There are no restrictions for British nationals purchasing or inheriting property in Croatia, thanks to a reciprocal agreement between the nations allowing their citizens to own property in each country. As is always the case with purchasing off plan property abroad, a trusted local lawyer should be employed to aid with the dealings and help with translations and suchlike.

After a property has been selected a deposit is placed, usually of around 10 percent of the total fee – if the buyer pulls out the fee is forfeit, whereas if the seller pulls out the money is returned in double. After the deposit has been placed, permission must be applied for from the Foreign Ministry Department to legally purchase the property – this process of validation can take up to six months for private buyers (and around six weeks for company buyers) but as the process is being carried out the full purchase of the property can carry on as normal. Once the application has been submitted, the main contract is signed by the buyer and seller and is verified by a notary, then is passed on to the Local Land Registrar for the property to be registered in court in the name of the purchaser. Once all the registrations are out of the way the remaining balance owed is paid – this can happen either before or after permission has been granted by the Foreign Ministry Department, but just to be on the safe side it should take place after – that way there is no risk of permission being denied.