Short-term, temporary or permanent residence in Croatia is possible for citizens of the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein that together form the European Economic Area – EEA, as well as citizens of the Swiss Confederation.
If they wish to do so, citizens of EEA member states and their family members can be issued a residence card.
Short-term stay
Nationals of EEA Member States are entitled to stay in Croatia for up to 3 months from the date of entry into the country, if they possess a valid travel document or personal ID. In this case, they are exempt from the obligation to register for short-term stay.
Nationals of member states can register with a personal ID or passport. The registration procedure is usually free of charge. If you are staying at a hotel, you are normally required only to fill out a form and the accommodation provider will do the rest of the registration procedure for you.
Temporary residence
Nationals of EEA Member States are entitled to stay in Croatia for longer than 3 months from the date of entry into Croatia, if they are there:
- to work – as a worker, self-employed person or a posted worker
- for other purposes, provided that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members so they do not become a burden for the social welfare system of the Republic of Croatia during their stay in the country, and they have health insurance.
- to attend vocational training or if they are enrolled in a higher education institution and have appropriate health insurance and if they provide a statement of having sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members, so they do not become a burden for the social welfare system of the Republic of Croatia during their stay in the country
- family reunification, if they are joining an EEA national that meets the above mentioned requirements.
If EEA nationals intend to stay in the Republic of Croatia for longer than 3 months, they have to register their temporary residence at a competent police administration or police station according to their place of residence no longer than 8 days following the expiration of their 3-month stay period, upon which they will immediately receive a certificate of registering their temporary residence. A fine of HRK 200 will be issued to EEA nationals that do not register their temporary residence in the prescribed period.
Permanent residence
Permanent residence may be granted to EEA nationals who have been legally staying in the Republic of Croatia for an uninterrupted period of five years.
Exceptionally, EEA nationals who have stayed in the Republic of Croatia for less than 5 uninterrupted years can also be granted permanent residence. These exceptions can be found in Article 28 of the Act on EEA nationals and their family members.
In order to register for residence you need:
– a registration form for EEA nationals:
Temporary residence
https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages//dokumenti/stranci/2013//obrazac_1b.pdf
Permanent residence
https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages//dokumenti/stranci/2013//obrazac_3b.pdf
– a copy of a valid identity card or travel document, certified by an official after verifying the original.
Additional documents necessary depending on the purpose of stay:
- For registering temporary residence for work, it is necessary to provide a certificate of employment or proof that you are self-employed or a posted worker.
- For registering temporary residence for the purpose of high education or vocational training, it is necessary to provide proof of enrolment in a higher education institution or vocational training institution, having health insurance, and to provide a statement of possessing sufficient funds for supporting yourself and the members of your family.
- For registering temporary residence for other purposes, it is necessary to provide proof of possessing sufficient funds for supporting yourself and the members of your family and proof of having health insurance.
After receiving the registration for temporary residence, the police administration or police station issues a certificate to the EEA national and EEA family member confirming that they have registered their temporary residence and a residence card can be issued upon their request.
A residence card is issued for EEA nationals with permanent residence for a validity period of 10 years
Registering residence is free of charge and the price of a biometric residence card is HRK 79.50 (approximately EUR 11)
Institution
Zagrebačka County Police Administration
Petrinjska ulica 30; Zagreb 10000
Tel: +385 1 5463 111
+385 1 4563 609
E-mail:
zagrebacka@policija.hr
zg.sidup@mup.hr
Working hours: 7 til 14 (Monday-Friday)
Ministry of the Interior (MUP) is a state administration body of the Republic of Croatia whose main responsibility is to protect the constitutional order of the Republic of Croatia, the lives of its citizens and their property. The Minister of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia governs the work of the Ministry.
The Ministry of the Interior carries out its tasks through police administrations and police stations across the country which are responsible for issuing personal identification cards and registering citizens’ permanent and temporary residence.
Info: MUP
