Available visas and residence permits for Croatia: Guide for 2023
UPDATED: 13.7.2023.
Welcome to Croatia, a country of rich culture, stunning nature, and an ideal climate! If you are a foreigner who would like to visit Croatia for a short period or long-term stay, there is a suitable option for you.
Croatia has many options that allow non-residents to visit and live in the country, including tourist visas and residence permits for those that wish to stay longer. The available visas and residence permits vary depending on your citizenship, i.e., whether you are an EU/EEA/Swiss or third-country (non-EU/EEA) citizen, heritage, and the purpose of your stay.
If you are only traveling to Croatia for a short period, you only need a tourist visa. To learn the difference between a visa and a residence permit, check out this post.
In this post, we cover:
- How to get a short-stay visa
- Long-stay residence permits
- Residence guides by citizenship
- How to get all your questions about residence answered
- Reviews of people we’ve helped with residence
The facts are these…
Available visas and residence permits for Croatia
How to get a visa for short stays in Croatia
Depending on your citizenship, you may or may not need to apply for a visa to visit Croatia before your arrival. Some foreign citizens can just show up in Croatia for up to 90 days as a tourist without prior notice.
Some people need to apply for a visa abroad at a Croatian consulate or embassy before they are granted. And in some of those cases, they will only be granted a visa to stay in Croatia as a tourist for up to 30 days. It all depends on your specific case.
To find out if you need to apply for a visa before traveling to Croatia, check the requirements for your citizenship here.
If your nationality requires a visa, check out our detailed guide on applying for permission to enter Croatia here.
For those planning to stay long-term, you’ll need a residence permit. We’ll cover those options in the next section.
All available Croatian residence permits
Where to apply for temporary residence in Croatia?
Where you apply for temporary residence in Croatia depends on whether or not you need to apply for a visa to enter the country as a tourist.
If you are required to apply for a tourist visa based on these requirements, you must also apply for residence abroad at a Croatian embassy or consulate. View a list of all Croatian embassies in the world here.
If you are not required to apply for a tourist visa, you can apply for temporary residence in Croatia. When applying for temporary residence, you must visit the closest administrative police station to your Croatian address to start the process.
[Read: How to register or change your address with the Croatian police]
View a complete list of MUP administrative offices in Croatia here.
This police station is under the Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova (Ministry of Internal Affairs). In Croatia, their name is shortened to MUP, pronounced like Moop. Just make a cow sound and add a “p” at the end. Immigration and the police fall under this ministry.
[Read: All the Croatian government ministries and what they do]
Before going to the police station or embassy/consulate to apply for a residence permit, make sure you know which permit you qualify for and the requirements for the permit.
Croatian residence for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
Citizens of the EU/EEA member states and the Swiss Confederation are automatically entitled to a work and residence permit in Croatia. To apply for the residence permit, they must apply for it no less than 82 days after entry.
You can request residence for up to 10 years. Be sure to put 10 years on your application if that is how long you wish to stay.
[Read: How EU/EEA citizens can get temporary residence in Croatia]
#2 Spouses and children of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
Third-country immediate family members of EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are entitled to temporary residence in Croatia as long as they are all living together at the same address in Croatia.
[Read: How non-EU/EEA family members of EU/EEA citizens can get temporary residence in Croatia]
#3 Permanent residents of EU/EEA/Switzerland
Third-country citizens and their families who hold long-term residence in another EU/EEA member state may be granted temporary residence in Croatia.
[Read: How EU/EEA permanent residents can get temporary residence in Croatia]
Croatian residence for third-country citizens
Remote workers can be granted temporary residence if they can prove they are working for companies that are not registered in Croatia. Third-country citizens can apply for this permit.
[Read: How to apply for the digital nomad residence permit in Croatia]
To apply for a work and residence permit in Croatia, first, you must find a job at a Croatian company. The work permit is tied to the employer. This means that if you quit the job or are fired, your work and residence permit will be canceled, and you must leave Croatia.
View our guide on how to find a job in Croatia here.
