How EU/EEA citizens can get temporary residence in Croatia: Guide for 2023
UPDATED: 23.8.2023.
Since Croatia is an EU member nation, EU/EEA citizens are entitled to live and work within Croatia. This gives them the right to apply for legal temporary residence.
For the purposes of this post, when we say “EU/EEA citizens”, we are referring to citizens of the Europski gospodarski prostor – EGP (European Economic Area – EEA) and citizens of the Swiss Confederation. The EEA includes citizens of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
If you are a British citizen, hop over to this post written just for you.
In this post, we cover:
- Residence types for EU/EEA citizens
- How EU/EEA citizens can apply for temporary residence
- Requirements for EU/EEA citizens
- How to transition to long-term residence
- Additional tips when applying
- Get help with your residence application
The facts are these…
How EU/EEA citizens can apply for temporary residence in Croatia
Types of temporary residence for EU/EEA citizens in Croatia
For EU/EEA citizens, there are two types of temporary residence in Croatia:
- Kratkotrajni boravak (short-term residence) – for up to 90 days
- Privremeni boravak (temporary residence) – for longer than 90 days
Short-term residence for EU/EEA citizens (tourist visa)
If you are a citizen of an EU/EEA country member, you have the right to stay in Croatia for up to 90 days within a period of 180 days as long as you are not a burden to the Croatian welfare system. This period starts from the date you arrive in Croatia.
In this case, you must possess a passport or identity card issued by your country of citizenship.
It is important to note that you will need to present your passport or national ID card, another public document with your photo, or boravišna iskaznica (residence card) if a police officer requests it. If you cannot produce it, you may be fined.
EU/EEA citizens who stay up to 90 days in Croatia do not have to register their short-term stay at the police. However, their landlords (tourist accommodation facilities) must register their tourist addresses.
[Read: How tourists are registered with the police]
Temporary residence for EU/EEA citizens
Any residence longer than 90 days requires a residence permit. If you are a citizen of any EU/EEA country, you can get a temporary residence based on:
- Work purposes (worker, self-employment, referred worker)
- Studying or vocational training purposes
- Family reunification purposes
- Life partnership purposes
- Other purposes
As long as you provide the required information and you have financial means and health insurance for yourself and your family members, you can be approved for legal residence for up to 10 years.
If you plan to stay in Croatia for more than 90 days, you must apply for temporary residence no later than 8 days following the expiration of your stay. If you don’t register within this period, you may be charged a fine.
Once approved for residence, you will be issued a registration certificate and eventually boravišna iskaznica at your request.
EU/EEA citizens do not have the right to apply for temporary residence if:
- They are a threat to public order or national security of the Republic of Croatia
- They have a ban on entry and residence in the Republic of Croatia
How EU/EEA citizens can apply for temporary residence in Croatia
Step #1 Contact the police station
You can apply for temporary residence at the administrative police station closest to your place of residence. The police station is called Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova or MUP for short. This is the ministry that handles immigration.
[Read: All the Croatian government ministries and what they do]
Here is a full list of the administrative police stations that handle immigration.
At this police station, there will be a service desk specifically for foreigners called šalter za strance. Some police stations may require that you make an appointment in advance or submit your application over email.
Once you make first contact with the police, tell them that you want to apply for temporary residence based on your EU/EEA citizenship. They will provide you with the latest list of requirements.
Step #2 Prepare your application
The requirements can vary a little depending on your situation. Below is a list of the requirements for everybody, as well as those that are specific to a particular situation.
