Updated: July 2010

1. Visa requirements - overview
2. Temporary stay for the purpose of scientific research
3. Temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification
4. Temporary stay for the purpose of work
5. Temporary stay for the purpose of studies
6. Acquiring citizenship

Visa requirements - overview
A visa is the approval to enter the Republic of Croatia for a stay of up to 90 days or for transit through the territory of the Republic of Croatia. Visas are issued by diplomatic missions or consular posts of the Republic of Croatia. A visa cannot be used as a work permit. Foreigners who are subject to the visa requirement are obliged to apply for a visa prior to their entry into the Republic of Croatia, at a Croatian diplomatic mission/consular post.

Basic information about the visa regime between the Republic of Croatia and all other countries.

Croatian Diplomatic Missions and Consular Offices of Croatia

A foreign national submitting an application for a visa to a diplomatic mission or a consular office of the Republic of Croatia is obliged to prove that he/she has sufficient financial means to cover his/her subsistence during his/her stay in the Republic of Croatia and his/her return to the country of origin or transit to a third country.
When a foreign national enters the Republic of Croatia, a body in charge of state border crossing control is authorized to request him/her to present financial means necessary to cover his/her subsistence during his/her stay in the Republic of Croatia and the return to the country of origin or transit to a third country.
The amount of financial means is fixed at the equivalent of 100 € (in words: one hundred euro) per day of the estimated stay in the Republic of Croatia.
If a foreign national is in possession of a certified letter of guarantee by a natural or legal person from the Republic of Croatia, proof of a tourist booking or a similar document, he/she is obliged to present proof that he/she possesses the amount equivalent to 50 € (in words: fifty euro) per day of the estimated stay in the Republic of Croatia.

Documents needed to apply for a visa:
1. Application form
2. Valid travel document (the period of validity of the travel document should exceed that of the visa’s by three months)
3. Colour photograph 35x45 mm
4. Supporting documents that prove:
a) The purpose of visit to Croatia
b) Accommodation arrangements *
c) Means of support to cover stay in Croatia ˟
d) Means of transport and intention to return to the country of origin or to a third country

*Proof of accommodation is inferred from the document granting habitation for the foreigner on scientific research issued by the employer or University. Foreign researchers are obliged to provide proof of their accommodation arrangements (rental/purchase contract) within one month from entry into the Republic of Croatia to the competent authority.
 
˟ Means of support can be proven with:
- a confirmation from the employer about the average salary for the past three months;
- a tax card;
- a written and notarized statement by the person who supports the applicant, with the proof of their means of support;
- a bank statement which shows the funds available on the applicant’s account;
- a pension slip;
- an employment contract which shows the amount of future salary, or a confirmation by the employer about the salary which the foreigner shall receive (in case of an application for first-time temporary stay for the purpose of work)


Temporary stay for the purpose of scientific research

Period of stay - less than 90 days
Foreign researchers are exempted from the work permit or operating license requirement, provided that they do not reside in the Republic of Croatia for more than 90 days during a year.
If foreigners are subject to the visa requirement they are obliged to apply for a visa prior to their entry into the Republic of Croatia, at the Croatian diplomatic mission/ consular post and they may not start working prior to having obtained approval on work registration without a work permit or operating license by the local police directorate or station according to the location in which the business activity is performed.

In order to obtain approval on work registration without a work permit or operating licence, a foreigner or host institution (authorized), needs to submit to the police directorate or police station, according to the location in which the business activity is performed, a request, and the following documents:
1. Formal letter issued by the host institution
2. Hosting agreement/Other valid contract proving the purpose of stay
3. Original and copy of a valid travel document
4. Registration papers of the host institution.

Period of stay - more than 90 days
a) Stage 1 - “Approval of scientific visit”
The employer (host institution) must write a request for the Approval of scientific visit (odobrenje za ugošćivanje znanstvenika) and send it to the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (MSES). After the MSES issues the approval for the scientific visit, the employer and the scientist should sign a hosting agreement.

Instructions for hosting institutions on the website of the Ministry for Science, Education and Sports (in Croatian).

b) Stage 2 - Residence permit
An application for a first-time temporary stay permit can be submitted to a police directorate or police station only if a foreigner is not subject to the visa requirement. If they are subject to the visa requirement, the application for a first-time temporary stay permit must be submitted to the diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Croatia. Foreign researchers may not start working prior to having obtained a first-time temporary stay permit.

The temporary stay permit for the purpose of scientific research is valid up to one year. Foreign researchers who have been granted temporary stay for the purpose of scientific research may work without a work permit or an operating licence.

Documents needed to apply for a first temporary stay permit for the purpose of scientific research:
1. Application form
2. Hosting agreement- original and photocopy
3. Two colour photographs (35 x 45 mm)
4. Original and copy of a valid travel document
5. Proof of accommodation arrangements*
6. Proof of means of support ˟
7. Certificate of impunity (not older than 6 months)

Process duration and fees:
It is suggested to start all the above mentioned procedures six months prior to arrival in the Republic of Croatia.
Entry fees are charged at the moment of submitting the visa application - 35 euro.
In case of urgent issuance of visa, when the application has been submitted without justification three or less days prior to the intended journey, the fee is - 71 euro.
Fee for temporary stay permit is 71 euro.
Fee for permanent residence is 120 euro.

c) Extending temporary stay
An application to extend temporary stay should be submitted to the police directorate or police station at the latest 30 days before the expiration of the current temporary stay permit.

In order to extend temporary stay a researcher should submit:
1. Application form
2. Hosting agreement
3. Two colour photographs (35 x 45 mm)
4. Copy of a valid foreign travel document
5. Proof of accommodation arrangements *
6. Proof of means of support ˟

Reporting to the authorities upon arrival
Foreigners on a short-term stay in the Republic of Croatia (less than 90 days) are obliged to report their temporary residence within 48 hours from their entry into the Republic of Croatia.
Foreigners temporarily staying in the Republic of Croatia (longer than 90 days) are obliged to report their temporary residence and home address and any change in their temporary residence and home address to the nearest Police Directorate
within three days from their entry into the Republic of Croatia and from the day of changing the home address, respectively.

Foreigners with a permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia are obliged to report their permanent residence and home address and any change in their permanent residence and home address to the competent authority within eight days from the day of changing their permanent residence and home address.