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Aliens

Identity card for aliens

Work of aliens

Traffic accidents with a foreign registration vehicle involved

Do you need a visa? 

Asylum

 

Identity card for aliens

An identity card for aliens shall be issued to an alien who has been granted temporary or permanent stay and who is 12 years of age or older.

Work of aliens

The Aliens Act lays down that aliens may work in the Republic of Croatia pursuant to a stay and work permit or a work registration certificate, unless provided for otherwise by the said Act.

A stay and work permit is a single permit which allows aliens to temporarily stay and work in the Republic of Croatia. A stay and work permit shall be issued by a competent police administration / police station in a form of a decision.

A stay and work permit shall be issued on the basis of an annual quota and outside the annual quota.

The decision on the annual quota of work permits shall be made by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and shall be published in the Croatian Official Gazette. The Decision on the annual quota of work permits for the employment of aliens in 2013 was published in the Croatian Official Gazette No 144/12.

Aliens without a stay and work permit or a work registration certificate may work in the Republic of Croatia only if they have been granted:

  1. permanent stay,
  2. asylum, subsidiary or temporary protection,
  3. temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification with a Croatian national, an alien on permanent stay, an asylee or an alien who has been granted subsidiary or temporary protection,
  4. temporary stay under humanitarian grounds,
  5. autonomous stay,
  6. the status of a full-time pupil or student when they perform services through the mediation of authorised agents, without getting employed,
  7. temporary stay for the purpose of scientific research which has been granted pursuant to a visiting contract.

A stay and work permit based on the annual quota shall be granted to aliens who meet the prerequisites for a temporary stay permit and who provide the following:

  1. a contract of employment or a written confirmation that a contract of employment has been concluded or any other relevant contract,
  2. proof of educational background and qualifications,
  3. proof of the registration of a company, branch office, representative office, trade, association or institution in the Republic of Croatia.

A stay and work permit outside the annual quota

(A.)Pursuant to Article 76 of the Aliens Act, a stay and work permit outside the annual quota may be issued to the following categories of aliens:

1. daily migrant workers under the condition of reciprocity,

2. key personnel, providers of services, workers and their family members, whose status has been regulated by the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States and the Republic of Croatia (refers to EU nationals),

3. aliens performing key activities in companies, branch offices and representative offices,

4. aliens transferred as part of internal staff transfers within companies and other indispensable personnel, as defined by the Protocol on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organisation,

5. aliens who are self-employed in a company they own or in a company in which they hold a share of more than 51% or in their own trade,

6. workers who provide services on behalf or for a foreign employer not entitled to the right of establishment in an EEA Member State (a foreign employer has been registered in a country other than EEA Member State, e.g. Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Russian Federation etc.),

7. teachers and lecturers who do their teaching at educational institutions in the language and script of national minorities,

8. professional athletes or sports workers working in the Republic of Croatia,

9. artists working at cultural institutions in the Republic of Croatia,

10. aliens who take up employment with foreign associations registered as a foreign association in the Republic of Croatia and at least three other countries,

11. aliens who are members of the trust bodies of the representative offices of foreign trusts and foundations registered in the Register of the Representative Offices of Foreign Trusts and Foundations in the Republic of Croatia,

12. aliens working further to youth mobility programmes being carried out by the Republic of Croatia in cooperation with other countries,

13. scientific researchers and aliens employed for scientific, scientific teaching or other research positions in legal persons in the scientific domain,

14. university professors - native speakers of foreign languages, foreign language instructors and other lecturers invited by Croatian universities or registered foreign language schools,

15. aliens working pursuant to an international treaty, other than the treaty referred to in Article 79, paragraph 1, item 2 of the Aliens Act.

(B.)The said categories of aliens may be granted a stay and work permit outside the annual quota if they meet the criteria for temporary stay and if they provide the following:

  1. a contract of employment, or a written confirmation that a contract of employment has been concluded, or any other relevant contract,
  2. proof of educational background and qualifications,
  3. proof of the registration of a company, branch office, representative office, trade, association or institution in the Republic of Croatia,
  4. explanation on the justifiability of employment of an alien that contains information on the alien’s professional knowledge, qualifications and work experience, and the reasons why this position cannot be assigned to a Croatian national on a labour market (apart from aliens under items 2, 4, 5 and 6).