Mandatory requirements for all EU/EEA citizens:
- Completed application form called Obrazac 1b – provided by the police; you can download it here
- Copy of valid identity card or passport – if a passport is not in English, you must have a copy officially translated into Croatian
- Registered address in Croatia – view a guide here
- 30 x 35mm passport photo – if you’d like to get a residence card
Additional requirements depending on your situation:
#1 Work purposes
- Proof of employment (if you are working for a Croatian company or were sent to Croatia to work by a company within the EU/EEA)
- Employment contract
- Certificate of employment from an employer
- Proof that you are a self-employed person
- Excerpt from the trade register
- Excerpt from the court register
- Proof that you are a posted worker called Potvrda A1 (A1 certificate) – workers from Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Denmark, or the Swiss Confederation can submit salary receipts instead of Potvrda A1
#2 Studying or vocational training purposes
- Proof of studying or vocational training
- Proof of study
- Proof of vocational training
- Proof of student exchange
- Proof of youth mobility program
- Proof of student practice in Croatia
- Proof of valid health care
- Statement of funds showing that you have enough money to support yourself and your family
#3 Family reunification purposes
- Proof that you are a family member of an EU/EEA citizen – apostilled/legalized and officially translated if issued by a foreign government
- Birth certificate
- Decision of adoption
- Marriage certificate, not older than 6 months
- Proof that you are dependent on a family member of an EU/EEA citizen due to your financial/social status or health condition
[Read: How to apply for temporary residence in Croatia based on family reunification]
#4 Life partnership
- Proof of valid health care
- Proof that you are a life partner or informal life partner of an EU/EEA citizen, such as a Certificate of free marital status, not older than 6 months
[Read: How to obtain a life partnership for same-sex couples in Croatia]
#5 Other purposes
- Proof of valid health care
- Statement of funds showing that you have enough money to support yourself and your family
Now, I’ll go over a few of these requirements in greater detail.
Registered address
Everyone in Croatia must have an address that is registered with the police. You can learn more about registering your Croatian address here.
Statement of funds
As an EU/EEA citizen, you are not required to be employed within Croatia. You may only need to show that you have enough funds to support yourself.
If showing funds on a bank account, you can use a Croatian bank account or a foreign bank account in most cases. Some MUP offices will only let you show the funds on a Croatian bank account.
For more information on setting up a Croatian bank account, read this post.
Here is a guide on showing proof of financial means that includes the current minimums for what you need to show you have to support yourself, depending on your situation.
Proof of valid health care
You are required to have health insurance to gain residence in Croatia. If you are employed by a Croatian employer, then they will pay for your healthcare. If you are financially independent, or your income comes from abroad, then you will need to have your own insurance policy.
Proof of health insurance may include:
- European health insurance card (EHIC) – view a guide here
- Croatian state health insurance from HZZO – view a guide here
- Bolesnički list (proof of illness) from HZZO
- Certificate of a foreign health insurance provider
- Proof prescribed by an international social security agreement
- Private health insurance – view a guide here
#1 You have health insurance in your home country
If you are an EEA/EU citizen with state health insurance from your home country, you are entitled to keep this policy. You will need to show proof of this health care to the police when applying for temporary residence. Usually, this is done with your EHIC card.
[Read: What is a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)]
You don’t have to exchange your health care for Croatian health care if you are an EU/EEA citizen, although you can if you want to.
It is important to note that you can only use your state health insurance from your home country in Croatia for urgent care. For routine health care, you must return to your home country for it to be covered.
If you decide to change your healthcare, you will need to first discontinue your healthcare in your home country. Once canceled, request proof from your home country that you no longer have state health care. You’ll need to show this proof to HZZO within Croatia to sign up for a state policy here.
#2 You don’t have health insurance in your home country
If you don’t have health insurance in your home country, you must apply for Croatian health insurance within 8 days of obtaining temporary residence, although it is not unusual that the police will require you to sign up for a policy before approving your residency application.
If they want you to have health insurance before your application is approved, in many cases, travel insurance will cover this requirement.
[Read: How to get travel insurance in Croatia (putno), which you can use to apply for residence]
The cost of state health insurance changes from year to year based on average salaries, but you can always see the latest amount here. It is also recommended that you sign up for dopunsko supplement, which eliminates most out-of-pocket costs and gives you access to more meds. View our guide on dopunsko here.
When signing up for HZZO, you’ll be asked to prove that you were insured for the previous 12 months. If you were not insured for the previous 12 months, then you must pay 12 months of back pay. However, if you were insured 7 out of the 12 previous months, you’ll only need to pay 5 months of back pay.
