Understand the paper before you sign

Bosnia property glossary

31 Bosnian terms you will hear at the notary, the municipality and the lawyer’s office, explained in plain words.

Papers and registers

ZK izvadak: Land-registry extract: the official paper showing who the owner is and whether the property carries a mortgage or note. The most important paper to ask for before paying.
Zemljišna knjiga: The register kept by the court where ownership and mortgages are recorded. Ownership only passes in law once entered here.
Katastar: The municipal cadastre: plot number, area, boundaries and land use. It should match the land registry.
Katastarska čestica (k.č.): The plot number in the cadastre, used to find the land on official maps.
Posjedovni list: A cadastre sheet showing who holds the land and its area. Not proof of ownership by itself.

Notar: An independent legal officer before whom the sale contract must be signed. Checks identities and documents and reads the contract to both parties.
Sudski tumač: A court-certified interpreter, required when a party does not speak Bosnian.
Geodet: The surveyor who marks the plot boundaries on the ground and compares them with the map.
Advokat: Represents you by power of attorney in company formation and filings, so you need not attend every step.

Punomoć: A written, notarised authorisation for someone to act for you. State exactly what they may do.
Predugovor: An agreement before the final contract fixing the price, deadline and deposit.
Kapara: A sum paid to secure the deal. Do not pay it before checking the land-registry extract.
Kupoprodajni ugovor: The final contract signed before the notary, the basis for tax and registration.

Porez na promet nekretnina: A tax paid when buying a resale property. The rate is set locally, so ask the notary for the current figure.
PDV: Usually applies to the first sale of a new property from a developer, included in the price.
KM (konvertibilna marka): Bosnia’s currency, pegged to the euro at a fixed rate.
Hipoteka: A bank’s or creditor’s right over the property. It appears on the extract and must be cleared before purchase.

Građevinska dozvola: The municipal permit to build on the plot. Without it the building is unlawful.
Upotrebna dozvola: A certificate after completion that the building matches the permit and is fit for use. Needed to register the building.
Urbanistička saglasnost: A municipal document stating what may be built on the plot: storeys and coverage.
Etažiranje: Registering each flat in a building as a separate unit with its own title.
Novogradnja / Starogradnja: A new build from a developer, or an existing property sold by its owner.

Dunum: A common unit of area in Bosnia equal to 1,000 square metres.
Građevinsko / poljoprivredno zemljište: The land category decides whether building is allowed. Agricultural land carries special restrictions for foreigners.
Pravo prolaza: A written, registered right to cross a neighbour’s land to reach yours.

d.o.o.: The most common company form in Bosnia. A local legal person even when foreign-owned.
JIB: The company’s tax identification number, 13 digits.
MBS: The company’s number in the court register, used to verify any company officially.
Reciprocitet: The rule allowing a foreigner to own in their own name if their country allows Bosnians the same.
Privremeni boravak: A residence permit for a fixed period, applied for at the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs under its conditions.
Općina / Kanton: Administrative units: the municipality issues building permits; the canton sets many fees and conditions.

Simplified definitions for orientation, not legal advice. Rates and conditions change and differ between areas.