(C.) A stay and work permit may be issued to aliens referred to in Article 76, paragraph 1, item 3 of the Aliens Act, who are to perform key activities in a company, branch office or representative office, if they meet the criteria referred to in item (B.) and if: 

  1. the value of the company’s share capital, i.e. assets of a limited partnership or a general partnership exceed the amount of HRK 100,000.00,
  2. at least 3 Croatian nationals are employed in the company, branch office or representative office of a foreign company on jobs other than the procurator, member of the management board or supervisory board, and if
  3. the alien’s gross salary is at least in the amount of an average gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia in the previous year, according to the official data published by the competent statistical agency.  

(D.) If there are several aliens referred to in Article 76, paragraph 1, item 3 of the Aliens Act performing key activities for the same employer, a stay and work permit may be issued if they meet the criteria referred to in item (B.) and if:

  1. for each alien employed, there are at least five Croatian nationals employed on jobs other than procurator, member of the management board or member of the supervisory board,
  2. the value of the company’s share capital, i.e. assets of a limited partnership or a general partnership exceed the amount of HRK 100,000.00, and
  3. the alien’s gross salary is at least in the amount of an average gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia in the previous year,  according to the official data published by the competent statistical agency.

(E.) Aliens referred to in Article 76, paragraph 1, item 5 of this Act, who are to be self-employed in their own company or in a company in which they hold a share of more than 51%, or in their own trade, may be issued a stay and work permit if they meet the criteria referred to in item (B.) and if:

  1. they have invested at least HRK 200,000.00 in the establishment of a company or trade,
  2. at least  3 Croatian nationals are employed,
  3. the alien’s gross salary is at least in the amount of an average gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia in the previous year,
  4. the company or trade does not do business at a loss,
  5. they provide proof of having settled the tax obligations and contributions in the Republic of Croatia.

(F.) Aliens - providers of services referred to in Article 76, paragraph 1, item 6 of the Aliens Act may be issued a stay and work permit if they meet the criteria referred to in item (B.) and if the service provider is employed with a foreign employer and has adequate qualifications, and the foreign employer has concluded a contract with a company or trade in the Republic of Croatia, provided that the services concerned involve specific services in the area of high technology and that the provision of such services is in the interest of the Republic of Croatia.

Nationals of the EU Member States do not have to meet the criteria referred to in items (C.), (D.) and (E.).

(G.) Pursuant to Article 79, a stay and work permit outside the annual quota may be granted to aliens who meet the prerequisites for temporary stay and:

  1. who perform key activities referred to in Article 76, paragraph 2 of the Aliens Act in a company that is a beneficiary of incentive measures in accordance with the regulation on investment incentives, or who hold an ownership share in such company of at least 51%, or
  2. who perform jobs or carry out projects in the Republic of Croatia pursuant to international treaties on professional and technical assistance that the Republic of Croatia has concluded with the European Union, some other state or an international organisation.

Pursuant to the Administrative Fees Act (Croatian Official Gazette No 8/96, 77/96, 95/97, 131/97, 68/98, 66/99, 145/99, 116/00, 163/03, 17/04, 110/04, 141/04, 150/05, 153/05, 129/06, 117/07, 25/08, 60/08, 20/10, 69/10, 126/11 and 112/12), if an application has been submitted at a police administration / police station, an administrative fee in the amount of 20 HRK shall be paid for the application, and 500 HRK shall be paid for the issuance of a temporary residence permit, 900 HRK for a permanent residence permit, 150 HRK for a work registration certificate and 800 HRK for a residence and work permit.

If an application for a temporary residence permit has been submitted at a diplomatic mission or a consular post, a consular fee in the amount of 520 HRK shall be paid (Tariff number 78.a. of the Administrative Fees Act).  

No fees shall be paid for the registration or cancellation of permanent or temporary residence, or for the change of address at a police administration / police station.

Application forms for permanent and temporary residence, residence and work permit and registration / cancellation of permanent or temporary residence or change of address can also be printed from the Internet site of our Ministry (link: http://www.mup.hr/main.aspx?id=47).