[Read: How EU/EEA citizens (and Croats) can sign up for Croatian state health insurance]
Step #3 Submit your application
Contact MUP by phone or email to request an appointment. Bring all of your documents as noted above to the appointment. You’ll be provided with the application at that time that you can fill out.
It is possible that they will allow you to submit the full application over email. You’ll need to check with your local station for their procedure, as it varies.
MUP will review your documents to confirm you’ve met the requirements. If you have, they will accept your application. If not, they will ask you for something else. Be prepared to be asked for something else, especially if it’s seemingly meaningless or redundant.
If your application was accepted, make sure you provide a Croatian phone number. This is how the police will communicate with you about your application.
And now you wait…
The time to process your application can vary depending on a variety of factors, but usually, it’s 2 weeks or less for EU/EEA citizens. It is best that you do not leave Croatia while your application is in process in case the police contact you for more information.
Step #4 Get the registration certificate
Once approved, you’ll be notified either by a blue envelope to your address, a phone call to you, or a phone call to your lawyer (if you’re using one).
You will be issued a registration certificate called Potvrda o prijavi privremenog boravka free of charge. This is proof of your residence. DO NOT LOSE IT.
If you want, you can also get boravišna iskaznica (residence card). However, you are not obliged to obtain it.
If you want to get a boravišna iskaznica, return to the police station with your passport photos. You’ll have to pay the administrative fee. All possible administrative costs for this procedure are available here.
MUP will provide you with a payment slip, which you’ll need to pay at a bank or post office. Alternatively, you may pay by internet banking – view more information here. Once paid, bring proof of payment back to the police station. Here is detailed info on how to pay invoices.
A residence card is issued for up to 5 years or shorter if you plan to stay in Croatia shorter.
Step #5 Celebrate!
Hooray! You’re legal!
What’s next after becoming a Croatian temporary resident?
After being a temporary resident of Croatia, you will qualify to apply for long-term residence. Make sure you start preparing for your long-term application at least 2 months before your temporary residence permit expires.
Our guide on how EU/EEA citizens can apply for long-term residency in Croatia is available here.
Here is a guide on transitioning from temporary to long-term residence for EU/EEA citizens.
Additional tips about applying for a Croatian residence permit
- Be nice. If you get an attitude with the police, they have the discretion to make it as difficult for you as possible.
- Do not go to the police between the hours of 11:00 and 13:00 if you can avoid it. Chances of you coming when they are at lunch or on a smoke break or grumpy because they’ve yet to have a smoke break or lunch are high. For the best results, go in the morning around 8:00 or 9:00.
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Meet CAM in this quick 2-minute video here.
Sara Dyson is the founder of Expat in Croatia. She has lived in Split, Croatia as a US citizen since 2012 and experienced first-hand applying for temporary residence, long-term residence and Croatian citizenship. She’s also operated 2 companies, purchased a home, and written about Croatia and its bureaucracy extensively since 2013. Her application is citizenship is based on her work through Expat in Croatia. Read Sara’s full bio here.
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Carol Anne Škorvaga
- First-time clients | 150 euros (includes session with lawyer)
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- Repeat clients | 150 euros
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It’s not something that ChatGPT can do. We must employ skilled, full-time employees who live in Croatia and that comes with a cost.
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Mary L.
United States
Consulting
For my consulting session with Sara, I had questions about establishing residency, and also some questions about Healthcare. I sent in questions to her ahead of time so that my session was customized for my needs. Sara had all of those questions noted and was very prepared to elaborate on each one of them and more. I felt confident on the information that was provided and when I had a follow-up questions she was able to easily answer those for me as well. Sara is very personable and approachable in her demeanor which made the meeting enjoyable. I have been following EIC for a few years now and I am always so impressed by the wealth of information that is out there for all of us “seekers”. In addition, the pre-session communication by CAM was very efficient and much appreciated. I have already recommended Expat in Croatia to friends and family members in need of information. Thank you!
