your companion will receive a bowl of water during the summer. And, if you get a “No”, that’s also OK, there are lots of places that will appreciate your business.

What about accommodation with pets in Croatia?

Well, you’re just going to have to inquire about that. Don’t assume that any accommodation will be OK with your pet. But also please don’t assume that you won’t be welcome anywhere with your Newfoundland dog (or something similar). Almost all camps in Croatia are pet-friendly. There are literally only a few that have a strict pet-free policy but those are in larger tourist areas and there are other camps around them where your pet will be welcome.

With hotels, the situation is a bit more complex. Here the ratio between those accepting pets and those who do not want to accommodate such guests is a bit different. Also, numerous hotels have odd rules of accepting just “smaller” pets, without detailed explanation of what exactly they mean, so again – ask them! And if the answer is “No”, there will be another hotel nearby where you and your pet will be more than welcome.

And almost the exact same thing is true about private accommodation – if you’re looking for a place to stay in Croatia through any of the well-known online services, it will clearly state that the apartment is pet-friendly, and if you’re “shopping” through other means, just make sure you ask in advance and explain clearly what type of pet you plan to bring for you. You will almost certainly be able to find accommodation in your preferred location, especially if you’re arriving outside of the peak tourist season, as there are more choices in that period.

There are websites that can help you navigate Croatian accommodation and renters and look for the ones that will take your pet: while probably not completely up-to-date, you can certainly get a feel of the number of options there are www.povedi.me

Taking pets on public transport

In Croatia, it will often be possible to take your pet on most forms of public transportation, but the rules will often be murky, not clearly defined and your success will often vary, depending on the size of your pet, the exact time you want to travel with your pet and the mood of the driver. While that is, admittedly, less than ideal as it creates unnecessary stress for the passengers, it’s just something you should be aware of.

Pets on trains in Croatia

On Croatian trains small animals (up to 30 cm of height) can travel in transport boxes, and dogs of that size can sit on the owner’s lap – both of those options is free. Service dogs of all kinds are can also travel for free. Bigger dogs need to have their veterinary booklet, proving their bill of health, micro chip, need to be on a short leash and wear a muzzle, and you have to pay for their train ride. If you want to take your dog on a sleeping coach you have to pay for all the beds in the section.

Pets on buses in Croatia

For bus travel between cities in Croatia, the rules are much less clear, as there are many companies providing the service and their rules differ. It’s very hard to say when you will be allowed on which bus with what kind of dog. Still, maybe your safest bet would be not to expect to be allowed on a bus with any type of dog during the high-season, and in the off-season your biggest chances to get a dog on a bus are if it’s a small thing in a transport box.

Pets on ferries in Croatia

Dogs can go on ferries in Croatia too, with similar conditions as on the trains: either in transporters (smaller dogs, birds, cats) or on a short leash and with a muzzle (bigger dogs). Often they may not enter certain areas on ferries, such as saloons, restaurants and cabins.

Public transportation within cities in Croatia, such as Zagreb, Split and Rijeka, also varies significantly. In Split and Rijeka your dog is welcome on public transportation only if in a transport box (so, bigger dogs are not really allowed), and in Zagreb you have the option of a box (free) of your dog can board the tram/bus on a short leash, with a muzzle and proper paperwork, and pay the full ticket. Or you can pay it for them, if they don’t have the cash handy.

As always, it’s the owner’s full responsibility to make sure the pet doesn’t destroy, damage or soil the vehicle in which it is travelling. Have plenty of baggies and tissues ready, take a dog for a long walk before getting on any type of public transport, have water ready and if anything goes wrong, clean up after your pet.

What to do if you find a stray in Croatia / Dog Shelters in Croatia?

There aren’t that many stray dogs in Croatia, actually. When it comes to cats, there are much more free-living cats in Croatia, and only recently has there been increased awareness of their poor quality of life. Now many towns and local communities have various Catch, Spay and Release programs for cats, and even those populations have been more or less constant and the cats living in better conditions.

Dog shelters

There are many animals’ rights groups in Croatia, taking animals off the streets and providing them with shelter and finding them suitable homes. All of the local government units need to have contracts with a shelter, and that shelter needs to provide the service of taking care of strays. Since 2017 all animals’ shelters are no-kill shelters. Before that, sometimes it was difficult for people to let strays go to shelters, because their days there were counted, but now that’s not the case anymore.

Stray dogs

We have mentioned already that most dogs in Croatia that have owners are microchipped, so if you find a dog in Croatia that looks like a stray to you (ask around at first, especially in Dalmatia: it might just as well be a dog belonging to an irresponsible owner, who lets their pet walk around as it pleases, and the dogs knows perfectly well how to get back home when it decides to), your first course of action is to take it to the local vet.

There, the vet will be able to determine if the dog was microchipped, and if it was, start the process of returning it to its owner. If it was not, and there’s no way to find out who it belongs to, the vet will also be able to help you get in contact with the local shelter, in charge of caring for the dogs in the area. The dogs are vaccinated at the shelters, cured of any obvious diseases (unfortunately, they are not neutered/spayed at the expense of the local government, which is something that needs to change as soon as possible) and microchipped, so they’re ready for adoption. So, if you’re so inclined, there’s a chance that you might be able to take a friend from a shelter home with you?

