Amendments to the Law on State Survey and Cadastre introduce significant innovations in the field of real estate registration and ownership rights. The new validation and formalization procedures establish simplified and digitalized processes designed to ensure faster and more efficient registration of ownership, especially in cases where documentation contains certain formal deficiencies.
Validation and Formalization – Two Mechanisms for Correcting Old Irregularities
Validation refers to the recognition of legal effect for older documents that contain minor formal errors but clearly confirm ownership. Formalization, on the other hand, enables the registration of properties that have not yet been recorded in the cadastre, most often due to technical or administrative obstacles.
Both procedures regulate the registration of ownership rights in cases where this was previously not possible due to incomplete documentation. Applications are submitted electronically via the portal of the Republic Geodetic Authority (RGA), in accordance with the new technical rules on digital data processing.
Digital Submission and Shorter Processing Times
Individuals and legal entities can now submit applications electronically, upload scanned documentation, and track the status of their cases through an online platform. Once the RGA verifies the documentation, the applicant will be notified through the platform, and if all conditions are met, the registration will be completed within five working days from the submission of the original documents.
The regulation specifies that the registration must be finalized within five working days after the original documentation is submitted, with electronic monitoring of the entire process.
“Minor Validation” – A More Flexible Approach to Proving Ownership
One of the key novelties is the introduction of the so-called minor validation mechanism, which allows registration even when the document does not meet all legal requirements, provided that certain clearly defined criteria are satisfied.
This includes cases such as:
- discrepancies between the surface area stated in the document and in the cadastre, confirmed by an expert opinion,
- absence of a finality clause on documents older than 30 years,
- old building permits without an occupancy permit, if expert examination confirms that the structure was built according to the project,
- or inconsistencies in the owner’s identification data, which can now be resolved through witness statements.
These provisions allow registration of ownership even when the documentation does not fully meet formal requirements, thereby addressing numerous situations that previously remained outside the cadastre records.
Full Digitalization of the Procedure
Electronic filing becomes the mandatory channel for initiating registration procedures. Users can independently submit applications through the RGA’s online platform, while the system, in cases of incomplete documentation, automatically refers applicants to professional users such as lawyers, notaries, or surveyors.
In this way, a technical framework has been established for digital data exchange and electronic communication between the RGA and applicants — eliminating the need for physical visits to the authority’s offices.
The information contained in this document does not constitute legal advice on any specific matter and is provided solely for general informational purposes.
