Slovakia — Property: Foreign Ownership

Key facts

• Ownership is established, changed or ended only by registration in the Real Estate Cadastre; legal effects arise from the final decision of the cadastral department of the District Office.
• The page is written for foreign nationals buying or selling property, and it states no restriction on who may acquire property; it does not cover agricultural land or other special rules.
• EU citizens need the transfer contract, the registration application and proof of fee payment; non-EU citizens also need signature authentication.
• The transfer contract must be written, identify the property exactly, state the price and parties, and for flats include a declaration from the building administrator that the seller has no arrears.
• The registration fee is EUR 66 (EUR 33 if filed electronically), regardless of price.
• The cadastral decision takes 30 days, 20 days for a notarial or lawyer-authorised contract that matches cadastre records, or 15 days with a EUR 266 surcharge (EUR 133 electronically).
• A lawyer or notary can authorise the contract and must carry liability insurance; the page recommends consulting a lawyer or estate agency and warns that fraud is a common risk.

Steps

1. Registering a Property — Buyers must register the property with the land registry office (Úřad vlastnictví immovitých majetků).
2. Applying for Land Ownership Permit — Non-EU citizens interested in land ownership must apply for a special permit from the Ministry of Interior.

Costs

• Registration fee: EUR 66 (EUR 33 electronic)
• Expedited surcharge: EUR 266 (EUR 133 electronic)

Timelines

• Standard decision: 30 days
• Expedited decision: 15 days