Short-term residence
Citizens of third countries have the right to reside in the Republic of Croatia for 90 days in the span of 180 days (consecutive 90 days, or with breaks).
During a short-term stay citizens of third countries should have a registered housing. It has to be registered by the legal entity or individual, who then provides it to the third-country citizen within one day of the arrival through an electronic visitor or notification to the local department/police department in the appropriate form (available at https://mup.gov.hr/).
If the registration cannot be done by the accommodation provider, it must be done by the third-country citizen within two days of their entry into the Republic of Croatia or after a change of residence.
Temporary residence
A third-country citizen who does not need a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia can apply to the diplomatic representative/consular office of the Republic of Croatia or to the local police department or station for a temporary stay permit.
A citizen of a third country who needs a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia applies to the diplomatic representative/consular institution of the Republic of Croatia for a temporary stay permit.
As an exception, an application may also be submitted to a local police department or branch if the applicant:
Is a member of the immediate family of a Croatian citizen;
Is a life partner or informal partner of a Croatian citizen;
Is coming to study at a higher educational institution, for bachelor's, master's and postgraduate studies;
Is a researcher under a contract for travel;
Is a member of the immediate family of a researcher or a citizen of a third country who is coming to study and applies;
Requests a temporary stay permit for humanitarian reasons;
Is a member of the family of the "EU blue card" owner.
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For what purposes can a temporary residence permit be granted?
The Aliens Act states that a temporary stay may be granted to a citizen of a third country for the following purposes:
Family reunification;
Receiving secondary education;
For research purposes;
For humanitarian reasons;
Life partnership;
Work;
Business trip;
Stay of a long-term resident of another EEA member state;
For other purposes;
Stay of digital nomads.
Temporary residence is granted to a citizen of a third country who meets the requirements for a temporary residence permit if they:
Confirm the purpose of temporary stay;
Have a valid travel document;
Have the means to support themselves;
Have a health insurance;
Confirm that they have no criminal record in their country or in the country where they stayed more than one year before arriving in the Republic of Croatia (required if applying for temporary residence for the first time);
If they have not been banned from entering and staying in the Republic of Croatia, or that no entry ban warning has been issued in the Schengen Information System;
Do not present a threat to public order, national security or public health.
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What is the validity period of a temporary residence permit?
The validity period of the foreign travel document must exceed the period of the requested temporary stay by three months.
An application for a temporary residence permit accepted at a diplomatic mission/consular institution is forwarded to the local police department or the responsible department, which makes a decision on the application.
Short-term residence
A citizen of an EEA member state has the right to stay in the Republic of Croatia for up to three months from the date of entry into the Republic of Croatia, if they have a valid travel document or identity card, provided that they are not an unjustified burden on the social security system.
A citizen of an EEA member state is not required to register a short-term stay at a local office or police station.
A family member who is not a citizen of a member state of the EEA, and who accompanies or joins a citizen of a member state of the EEA, has the right to stay in the territory of the Republic of Croatia for up to three months from the date of entry.
A family member who is not a citizen of a Member State of the EEA and who does not accompany or join a citizen of a Member State of the EEA is required to register his/her residential address in accordance with the provisions of the Aliens Act.
Temporary residence
A citizen of an EEA member state who intends to stay in the Republic of Croatia for more than three months must register a temporary stay at the local police station or station at the place of residence no later than eight days after the end of the stay.
A citizen of an EEA member state can register a temporary stay for the purpose of:
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A family member who is not a citizen of an EEA member state must contact the local police department or station at the place of residence no later than eight days after the end of three months of their stay (short-term stay). The stay must have been legal on the basis of a temporary residence card.
A residence card for a family member of an EU citizen is issued to a family member who:
Has a valid travel document;
Submits a document confirming that they are a family member;
Submits a document issued by the responsible authority of the country of origin, which officially confirms that they are a dependent, or a member of the household of a citizen of an EEA member state; provides evidence of the presence of serious health reasons that require them to be taken care of, in the case of a family member specified in Part 2 of Article 4 of the Law on Citizens of EEA Member States and Their Family Members;
Does not present a threat to civil order or national security;
If the person was not banned from entering and staying in the Republic of Croatia.