 

Work registration certificate

Based on a work registration certificate, the following categories of aliens may work for the period of up to 90 days a year: 

  1. procurators, key personnel and members of the supervisory board of a company, who perform services for the company, but are not employed,
  2. service providers in tourism, tourist agents or entertainers in accordance with special regulations,
  3. scientists on scientific and professional training, scientists-representatives of international organisations and scientists who are to participate in the implementation of scientific projects important for the Republic of Croatia,
  4. administrative staff, experts, teachers and lecturers at foreign cultural, educational and scientific institutions performing services in the Republic of Croatia as part of a cultural and educational cooperation programme, and administrative staff, experts, teachers and lecturers at foreign cultural, educational and scientific institutions having branch offices in the Republic of Croatia, provided that they come from their home institutions,
  5. civilian and military officials of the governments of other states coming to the Republic of Croatia to work further to cooperation agreements with the Government of the Republic of Croatia,
  6. foreign correspondents, accredited in the Republic of Croatia or foreign media reporters,
  7. representatives and staff of religious communities performing activities exclusively related to religious or charitable service,
  8. students who come to volunteer in work camps or on similar work and educational programmes organised by Croatian associations or institutions, or who are on training programmes at diplomatic missions and consular posts accredited in the Republic of Croatia,
  9. volunteers working in non-profit associations and institutions in the Republic of Croatia in accordance with special regulations or based on international exchange and volunteer cooperation programmes,
  10. aliens coming to the Republic of Croatia to complete their traineeship in companies, branch offices or representative offices owned by foreign companies, provided that the said aliens come from the registered office (seat) of such companies or from their representative office or branch office in some other state,
  11. aliens performing the activities of supervision and inspection of overhaul and shipbuilding and aliens performing the activities of supervision or inspection of production, assembly of equipment, machinery and other facilities under an export or order contract for a foreign client,
  12. aliens working on vessels, entered on a list of crew,
  13. aliens completing traineeship, professional training or volunteer work within the Community Programmes, Lifelong Learning and Youth in Action programme, and other programmes and initiatives carried out by the authority competent for education and science,
  14. experts in the area of cultural heritage protection, library and archives science,
  15. aliens carrying out vocational or professional training or education of workers employed with legal and natural persons in the Republic of Croatia,
  16. aliens engaged in activities related to the delivery, assembly or service of machinery or equipment, whose work is a condition for exercising warranty rights or is related to the delivery of machinery or equipment,
  17. aliens completing professional training at a legal person with registered office (seat) in the Republic of Croatia which has organisational links to a foreign employer,
  18. pupils receiving their practical education through an authorised organisation or pupils’ exchange programme.

The above said categories of aliens referred to in items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 who intend to stay and work in the Republic of Croatia for a period longer than 90 days may be issued a stay and work permit outside the annual quota provided that they meet the prerequisites for temporary stay.

Based on a work registration certificate, the following categories of aliens may work up to 60 days a year:

  1. providers of auditing and consulting services,
  2. lecturers taking part at organised conferences and seminars,
  3. artists and technical staff participating in opera, ballet, theatre, concert, visual arts and other cultural events, and authors and performers in film and television arts,
  4. aliens employed in circuses and amusement parks.

Based on a work registration certificate, the following categories of aliens may work up to 30 days a year:

  1. authors and performers in the field of music and performing arts, as well as accompanying reporting, organisational and technical staff,
  2. aliens participating at fairs and exhibitions where their employers are exhibitors.

IMPORTANT: Aliens or legal and natural persons who will be using their services shall obtain a work registration certificate at a competent police administration or police station according to the location of their work, prior to having started working.

Based on a work registration certificate, aliens may work for the same employer or service recipient throughout the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

A legal or natural person employing or using the services of the above said aliens shall have an appropriate contract or other relevant document signed with the alien or foreign employer deploying the alien to work in the Republic of Croatia.

No letter of attorney is needed for the issuance of a work registration certificate.

Traffic accident involving vehicles with foreign number plates

In case of a traffic accident involving vehicles with foreign number plates, the police officer who has been investigating the accident is obliged to issue to the owner of the vehicle the Damage Certificate for the vehicle. This Certificate is needed for the crossing of the state border. The police station in whose territory a traffic accident has occurred does not automatically provide a foreign national involved in the accident with any kinds of documents but will deliver them upon a written request.

Do you need a visa?

Visa serves as an approval for:

  • transit through the territory of the Republic of Croatia or stay in its territory for the period of maximum 3 months during any six-month period from the date of the first entry to its territory;
  • transit through the international area of an airport.

Types of visas are:

  • airport transit visa (visa A);
  • short term visa (visa C).