[Read: How to apply for a Croatian work permit]
Seasonal jobs in Croatia are popular during the summer, especially in tourism and tourism-related fields. The easiest way to get a seasonal job is to apply for a position considered deficient in Croatia. Employers usually provide accommodation to seasonal workers.
[Read: How to get a seasonal work permit in Croatia]
If you start your own Croatian company and hire yourself, you can also apply for a work and residence permit. There are lots of catches to this scenario, so make sure you familiarize yourself with them first.
In addition, check out this post and this post and this post so you get an idea of what you are in for if you decide to open a company in Croatia.
[Read: How to get residency in Croatia by opening a Croatian business]
If you have received higher education or qualifications such as ISCED 1997 levels 5a or higher or an associate’s degree or higher, you can apply to join the Blue Card network. Once you are verified, employers within the EU/EEA can hire you.
Once you have been hired or given a binding work offer for a highly qualified position within Croatia, you may apply for a temporary residence that will allow you to work.
[Read: How to apply for an EU Blue Card in Croatia]
#6 Members of the Croatian people
A unique path to Croatian descendants is the possibility to apply for a residence based on humanitarian reasons, more specifically, as a member of the Croatian people. This possibility is specifically for those who qualify to apply for Croatian citizenship based on descent and plan to apply once they obtain residence in Croatia.
View our guide on how to apply for Croatian citizenship based on descent (prirođenje) here.
Immediate family members of Croatian citizens and permanent residents can apply for temporary residence if they live together at the same address in Croatia. This applies to spouses, children, and life partners.
[Read: How to apply for temporary residence in Croatia based on family reunification]
[Read: How non-EU/EEA spouses of Croatians can apply for residence]
If you purchase a residential property in Croatia as a non-EU/EEA national, you may be granted temporary residence. The catch is that you can be here for only 6 months at a time under this permit. At the end of each year term, you must leave for 90 days.
View our guide on how third-country citizens can buy residential real estate in Croatia here.
[Read: How to get a residence permit based on the property]
A temporary stay (up to a year) may be granted to non-EU/EEA citizens who have prepared rent for the term they wish to be in Croatia, up to 1-year maximum.
Please note that this residence permit is not renewable and does not allow you to work.
[Read: How to apply for residence based on prepayment of rent]
#10 Secondary school education and university studies
Those enrolled in qualified programs at a university or secondary school in Croatia may be granted residence in Croatia during the period of time they are in school.
Please note that language programs at schools like Croaticum do not qualify for student residence. Instead, you must apply based on “other purposes”.
[Read: How to study and gain student residence in Croatia]
If you enroll in a Croatian language study program like Croaticum, you can apply for temporary residence in Croatia. This type of residence falls under the “other purposes” by the law.
View our guide on the biggest Croatian language schools in Croatia here.
[Read: How to apply for temporary residence based on language study]
If you get a contract with a non-profit organization in Croatia, you may be granted temporary residence. This permit does not allow you to work, and any work you do for the non-profit cannot be paid.
View our volunteering guides:
[Read: How to volunteer in Croatia and get residence]
If you wish to conduct research in Croatia, you may be granted temporary residence. For exact requirements, contact MUP for specific guidelines.
[Read: How to find administrative police stations in Croatia]
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Check out our immigration section here for detailed information on the Croatia’s temporary residence application process and what you need for your permit application.
Croatian residency guides for your citizenship
In addition to the above resources, we are creating customized guides for different citizenships so that you can clearly understand all of your options.
Here are the Croatian residency guides we’ve created so far:
- Croatian residency guide for Americans
- Croatian residency guide for Australians
- Croatian residency guide for Canadians
- Croatian residency guide for New Zealanders
- Croatian residency guide for South Africans
- Croatian residency guide for UK citizens
Skip the research! Save time and talk to EIC.
We crafted this post to be as detailed as possible, but sometimes questions still arise because everyone’s situation is different. If you’d like personalized guidance on your situation, we can help.
