OIB step by step: how a Czech buyer gets one (and what you need it for)
OIB (personal identification number - Osobni identifikacijski broj) is an eleven-digit tax number that Croatia assigns to every natural person and legal entity. For a foreign property buyer it is the first practical step: without an OIB you cannot sign a purchase agreement, cannot register in the cadastre, and cannot open a Croatian bank account.
The good news: getting an OIB as a Czech citizen is relatively straightforward. The bad news: it requires either your physical presence or a power of attorney, during the Croatian office’s working hours.
What OIB is and why you need it
OIB is the Croatian equivalent of a Czech birth number for tax purposes, but it is also assigned to foreigners. It is administered by the Croatian tax authority - Porezna uprava (Ministarstvo financija).
What you need OIB for:
- Buying property - without an OIB you cannot sign a purchase agreement or apply for registration in the Zemljišne knjige
- Opening an account with a Croatian bank - if you are financing the purchase with a Croatian mortgage or want a local account
- Paying taxes - the 3% property transfer tax is paid under your OIB
- The annual property tax - from 2025, Croatian law introduces a property tax on holiday homes (€0.6-8/m² depending on the municipality’s tourist classification), which is paid under your OIB
- Any future rental - rental income is taxed under your OIB
Where and how to get an OIB
OIB is issued by the nearest branch of the Porezna uprava (tax authority), based on where the property is located, or based on where you, as a foreigner, are looking at a property. In practice this means a branch in the nearest larger town - Split, Zadar, Rijeka, Dubrovnik and others.
In person
The most reliable method. You turn up with your documents, fill in a form, and receive your OIB either on the spot or within a few days by post or email.
What to bring:
- A valid passport (or an EU identity card)
- The completed form “Zahtjev za upis u registar poreznih obveznika” (available on the Porezna uprava website or directly at the branch)
- The address of the property, or the exact location the OIB application relates to (street, house number, municipality, cadastral number)
The form is in Croatian. The odvjetnik you are working with will help you fill it in, or prepare it for you in advance.
By power of attorney
If you cannot go in person, OIB can be arranged through a representative - typically your Croatian lawyer. They will need:
- A power of attorney (punomoć) signed by you, ideally notarised or apostilled
- A copy of your passport
- Information about the property
This route is slower (communication goes through the lawyer) and you will pay a fee for the power of attorney and, if needed, notarisation. But if you only travel to Croatia once, it is worth doing in advance before you leave - you can sign the power of attorney at a notary back in the Czech Republic.
How long it takes
In person: you typically get your OIB on the spot, or within 2-3 working days.
By power of attorney: allow 1-2 weeks from when the power of attorney reaches your lawyer. It depends on how busy the specific branch is.
Common problems
Mismatched names on documents. If your name differs between your passport and other documents (a typo, an abbreviation, diacritics), it can cause delays. Always use exactly what is on your passport.
Incorrect property address. OIB is tied to a specific property - or rather to you as a taxpayer in Croatia. But to apply you need a link to Croatian territory. Make sure the property address matches the cadastral records.
A branch with no English-speaking staff. At smaller branches, communication can be difficult. If you do not have a Croatian lawyer with you, bring a Croatian-speaking friend, or have the form prepared in advance through your lawyer.
OIB as a first step, not an obstacle
OIB is not a complication - it is the first administrative step that kicks off the whole purchase. I recommend arranging it as early as possible, ideally during your first viewing trip, or even before it via power of attorney.
The whole buying process - from OIB through the contract to registration in the cadastre - is described in our guide how to buy property in Croatia. The taxes and fees paid under your OIB are covered in the taxes and costs section.
One practical tip to finish with: save your OIB number in more than one place and share it with your lawyer. They will need it at every step of the transaction.