On grounds of the visa, an alien may work in the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

The Visa Regime for the Republic of Croatia is laid down by the Visa System Regulation („Official Gazette” No 41/08, 56/09, 153/09 i 148/10) which is on the basis of Article 11(3) and Article 230 of the Aliens Act („Official Gazette“ No 130/11) adopted by the Government of the Republic of Croatia upon the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs being the central body of the government administration dealing the visa issues.

The Regulation contains a list of countries whose nationals need a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia and for their stay there for the period of up to 90 days as well as for the crossing of the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The Regulation also contains another list of the countries whose nationals may enter the Republic of Croatia on a valid travel document and without a visa.

The Regulation also provides for the amount of financial assets aliens have to possess for the purposes of subsistence in the Republic of Croatia and their return to the country from which they arrived, or for the journey to a third country.

The visa is issued by the Republic of Croatia diplomatic missions or consular posts abroad, or a consular post of another country with which the Republic of Croatia has concluded an agreement on the representation for the purpose of the issuance of visas.

The request for the visa shall be filed on a proper form maximally 3 months before the intended journey.

An alien entered into the travel document of the alien applying for a visa shall apply for a visa on a separate form.

An alien arriving for paying a private or business visit to a natural or legal person in the Republic of Croatia may be asked to attach a pledge certificate or some other kind of proof that this natural or legal person shall bear the costs for his/her stay in the Republic of Croatia, including the costs of accommodation and subsistence as well as the departure from the Republic of Croatia.

An alien applying for a short term visa for ONE or TWO entries should be able to prove to be a holder of a valid JOURNEY HEALTH INSURANCE and an alien applying for a short term visa for a MULTIPLE entry should be able to prove to be a holder of a valid journey health insurance covering the time of his/her FIRST intended visit. He/she should also SIGN A STATEMENT OF THE OBLIGATION OF POSSESSION OF THE JOURNEY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR LATER VISITS.

The visa application form, the form of the pledge certificate granted by a natural or a legal person as well as the Statement on the obligatory possession of a journey health insurance for later visits may be downloaded from the web site of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Exceptionally, visas may be issued by the authorities responsible for the control of the crossing of the state border in cases when aliens were not able to apply for visas at a Croatian diplomatic mission or a consular post in advance. In such cases aliens have to enclose to the application the documents proving the unexpected and binding reasons for the entry to the Republic of Croatia.

Aliens staying in the Republic of Croatia on grounds of the visa may not extend it again, as a rule. The period of validity of the visa or the duration of stay may be exceptionally extended on account of the force majeure, humanitarian reasons or some serious personal reasons.

Note: even in case of the extension of visa, aliens MAY NOT stay in the Republic of Croatia for longer than 90 days in a six-months period, starting from the day of the first entry.

The validity period or the duration of stay granted on the basis of the issued visa shall be extended on account of:

  • force majeure or humanitarian reasons;
  • serious personal reasons.

The Request for extension shall be filed with a police administration/station, according to the place of stay of an alien, before the time of expiry of the current visa. The Request shall be processed by the Ministry of the Interior.

Aliens may stay in the Republic of Croatia until the moment of the reaching of the decision upon the Request.

Aliens shall get, on a proper form, the decision on the refusal, cancellation or revocation of a visa with the reasons stated. Aliens have the right to appeal against the decision through a competent diplomatic mission or a consular post of the Republic of Croatia. The visa may be also revoked upon the request by an alien who was issued the visa in question. In such a case the decision is not appealable. The appeal shall be decided by the Appeals Commission at the Ministry responsible for foreign affairs.

The Government of the Republic of Croatia, at its session of 7 December 2011, has adopted a Decision on the Interim Facilitated Entry of Aliens to the Republic of Croatia on the basis of a valid Schengen residence permit and a visa.

Aliens being the holders of:

  • a residence permit issued in one of the member states of the Schengen area,
  • Schengen visa (C) for two or more entries,
  • long-term visa (D) issued by one of the member states of the Schengen area,

do not have to possess temporarily a visa for the entry to the Republic of Croatia and a short-term stay, or for the purpose of the crossing of the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

The above mentioned Schengen residence permit and visa has to be valid also at the moment of leaving the Republic of Croatia. The facilitated entry of aliens shall be applied from 1 January to 31 December 2012.