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Permanent residence
A citizen of an EEA member state has the right to permanent residence after five years of continuous legal residence in the Republic of Croatia. The law provides for certain exceptions, meaning those categories of individuals, who can benefit from the right of permanent residence, even if they have been legally in the Republic of Croatia for a shorter period of time.
An application for a residence card, which confirms the right to permanent residence, is submitted by a citizen of an EEA member state to the local police department or branch.
A family member who is not a citizen of a Member State of the EEA and who has continuously resided legally in the Republic of Croatia with a citizen of a Member State of the EEA for at least five years is entitled to permanent residence. The law provides for certain exceptions, meaning those categories of individuals, family members, who are not citizens of EEA member states, who can benefit from the right of permanent residence, even if they have been legally in the Republic of Croatia for a shorter period of time.
For full information on the status of EEA nationals and their family members, visit www.mup.hr.
What is naturalization?
Naturalization is the last step in the process of integration into the Croatian way of life. This gives you the right to vote and run for election.
Croatian citizenship can be obtained through naturalization on these legal grounds:
Residence in Croatia;
By birth in Croatia;
Marriage or civil partnership with a citizen of Croatia;
By motives of emigration;
On the grounds of interests of the Republic of Croatia;
On the grounds of belonging to the Croatian people;
On the grounds of re-acquisition of Croatian citizenship.
Minor children can obtain Croatian citizenship through naturalization in the following cases:
If both parents acquire citizenship through naturalization;
If only one parent obtains citizenship through naturalization, while the child lives in Croatia and has obtained permanent residence;
If one of the parents acquires citizenship through naturalization in accordance with Article 16 of the Law on Croatian Citizenship;
If only one parent acquires citizenship through naturalization, the other parent is stateless or of unknown citizenship, and the child lives abroad.
Issues related to acquiring Croatian citizenship through naturalization are dealt with by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Submission of applications
The application for acquiring Croatian citizenship through naturalization is submitted in person to the local police department or police station at the place of temporary or permanent residence.
If the applicant has not been granted temporary or permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia, the application for acquisition of Croatian citizenship by naturalization is submitted through a competent diplomatic mission or consulate of the Republic of Croatia abroad. The application form to be submitted can be downloaded here or on the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
What documents are required to obtain citizenship through naturalization?
The following supporting documents are attached to the application:
CV and letter of motivation for acquiring Croatian citizenship;
A certified copy of a valid identity document (passport, identity document for foreign citizens) with a clearly visible photograph;
A document confirming citizenship (citizenship certificate, certified copy of a valid passport or identity card);
An extract from the birth register, issued in a standard form in accordance with international treaties and conventions;
An extract from the marriage register, issued within the last 6 months (for married people);
If the application is submitted on the basis of a marriage with a Croatian citizen, the marriage is registered in the register of marriages in the Republic of Croatia;
Extract from the Register of Civil Societies (for civil partners);
A certificate of no criminal record issued by a competent foreign authority of the country of which the applicant is a citizen and in which he has a permanent residence, in the original language or a duly certified copy with a Croatian translation, issued within the last 6 months;
Consent of the applicant to verify the authenticity of foreign documents confirming the application;
When submitting applications in the Republic of Croatia, the administrative fee is paid upon receipt of a decision to acquire Croatian citizenship or a decision to reject the application;
For submitting applications abroad, a consular fee is charged, which is paid when the application is submitted.
If the application is also submitted for minor children, a valid document certifying the identity of the child (if the child has one), an extract from the birth register, evidence of the child's citizenship and a written statement from the authority of the consent of the second parent to obtain Croatian citizenship by naturalization are attached to the supporting documents of a minor child (the Law defines exceptions, meaning cases when only one of the parents can submit the application). An extract from the birth register is not required if the child is registered in the birth register in the Republic of Croatia.
How much does it cost?
If the applicant is granted citizenship by naturalization, an administrative fee of 1,050.00 kunas (about 175.00 American dollars) will be charged.
This amount is an administrative fee charged by the Republic of Croatia. It does not include consular and legal fees.