Veterinary services in Croatia

The Croatian Chamber of Veterinary Medicine has a list of veterinary practices on their website, although it doesn’t seem that the list is fully up-to-date. Many veterinary practices in Croatian towns and cities are almost completely oriented towards providing care for pets, and the vets working there are experts in the field.

Before you decide to come to Croatia for a vacation, you might want to give it a quick Google, just to make sure your chosen location has a vet nearby (which it almost certainly will), and to have their contacts ready in case you really need them.

In bigger practices you’ll be able to do the blood test, ultrasounds and other diagnostics if necessary, and the vets will be able to either sell you a drug needed or give you the prescription to get at the human pharmacy. The prices for basic veterinary services and medicines are quite affordable in Croatia.

What should you worry about in Croatia?

Well, actually, there aren’t that many animals or insects in Croatia that can hurt your pet. The ones that you might run into while in Croatia include ticks, pappataci, hornets, horse flies and scorpions. Ticks are much more prevalent in continental Croatia, while finding one in Dalmatia during the summer will be a rarity.

But, you will probably run into the pappataci there, and you can get several viral diseases from their bites, including leishmaniasis and pappataci fever. Some type of tick-repellent, either spot-on ampoules or collar is advisable before coming to Croatia.

That won’t help against hornets of horse flies, whose bite might require a trip to the vet to get a treatment of antihistamines and/or steroids to help reduce the consequences of the bite. (Another good reason to have the local vet’s info available)

Pet shops in Croatia

There are numerous pet shops in Croatia, as well as other places where you might be able to buy stuff for your pet. The biggest pet-store chain is Pet Centar, with shops in 5 towns in Croatia. Zoo City also has its shops in several towns in Croatia, including in most Dalmatian towns (Zadar, Split, Šibenik). You will be able to buy some entry-level dog food in bigger general stores, such as Konzum, Lidl, Tommy or Spar as well, but the two bigger pet shop chains will have a bigger selection of well-known brands, as well as much more equipment for your pet (such as a new leash if the old one has broken as soon as you set foot in Croatia).

Also, most veterinary practices will also be able to offer you some basic stuff, like dog food or repellents, and usually at just a bit of a premium.

Dog beaches in Croatia

Croatian beaches often hit the international headlines for their beauty, but one beach near in Kvarner made global headlines for an altogether different reason – some canine-loving entrepreneur had opened a beach bar… dogs.

The concept has proven extremely popular, and it highlights the acceptance of pets in Croatia on those all-important beaches – at least some of them. TCN recently did a comprehensive guide to beaches for pets in Croatia. And you can check it out here.

What Do Dalmatians have to do with Dalmatia?

Well, everything! It is one of the several breeds recognised by FCI as originating from Croatia, in their case, from Dalmatia. Of course, if you’ve ever seen the animated Disney’s film 101 Dalmatians from 1961 (and chances are you have, if you’re reading this) you know exactly what the Dalmatian dog looks like: medium-sized, white with (mostly) black spots, friendly and has a lot of puppies (well, no, they don’t have nowhere near that many puppies in real life!).

Their history in Croatia is long: there’s an altar painting in Veli Lošinj, which is dated to the early 17^th century, where you can find a dog that looks quite like today’s Dalmatians. The first mention of the name was in the early 18^th century, in the continental town of Đakovo, where in the archives of the Archdiocese of Djakovo Canis Dalmaticus is mentioned. Today they can still be found in Dalmatia, as they are loyal, companion dogs, good hunters (often they help their owners get rid of vermin).

What other breeds are Croatian according to FCI?

The Croatian Shepherd Dog is a black small-ish shepherd dog, which is said to be exactly the same since the 14^th century. It is intelligent, energetic watchdog, loyal to their master and it loves to bark!

The Istrian short-haired and Istrian wire-haired hounds are two quite similar dog breeds, both excellent dogs for hunting of the smaller game (such as fox and rabbit) and usually kept by hunters, not as pets.

The Posavatz hound is also a hunting dog, but originating from a different region of Croatia – Posavina is the valley around the Sava River in continental Croatia. It’s a bit bigger than the Istrian, usually brownish with white markings, but also a remarkable scent hound and can also often be seen with hunters.

Tornjak is also often considered to be a Croatian type of dog, but it’s official English name gives away that it’s not just Croatian: Bosnian and Herzegovinian – the Croatian Shepherd dog (just call it “Tornjak”, pronounced “tornyak”).

It’s a large Mountain dog breed, dedicated to the protection of the livestock against wolves, foxes or other intruders, capable of withstanding severe cold because of its thick coat. Tornjak is prohibited in Denmark, along with some other mountain dogs.

The post Pets in Croatia 2022: Laws, Vets, Transport, Beach, Strays appeared first on Total Croatia.