A visa may be issued exceptionally at certain border crossing points intended for international traffic:

  1. with Slovenia: Kaštel, Rupa, Pasjak, Jurovski Brod, Bregana, Macelj and Dubrava Križovljanska;
  2. with Hungary:Goričan, Terezino Polje and Donji Miholjac;
  3. with Serbia:Erdut and Bajakovo;
  4. with Monte Negro: Karasovići;
  5. with Bosnia and Herzegovina:Županja, Slavonski Brod, Stara Gradiška, Maljevac, Jasenovac, Hrvatska Kostajnica, Ličko Petrovo Selo, Kamensko, Vinjani Donji and Metković;
  6. at all international border crossing points intended for sea and air traffic;
  7. at border crossing points intended for river traffic: Osijek, Vukovar and Slavonski Brod.

At the border crossing points a travel visa is issued only for one entry and a transit visa for one transit. It is charged 520,00 HRK.

Asylum

The Asylum Act, which entered into force on 1 January 2008, and was amended in 2010, lays down the principles, requirements and procedures for granting asylum, subsidiary protection and temporary protection, the status, rights and obligations of asylum seekers, asylum holders, aliens under subsidiary protection, aliens under temporary protection, and requirements and procedure for the cancellation and termination of asylum status, subsidiary and temporary protection.

Pursuant to the said Act it shall be considered that:

  • asylum seeker is an alien who has applied for asylum and is awaiting a final decision thereof;
  • asylum holder is a refugee who fulfils the requirements for asylum;
  • alien under subsidiary protection is an alien who has been granted protection in case when he/she does not fulfil the asylum requirements and there is reason to believe that by returning to his/her country of origin he/she would be exposed to serious injustice;
  • alien under temporary protection is an alien who has been granted temporary protection in case of mass influx of aliens to the Republic of Croatia from the country in which, due to a war or war-like state, general violence or internal conflicts, human rights have been violated.

 

  • Where to apply for asylum?

Aliens shall apply for asylum at the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers, Sisačka 3, 44 320 Kutina. Aliens may express their intention to apply for asylum:

  • pending border control at a border crossing point;
  • at any police administration/police station if they are already in the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

Aliens who have entered the Republic of Croatia illegally, arriving directly from the territory where they suffered persecution within the meaning of the Geneva Convention and where there is actual danger that they might be exposed to serious injustice upon returning to their country of origin, shall not be punished for illegal entry or stay if they, without any delay, apply for asylum and produce valid reasons for their illegal entry or stay.

  • Authorities competent for the status of asylum

The Ministry of the Interior, Department for Aliens and Asylum shall decide on asylum applications in the first instance.

The Commission for Asylum shall decide on appeals against the decision of the Ministry of the Interior in the second instance.

The administrative dispute against the Commission’s decision may be initiated before the Administrative Court of the Republic of Croatia. However, such an appeal shall not stop the decision from being executory.

  • Rights and obligations of asylum seekers

Asylum seekers are accommodated at the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers where they are provided with appropriate living conditions – accommodation, food, clothes and basic toiletries. Besides, they are entitled to a pecuniary aid, in case they are not employed, if they possess some financial resources or if they are provided with any other kind of financial means. If asylum seekers possess their own financial means, they may reside at any other address in the Republic of Croatia subject to prior approval by the Ministry of the Interior.

Apart from this, asylum seekers are entitled to:

  • stay in the Republic of Croatia;
  • conducting of proceedings in the language understandable to asylum seekers;
  • be informed of their rights, obligations and asylum procedures;
  • provision of basic living conditions and accommodation;
  • health care;
  • primary and secondary education;
  • legal aid in the proceedings before the Commission for Asylum;
  • humanitarian aid;
  • freedom of religious beliefs and religious education of children;
  • work, one year after applying for  asylum;
  • appointment of a guardian for minors and adults without legal competence in a proceedings.

Asylum seekers have the right of stay in the Republic of Croatia from the day they have applied for asylum until the moment of concluding the proceedings enabling them to move throughout the territory of the Republic of Croatia except in cases laid down by law when their movement may be restricted. After applying for asylum, the asylum seekers will be issued an identity card that will serve as a proof of their stay in the Republic of Croatia.

Asylum seekers are obliged to:

  • abide by the Constitution, laws and other regulations of the Republic of Croatia;
  • comply with the house rules of the Reception Centre;
  • cooperate with the competent government authorities of the Republic of Croatia and act upon their instructions and measures;
  • answer the call of the Ministry and cooperate throughout the asylum procedure;
  • report to the Ministry of any change of address three days from the moment of change;
  • comply with the Ministry’s instructions and measures regarding any restriction of the freedom of movement;
  • undergo medical examination, interviewing with the use of sound-recording, fingerprinting, photographing and other activities with a view of establishing their identity;
  • stay in the Republic of Croatia pending the asylum procedure;
  • allow for the inspection of their personal possessions before entering the Reception Centre.