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Canada
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United States
Introduced to a Professional, Professional Assistance
On short notice I accepted a work trip to Europe and decided to stop in Zagreb prior to my job in Paris. Having obtained citizenship approval the purpose of this trip was to file birth records and my marriage record as well as obtaining domovnicas for my family and to apply for my passport. Filip coordinated everything on very short notice, including vetting our documents and coordinating a new translation due to a copy and pasting error within 3 hours. Ines met me and obtained the domovnicas for my family on my behalf. The registrar wished to have another document to complete registering my marriage and my wife and my birth certificates but Filip has told me exactly what to get. Finally Filip accompanied me to the MUP to file for my first passport. He guided me through the process and, unbelievably, I had my first Croatian Passport in my hands three hours later (not exaggerating)! These are the second group of professionals Expat in Croatia has referred me to, and again my expectations were exceeded. Thank you so much Filip and Ines for your attention to detail, guidance, timeliness, and professionalism all on short notice. The remainder of my family will be using your services once they receive their decisions as well. Thank you!
Natalie N.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
My husband and I met consulted with Expat in Croatia in order to learn about obtaining Croatian citizenship. We met with Sara Dyson initially and she was able to answer all of our general questions with regard to citizenship. She also put us in contact with our attorney, Ines, in order to begin the application process. I was very pleased with Sara’s expertise on the matter. Our attorney, Ines, was very thorough and professional. She clearly explained the process step by step and answered all of our questions and concerns throughout the entire process. Our appointment with the Chicago consulate went very smoothly and it was all thanks to Ines’ hard work! We couldn’t be more pleased with the experience and I would recommend Expat in Croatia and their professionals to anyone looking into Croatian citizenship.
Brice R.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
I really did not know where to start but Expat Croatia (Sara) introduced me to Antonela (Immigration lawyer) and she is the best. The citizenship process can be a bit daunting but having someone in Croatia to help is so necessary. I also feel that Antonela and Mia provide a service that is great value for what they charge. My advice to anyone who is applying for citizenship is to be diligent and patient. We were able to find all the necessary paperwork and I did secure Croatian citizenship for myself, my wife and our three children. (My grandmother was born in Croatia). The citizenship process took just over 2 years. We are now working on getting our Croatian passports which of course while a straightforward process, does take several months.
Ivan C.
Germany
Consulting
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Tara H.
New Zealand
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
My journey with Expat in Croatia started with a consulting session with Sara, From here I decided to work with a vetted lawyer to help me with my Temporary Residence application and dealing with the infamous Croatian bureaucracy. I was paired with the lovely Andrea and her team, who were amazing. It was awesome to know everything was taken care of, and that everything was explained to me clearly and carefully. I was given updates of my application status, accompanied when having to get things done such as ID photos, dealing with MUP etc., and all the forms filled out for me. This experience was definitely worth the money as it saved me a lot of stress; I enjoyed it so much I’m using another Expat in Croatia lawyer to help me with my Citizenship application!
Nicole C.
United States
Consulting
Sara was extremely knowledgeable and helpful answering all of our questions and walking us through what to expect in the process of applying for a temporary residence. She provided multiple resources promptly after the call. I can definitely see us booking another session with her as we start the process just to have a second pair of eyes help along the way. Absolutely worth every penny!
Barbara (Richard) H.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
The Expat in Croatia newsletter has been an indispensable guide for us while waiting to acquire Croatian citizenship. Since receiving citizenship this month, we decided to book a consultation to address more specific questions as we move closer to actually moving to Croatia. We chose CAM (Carol Anne) to be our consultant and found her to be the perfect “fit” for us. She has experienced everything that we will be dealing with as she moved from Canada to Croatia. Whether it is information about shipping items, registering a car, health insurance, or getting a tax consultant to navigate important financial details, she provided everything and more. We found her to be thorough, professional, personable, and smart. She is also funny and charming. We love CAM! We will continue to use this resource, consulting with CAM as needed or as more questions arise.
Megan G.
United States
Consulting
I learned more in an hour that my month of online searching. Everything was prompt, organized, and correct. Best money I have spent in tgid process thus far.
