The legal framework governing entry, residence and employment of foreign nationals in Croatia is regulated primarily by the Aliens Act, the Act on Nationals of EEA Member States and Their Family Members (Official Gazette No. 66/19, 53/20, 144/20, 114/22), as well as implementing regulations adopted pursuant to these laws. The applicable regime depends primarily on whether the individual is an EU/EEA national or a third-country national. In this article, the focus will be on the various legal grounds for residence available to third-country nationals, outlining all lawful pathways through which they may regulate their stay in the Republic of Croatia.
THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS
Short-Term Stay
Nationals of third countries may remain in Croatia for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. This stay may be used consecutively or in multiple entries, provided that the cumulative duration does not exceed the permitted threshold. During short-term stay, registration of accommodation is mandatory. The accommodation provider (legal or natural person) must register the foreign national within one day of arrival, either electronically via the eVisitor system or by submitting the prescribed form to the competent police administration/police station.
If the accommodation provider does not complete the registration, the foreign national must personally register the address within two days of entry into Croatia or within two days of changing accommodation.
Failure to comply may result in fines and potential immigration complications.
Temporary Residence
Temporary residence represents a longer-term legal stay and must be formally approved before the foreign national exceeds short-term stay limits.
If a visa is not required for entry into Croatia, the application for temporary residence may be submitted either at a Croatian diplomatic mission/consular office abroad or at the competent police administration/station in Croatia. If a visa is required, the application must generally be filed at the Croatian diplomatic mission/consular office abroad. Exceptionally, certain categories may submit the application in Croatia even if a visa would otherwise be required; these include:
· Immediate family members of Croatian citizens
· Life partners or informal life partners of Croatian citizens
· Students enrolled in higher education (undergraduate, graduate or postgraduate level)
· Researchers entering under a hosting agreement
· Family members of researchers or students
· Applicants seeking residence on humanitarian grounds
· Applicants for the EU Blue Card, including their family members
· Applicants seeking residence for the purpose of immigration and return of Croatian emigrants under Article 79.a of the Aliens Act
Applications submitted at diplomatic missions are forwarded to the competent police administration in Croatia, which ultimately issues the decision.
Under the Aliens Act, temporary residence may be granted for the following purposes:
1. Family reunification
Residence may be approved for family members of Croatian citizens, EU citizens residing in Croatia, or third-country nationals holding lawful residence. Applicants must demonstrate:
· Valid family relationship,
· Adequate accommodation,
· Sufficient financial means,
· Health insurance coverage.
2. Secondary education
Temporary residence may be granted to minors attending secondary school in Croatia. Guardianship arrangements, accommodation, and parental consent documentation are critical elements. This category is strictly education-oriented and does not automatically allow full labour market access.
3. Studies
Foreign nationals enrolled in Croatian higher education institutions may obtain residence for the duration of their studies. Students may engage in limited work under statutory conditions. However, residence for study purposes is inherently temporary and requires careful planning if the intention is to remain in Croatia after graduation.
4. Research
Researchers entering Croatia under a hosting agreement with an approved institution may be granted residence. This category is generally streamlined and often includes facilitated family reunification options. It is particularly relevant within EU mobility frameworks.
5. Humanitarian grounds
Temporary residence on humanitarian grounds represents one of the most sensitive and discretionary categories under the Croatian Aliens Act. This legal basis is intended for exceptional situations in which strict application of general immigration rules would lead to disproportionate hardship or would conflict with fundamental human rights principles. Unlike employment or family reunification, humanitarian residence is not based on a structured economic or contractual relationship. It is assessed individually, taking into account the totality of circumstances.
Typical examples may include:
· Serious medical conditions where adequate treatment is available in Croatia but not accessible in the applicant’s country of origin.
· Situations involving minor children, particularly where removal would disrupt schooling or jeopardize the child’s best interests.
· Victims of domestic violence or human trafficking, especially when cooperation with authorities is involved.
· Individuals who cannot safely return to their home country due to extraordinary personal circumstances, even if they do not formally qualify for asylum.
· Cases where a foreign national has developed strong private and family ties in Croatia and removal would constitute disproportionate interference with the right to family life.
6. Life partnership
Residence may be granted on the basis of a registered life partnership or informal life partnership. Authorities assess the genuineness of the relationship. Evidence of shared life and cohabitation is typically required.
7. Employment
Temporary residence for employment is one of the most common grounds which requires:
· A valid employment contract,
· Compliance with labour market regulations (including labour market testing where applicable),
· Fulfilment of salary and qualification conditions.
Residence is tied to the employer, and termination of employment may affect legal stay.
8. Posted workers
Third-country nationals posted to Croatia by an employer established in another EEA Member State or Switzerland for longer than 90 days within 180 days may apply for temporary residence. Cross-border corporate structuring and compliance with posting rules must be carefully examined.
9. Long-term residents of another EEA member state
Individuals holding long-term residence status in another EEA country may apply for residence in Croatia under simplified conditions, provided that they meet Croatian statutory requirements.
10. Other purposes
The Aliens Act allows residence for other justified purposes, assessed case-by-case.
11. Digital nomads
Croatia provides a specific regime for digital nomads, i.e. third-country nationals who perform work remotely for a foreign employer or company not registered in Croatia, with some important considerations:
· Important considerations:
· No employment with Croatian entities is permitted,
· Tax analysis is highly recommended,
· This period generally does not count towards permanent residence.
12. Immigration and return of Croatian emigrants
The Croatian Ministry of Demography and Immigration actively encourages the return and settlement of Croatian emigrants, their descendants, and family members of emigrants who do not yet hold Croatian citizenship. Descendants of Croatian emigrants may regulate their status in Croatia on the basis of a special regime designed to facilitate their immigration and reintegration. With a Certificate issued by the Ministry of Demography and Immigration, they may apply for temporary residence for the purpose of immigration and return of Croatian emigration.
This form of temporary residence is granted for a period of up to two years and may be extended. After three years of approved residence under this specific regime, and upon confirmation from the Ministry, the individual may apply for permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia. This pathway is particularly significant for those who wish to gradually transition from temporary status to long-term settlement, and eventually regulate Croatian citizenship.
One of the key advantages of this category lies in the facilitated conditions for approval. Applicants are not required to provide proof of sufficient financial means or evidence of health insurance at the time of submission. Furthermore, if the individual would normally require a visa to enter Croatia, the application for temporary residence under this regime may exceptionally be submitted from within Croatia, provided that the Ministry’s Certificate has been issued. This significantly simplifies the procedural aspect of relocation.
Once temporary residence is granted, descendants of Croatian emigrants gain access to the Croatian labour market, including both employment and self-employment opportunities, as well as access to education, vocational training and university studies under the same conditions applicable to other lawful residents. In addition, they may submit an application for admission to Croatian citizenship while residing in Croatia. An additional incentive is the possibility of exemption from personal income tax for a period of five years, subject to applicable tax regulations.
GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENCE
Temporary residence will be granted if the applicant demonstrates the specific purpose of stay, holds a valid travel document, has sufficient means of subsistence, possesses health insurance, provides proof of no criminal convictions (in the case of first-time applicants), is not subject to an entry ban or a Schengen alert, and does not pose a threat to public order, national security or public health. In addition, the applicant’s passport must remain valid for at least three months beyond the validity period of the approved residence permit.
Author: Anja Juršetić Šepčević, managing partner at JURŠETIĆ & ALEKSOVSKI Law Firm