CroatiaLong-term residence

Long-term residence in Croatia

The programme allows third-country nationals to secure their status in Croatia after a long period of lawful residence. It requires financial self-sufficiency, valid health insurance and proof of knowledge of the local language. The status gives the right to work without additional permits and opens the way to permanent residence and to citizenship of the country.

Source: mup.gov.hr — Long-Term Residence and Permanent stay

Who long-term residence suits

The programme is open to various categories of foreign nationals who already live in Croatia and meet the requirements.

Basic applicants

Third-country nationals living in Croatia on lawful grounds
People with confirmed income or savings
Those planning to work or live in Croatia for a long time

Family members

Spouses and partners of Croatian citizens
Parents of minor children born in Croatia
Families that already hold temporary reunification status

When the programme is not a fit

You have only just started living in Croatia and hold only a tourist visa

First obtain temporary residence status through other programmes, then after a few years move to long-term residence

You have no funds to prove self-sufficiency, or no health insurance

Strengthen your financial position, open an account, confirm your income and arrange health insurance

You are frequently out of the country or plan to live outside the EEA

Check the limits on absences; if they do not suit you, consider other visas

What it costs

Decision granting long-term residenceAn administrative fee payable when the application is approved	83,62 EUR
Biometric document (ordinary production time)	31,85 EUR
Biometric document (accelerated processing)	59,73 EUR
Certified copy of the decision	+13,94 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Certified copy of the decision” adds 13,94 EUR; the “Biometric document (accelerated processing)” branch replaces the “Biometric document (ordinary production time)” line — 143,35 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	115.47–129,41 EUR

Paid separately

Language examination — The cost depends on the institution; it may be free at state universities
Health insurance — Part of the applicant's separate costs, not included in the state fee

Documents to gather

The following documents are needed to file the application:

A completed form 1a (the form is issued at the police administration)
A valid passport or another travel document
Proof of means of subsistence (bank statements, an employment contract, income certificates)
The original and a copy of a valid health insurance policy
A certificate of knowledge of the Croatian language and the Latin script from an accredited institution
A certificate of no criminal record (where required)
Proof of a place of residence in Croatia

How the process runs

The procedure involves the following main stages:

1
Check that you meet the minimum period of residence
Preparation before filing
Make sure you have lived in the country continuously for the required period and hold valid temporary residence status. Check whether you have exceeded the permitted absences from the country.
2
Take the language examination
Several weeks before filing
Approach one of the state universities or an accredited institution to take the examination in the Croatian language and the Latin script. Obtain the certificate. If you are a pre-school child, studied in Croatia, or are over 65 and not working, you may be exempt from the examination.
3
Collect all the required documents
1-2 weeks
Prepare the originals and copies of the documents: passport, proof of income, health insurance, the language certificate and the other papers required.
4
File the application with the police administration
The day of filing
Complete form 1a and file it with the competent police administration for your place of residence in Croatia. Filing may be done in person or through a representative.
5
Wait for the Ministry of the Interior's decision
No time limits are set by law
The Ministry reviews your application and all the documents submitted. The final decision is sent by post or handed over at the police administration.
6
Collect the biometric document
After approval, a few working days
If the decision is positive, go to the police administration to collect the biometric document. Choose ordinary or accelerated production and pay the corresponding fee.

Timelines and rights

Work

With dugotrajno boravište you work without a dozvola za boravak i rad and without a potvrda o prijavi rada.

Who you can bring with you

Long-term residence opens up the possibility for family members to obtain permanent status:

The spouse or partner of a Croatian citizen

May obtain permanent stay after the set period of temporary family reunification status

Minor children

If one of the parents has obtained long-term residence or permanent status, the children are entitled to permanent residence

Children born in Croatia

Minor children born in Croatia while one or both parents held long-term or permanent status are entitled to permanent stay

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Knowledge of the Croatian language and the Latin script is compulsory — the examination is held at authorised universities and institutions. Pre-school children, people who were educated in Croatia and non-working people over 65 are exempt. The applicant must not pose a threat to public order, national security or public health

Long-term residence is valid indefinitely, but it may be withdrawn. The status ends if you have lived outside the European Economic Area continuously for the set period, have been away from Croatia for the set time, have obtained long-term status in another EEA country, have been placed on the Schengen system alert list or have asked for it to be cancelled yourself. Withdrawal is also possible where there is a threat to public order, national security or health.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Dugotrajno boravište is itself EU long-term resident status. The separate Croatian stalni boravak is obtained on its own grounds: 4 years of a residence permit for reunification with a Croatian citizen, 3 years of a residence permit for Croatian emigrants, their descendants and stateless persons.

Route to citizenship

A Croatian passport is granted through naturalisation: from the age of 18, after 8 years of continuous registered residence and holding stalni boravak status. You take Croatian at level B1 and a test of 15 questions on culture and social organisation — 10 correct answers are required. Release from the previous citizenship is required.

Frequently asked questions about Long-term residence

What is the minimum period of residence required for long-term residence?

Continuous residence in Croatia for 5 years before filing the application is required. Absences of no more than 10 months in total over the whole period, or one absence of up to 6 months in a row, are allowed. Such absences do not break the continuity of the status.

Do I need to have health insurance?

Yes, valid health insurance is a mandatory condition for obtaining long-term residence. When filing the application you should provide the original and a copy of the insurance policy, valid at the time of filing.

Can I work with long-term residence?

Yes, with long-term residence you are entitled to work without an additional work permit and without registering employment contracts in state registers. This is one of the main advantages of long-term status over other types of residence.

Where can I take the examination in the Croatian language and the Latin script?

Language examinations are held by 6 state universities: the University of Zagreb and the universities of Rijeka, Osijek, Zadar, Split and Pula, as well as by accredited institutions. The full list of accredited organisations and their contact details is available on the website of the Croatian Ministry of Education.

When can long-term residence be withdrawn?

The status may be withdrawn if you have lived outside the European Economic Area continuously for 12 months, have been away from Croatia for 6 years, have obtained long-term status in another EEA country, have been entered on the alert list of the Schengen Information System or have asked for it to be cancelled yourself. Withdrawal is also possible where there is a threat to public order and national security.

Other ways to move to Croatia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Croatia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.