Jenn K.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
EIC has a Wonderful team of professionals to help guide us through our process of obtaining Croatian citizenship by descent. We had initial consultation with Sara, and then one of the attorneys, Andrea. Although we are gathering our documents on our own, we will be hiring them to oversee the process and help us with requirements we are unable to complete on our own during and after our applications are submitted . We would highly recommend Expat in Croatia !
Craig W.
United Kingdom
Consulting
Would highly recommend the services of ‘Expat in Croatia’ to friends. Sara took the time to familiarise herself with our specific situation before we chatted which meant we were able to talk through the options available and conclude with a clear idea of the avenues we should pursue.
Ninka S.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
I had first consultation with Carol Anne (CAM). She did a great job, very informative and willing to help . I would recommend Expat to my friends. Steve was very responsive to my emails and he connected me to Filip who we hired to help my son and his girlfriend. So far great experience but I know it is a process. We needed help with temp residence for my son’s girlfriend who was looking for looking to stay longer the 90 day . My son has USA /Croatian Citizenship.
Lori P.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
We needed assistance with purchasing property and moving forward with applying for Croatian citizenship. We had a great conversation with Sara and CAM, they explained both processes clearly and provides us with numerous resources. They have also facilitated contact with a Croatian lawyer to work with us on both processes. It has been helpful to understand timelines and requirements, and they have provided contact with professionals that can be responsible for the aspects that we cannot do on our own.
Helen M.
United Kingdom
Consulting
So far I have only had a consulting session with Sara but it was excellent and all of my questions were answered and I feel totally confident with the information provided. I was also given additional website links after the session so that I could find extra information. I felt totally at ease with Sara who came across as not only a very professional person but very personable. I would most certainly recommend Expat in Croatia to anybody else for whatever assistance they needed, and intend to use the services of a vetted professional in due course.
Natalie P.
United States
Consulting
My husband and I consulted with Sara to find out more about living in Croatia with a digital nomad permit. We asked about options to bring our nanny with us as well as which locations and neighborhoods would best suit our family. We’re so grateful to have a local help us in this venture which gave us so much reassurance and piece of mind before we move across the world!
Robert P.
Australia
Consulting
Useful information was given such as bank accounts, residency and buying properties
Lindsey F.
United States
Consulting
My husband and I met with Sara to discuss our options regarding moving to Croatia. My husband is of Croatian descent but we were unsure of what we would need to present and to who, once we arrived in Croatia. Sara, through her expansive knowledge, was able to direct us to the correct experts and offer alternatives. She made navigating the Croatian immigration process much easier. Sara and her team are exceptional. I cannot recommend them enough; I look forward to continued correspondence with her as we continue through the process.
Michael C.
Australia
Consulting
Very good service. If you are thinking of immigrating to Croatia a chat with Sara is mandatory. There are so many things one must consider. e.g. Immigration procedures and mandatory health care payments etc.
Bernadette B.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
My experience to date with Expat in Croatia has been terrific. The website contains a wealth of information which is vetted and updated regularly. After reviewing the website, I scheduled a consultation with Sara Dyson to discuss the process of obtaining citizenship by descent for myself and my siblings. In less than an hour Sara provided a comprehensive, detailed explanation of the process. She answered all my questions about housing, healthcare, and life in Croatia; and the references provided in a follow-up email were extremely helpful. I am especially impressed with the service they offer matching people applying for citizenship with Croatian lawyers who can assist them. It’s not a simple handoff; an Expat in Croatia representative remains engaged through the entire process and acts as a liaison between the client and the attorney. We will definitely be taking advantage of that service as we pursue our dream of obtaining Croatian citizenship. I look forward to working with Sara, Carol Anne and the entire Expat in Croatia team.
Sources:
Biometric residence permit by MUP
Boravak i rad državljana država članica EGP-a i članova njihovih obitelji
Stay and work of EEA nationals and their family members by MUP
Zakon o državljanima država članica Europskog gospodarskog prostora i članovima njihovih obitelji
Pravilnik o ulasku i boravku u Republici Hrvatskoj državljana država članica Europskog gospodarskog prostora i članova njihovih obitelji
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.
