Croatia Tightens Registered Office Proof Requirements

Croatian commercial courts have recently taken a stricter approach to verifying registered office addresses. What was previously treated as a formal data point is now assessed as a substantive legal requirement under Croatian company law.

This shift directly affects companies using virtual offices, third-party premises, or outdated address documentation, and it is already delaying registrations and corporate filings in practice.

What changed?

Although the Croatian companies act (ztd) has always required companies to maintain a valid registered office, commercial courts now apply this rule more strictly during registration and subsequent filings.

In practice, courts actively verify whether a company can demonstrate a clear legal right to use its registered address. Moreover, courts raise these checks even when:

• the registered office has not changed, and
• the filing concerns a different corporate action.

Therefore, companies can no longer rely on historic filings or assumptions that address evidence will not be reviewed.

Which documents are now being requested?

Depending on the circumstances, courts typically request:

• a valid lease agreement covering the registered office address,
• an ownership extract from the land register, or
• a written consent from the property owner allowing the registration of the company seat.

In addition, courts expect documents to clearly confirm:

• the exact address,
• the legal basis for use, and
• the identity of the entitled parties.

When documents lack clarity or validity, courts increasingly suspend or reject the filing.

How did it work before?

Previously, companies often maintained their registered office without submitting supporting documents. Furthermore, courts usually requested address evidence only when a company filed an explicit address change.

However, this practice has shifted. Today, courts actively assess address compliance as part of broader corporate filings.

Why does this matter?

Under Croatian law, the registered office determines:

• the competent commercial court,
• the place of service for official documents, and
• the legal seat for corporate records.

Therefore, if a company cannot properly support its registered office, the court may suspend or refuse filings. As a consequence, time-sensitive actions such as director changes, articles of association amendments, or group restructurings can face significant delays.

For multinational groups, these risks often remain unnoticed until a filing fails.

What should companies do now?

Companies with Croatian entities should take proactive steps:

• review whether current address documents are still valid and enforceable,
• confirm that the company’s right of use is properly documented,
• refresh owner consents or lease agreements where needed, and
• ensure internal records match what is filed with the court.

Address compliance should be checked before starting any new corporate filing, not during the registration process.

What’s next?

Managing a registered office change or verification process requires detailed planning and full legal awareness. For more insights into corporate filings in Croatia, explore our article on New SRL Rules in Romania from 2026: Capital and Compliance.

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• Request a Demo – See Klea in action for your organisation.
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