Save yourself the time and uncertainty of trying to navigate the ever-changing rules for living in Croatia by scheduling a private chat with us.
How does it work?
All first-time clients get 30 minutes with an Expat in Croatia consultant PLUS 30 minutes with a vetted English-speaking lawyer from our network.
Repeat clients can book a 30-minute session with an EIC consultant as a stand-alone appointment.
During your chat with us, we will answer all of your questions about Croatia. You can tap into our expertise on anything you want; whether it be residency, citizenship, healthcare, buying property, letting accommodation, operating a business, what it’s like to live here, personal experiences with bureaucracy, or cultural nuance. It’s all tailored to you.
In addition, you’ll receive a follow up with additional resources based on your situation, Sara’s Croatia Restaurant Guide as well as introductions to vetted professionals like insurance, law, real estate, translation and tax.
All legal advice will be handled by our vetted lawyer network. We can help you with everything else.
Appointments will be scheduled over Zoom.
We have an extensive Frequently Asked Questions about this service here.
Who will I speak with?
Expat in Croatia has two experienced consultants, Sara Dyson and Carol Anne Škorvaga. You may choose your consultant.
Carol Anne Škorvaga, known to us as “CAM”, is a first-generation Croatian-Canadian living in Jastrebarsko with her family. She grew up entrenched in the Croatian community surrounded by culture and folklore, attended Croatian school in Canada and then returned to Zagreb to attend Filozofski Fakultet. CAM is fluent in Croatian and has firsthand knowledge of being both a Canadian expat and a Croatian returnee, building a home in Croatia and being a parent with children in local schools.
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.
Meet Sara in this quick 2-minute video here.
What is the cost?
The below costs are per 30 minutes and include VAT (25% tax mandated by the Croatian government). If additional time is requested, it is billed in ¼ hour increments.
First-time clients automatically get an extra 30 minutes with an English-speaking lawyer from our vetted network.
Carol Anne Škorvaga
- First-time clients | 150 euros (includes session with lawyer)
- Repeat clients | 75 euros
Sara Dyson
- First-time clients | 250 euros (includes session with lawyer)
- Repeat clients | 150 euros
It takes a tremendous amount of hands-on, human work to research and vet our information that we provide during sessions. This process includes extensive web research, phone calls to the government, collaboration with licensed Croatian professionals, and visits to government, collaboration with licensed Croatian professionals, and visits to government offices.
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.
Reviews from our clients
“Sara’s knowledge of Croatia is nothing short of encyclopaedic. I achieved so much more clarity in just a single session, and I would not hesitate to another if needed. Invaluable.” – Todd, United Kingdom
“During our call, Sara patiently answered all of my questions and provided me with invaluable information that would have taken hours to sort through elsewhere. She was thorough, professional, and incredibly helpful throughout our entire conversation.” – LeAnn, United States
You can view our last few reviews here or all of our reviews here.
Ready to book?
To schedule your personal session, complete the below form.
Our happy clients
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!
Vlasta N.
Canada
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
Thank you so much to these wonderful ladies for the fantastic service. I needed help with some Croatian business issues, terms & processes. They connected me with an appropriate professional – another lovely lady who I immediately connected with and felt she really understood my issue, & she was able to answer all my queries in English – bonus! I would highly recommend these fabulous, friendly ladies and service to anyone who needs some assistance. Again, many thanks.
Brett B.
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
Sara answered all my questions, happy with the call. May actually engage the fixer in the future too.
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.
View our other residency articles
- Background checks and fingerprints for third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA citizens)
- Difference between getting a visa and a residence permit in Croatia
- How to transition from temporary to permanent residence
- How to prepare your foreign documents for use in Croatia
- How to register or change your address with the Croatian police
- How to show proof of financial means (as part of your application for residence in Croatia)
- Prebivalište and boravište: two addresses that must be registered with the police
- Residence Permit Process: Getting your national ID card
- Restrictions on travel while you have legal residence in Croatia
- Rights of permanent residents in Croatia
- Which documents you should bring with you to Croatia (if you plan to live here)
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.
