Updated
GL-T-07
Glossary · Real estate
Title Deed - the document that makes you the owner of a property
Official document confirming ownership of real estate, recorded in the land registry. A key paper when buying: without a clean title the property will not grant status in a program.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- What it is
- An official document proving ownership of real estate
- Where it applies
- Any property purchase, including for citizenship or residence
- What it confirms
- That the property is yours and the record is in the land registry
- Why it matters
- Without clean title the property will not give status in a programme
- Can you prepare
- Yes: check the title and land registry before the deal
02 / In plain words
What Title Deed means
A title deed is the official document confirming your ownership of real estate, together with the corresponding entry in the state land registry. It is what makes you the lawful owner: without clean title in your name you are not regarded as the owner, whatever the contract says.
In citizenship and residence by investment programmes the title plays a double role. First, it proves that the real estate investment has actually been registered to you — without it, status will not be granted. Second, the “cleanness” of the title (no encumbrances, mortgages, disputes or third-party rights) protects you from buying a property with problems.
That is why the key step when buying is to check the title and the land registry before the deal: who the real owner is, whether there are any mortgages or disputes, whether the property matches the documents. The deal goes through escrow, on condition that the money goes to the seller only after your ownership is registered in the land registry.
A case from practice
An investor buys real estate for citizenship. Before the deal a lawyer checks the title: the seller is the real owner and the property is free of mortgages and disputes. The money goes through escrow and reaches the seller only after the buyer’s ownership is registered in the land registry. The title in their name is the basis for the status.
Where the title matters
- Buying property abroad
- Citizenship or residence through real estate
- Checking the property before the deal
- Protection against encumbrances and disputes
- Registering ownership
- A later sale of the property
03 / What it covers
What is checked in the title
Owner
- Who it is on paper
- Whether it matches the seller
- Authority to sell
Cleanness
- No mortgages
- No encumbrances
- No court disputes
Property
- Consistency with the documents
- The land registry entry
- Boundaries and area
The deal
- Escrow
- Registration to the buyer
- Money after registration
04 / How it works
How to register ownership safely
Checking the title and land registry
Who the owner is and what the registry shows.
Checking encumbrances and disputes
Mortgages, seizures, court disputes.
A transaction through escrow
Money held in escrow until registration.
Registering ownership to you
Registration of the transfer in the registry.
Title in your name
The Title Deed in your name.
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01What it is
Title and a land registry entry
An official document of ownership and the matching entry in the state land registry.
02Why it matters most
A contract is not enough
Without the title registered in your name you are not the owner, whatever the contract says.
03In programmes
Proves the investment
Without title in the applicant's name, no status is granted for the property.
04Clean title
No encumbrances
No mortgages, disputes or third-party rights: this is checked before the deal.
Common mistakes
Buying without checking the registry
Check the owner and the registry entry before the deposit.
Not checking mortgages and disputes
Request an extract on encumbrances and court cases.
Sending money before registration
Pay through escrow, released to the seller after the title is registered.
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
Before the deal, the title and land registry are checked: who the real owner is, whether there are mortgages, encumbrances or disputes, and whether the property matches the documents. The deal goes through escrow, with the money released only after your ownership is registered. Then the property both gives status and remains a protected asset.
What we do for you. BRIDGES GLOBAL checks the title and the land registry before the deal: the real owner, the absence of encumbrances and disputes, the property’s consistency with the documents. We run the deal through escrow, so that ownership is registered to you and the money reaches the seller only after registration.
Igor VentsHead of real estate, Title Deed and property checks
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
The official document proving ownership of real estate, together with the land registry entry. It is what makes you the lawful owner of the property.
To make sure the seller is the real owner and the property is free of mortgages, encumbrances and disputes. Otherwise you may buy a property with problems.
It proves that the real estate investment has actually been registered to you. Without clean title, status in the programme will not be granted.
Through escrow — only after your ownership has been registered in the land registry. That way you are never left without both the money and the property.
A mortgage, a seizure, a third-party right or some other burden on the property. Encumbrances must be identified before the deal, otherwise they pass along with the property.
Yes, with a clean title. Programmes have a mandatory holding period (usually 3-7 years), after which the property can be sold.
Related terms
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