Asylum and subsidiary protection

Asylum shall be granted to aliens who enclose to their application all the necessary documents and who present true arguments of their being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, affiliation to a particular social group or political opinion.  Subsidiary protection is the protection granted to aliens who do not fulfil the asylum requirements and who enclose all the available documents and present true arguments showing that there is reason to believe that by returning to their country of origin they would be exposed to serious injustice (like death penalty, execution, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, serious and personal threat to life owing to arbitrary violence in international and domestic conflicts).

  • Rights and obligations of asylum holders and aliens under subsidiary protection 

When aliens are granted asylum or subsidiary protection in in the Republic of Croatia, they are entitled to stay and accommodation not longer than 2 years following the date of the enforceability of the decision granting them a right to asylum or subsidiary protection.

Apart from that, asylum holders or aliens under subsidiary protection are entitled to:

  • access to the labour market without a work or business permit;
  • health care;
  • education;
  • freedom of religious beliefs and religious education of children;
  • free legal aid  including the assistance in drafting an appeal and the representation before the Commission for Asylum in case the asylum or subsidiary protection are terminated or cancelled;
  • social care if they have no income, do not possess any property or financial means and have no one to support them, pursuant to the regulations on social care provided to Croatian nationals;
  • reunion with a family member if they already had had a family in their country of origin.Asylum holders have the right of family reunion with their spouse if they have entered the marriage or common law marriage prior to submitting their asylum application in the Republic of Croatia, with their unmarried minor children, and with parents or a legal guardian in case of a minor asylum holder.
  • Aliens under subsidiary protectionhave the right of family reunion with a family member who had arrived to the Republic of Croatia together with an alien under subsidiary protection but has not applied for asylum or has not been granted protection. Children of aliens under subsidiary protection born in the Republic of Croatia share the legal status of their legal guardian:
  • assistance for the purpose of the integration into society;  
  • identity card for asylum holders (issued for the period of validity of 5 years), travel document for asylum holder (issued for the period of validity of 2 years)
  • identity card for aliens under subsidiary protection (issued for the period of validity of 1 year);

 A family member of an asylum holder or an alien under subsidiary protection staying legally in the Republic of Croatia shall be entitled to the same rights as an asylum holder or an alien under subsidiary protection.

Asylum holders and aliens under subsidiary protection are obliged to:

  • abide by the Constitution, laws and other regulations of the Republic of Croatia;
  • report about their residence and any changes of address within 8 days.

 

  •  Temporary protection

Temporary protection shall be granted to aliens in the event of their mass influx into the Republic of Croatia from a country in which, due to a war or a war-like state, general violence or internal conflicts, human rights have been violated, in cases when their country of origin is not willing or is able to protect them, and in case when, due to a large number of persons, the asylum procedure cannot be carried out efficiently and for the benefit of all the individuals seeking protection.

The Government of the Republic of Croatia shall decide on the necessity of granting temporary protection, as well as on the suspension of the prerequisites for granting temporary protection.

Aliens shall be granted temporary protection if: 

  • prior to the occurrence of the above stated situation and prior to their immediate entry into the Republic of Croatia as a result of such a state, they had a registered residence or stay in the country in question;
  • they were staying legally in the Republic of Croatia when such situation occurred and upon the expiry of their legal stay, their return to the country of origin was temporarily not possible.

Temporary protection shall be granted by the Ministry for a period of one year.
Temporary protection may be extended for six months if there exit valid reasons for it, but it can be granted for no longer than three years in total. 

  • Rights and obligations of aliens under temporary protection

Aliens under temporary protection are entitled to:

  • stay in the Republic of Croatia;
  • provision of basic means of livelihood and accommodation;
  • health care;
  • primary and secondary education;
  • information about their rights and obligations;
  • work; family reunification;
  • freedom of religious beliefs and religious education of children;
  • identity card for aliens under temporary protection (issued for the period of validity of one year).

Aliens who apply for asylum while under temporary protection are not entitled to asylum seekers’ rights in the course of their being under temporary protection.

The obligations prescribed for asylum seekers shall be applied to aliens under temporary protection accordingly.