CroatiaFamily

Family reunification in Croatia

The programme is intended for close family members of Croatian citizens and of foreign nationals with lawful residence status in the country. It allows spouses, common-law partners, minor children and the parents of minor citizens to obtain temporary stay. In exceptional cases reunification with other relatives is also possible where there are serious personal or humanitarian circumstances. It requires kinship to be proven by documents and the sponsor to meet the criteria.

Source: mup.gov.hr — Temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification

Who may apply

Temporary stay for reunification is granted to close family members who live apart from their relatives holding lawful status in Croatia.

Family members of Croatian citizens

A spouse or common-law partner
Minor biological, adopted or step-children
The parents of a minor Croatian citizen

Family members of foreign nationals with lawful status

A spouse or common-law partner
Minor biological, adopted or step-children
The parents of a minor foreign national with permanent residence, long-term residence or protection

In special circumstances

Other relatives of Croatian citizens where there are serious personal reasons
Other relatives of foreign nationals where there are serious humanitarian reasons
Approval by the Ministry of the Interior is required

When the programme is not a fit

The sponsor works under a seasonal contract or a temporary work agreement

You need to wait for a permanent employment contract or another residence status for the sponsor

The sponsor is a worker posted by a foreign company or a service provider

A different status for the sponsor is required for reunification to be allowed

There are no documents proving kinship or marriage

You need to obtain an extract from the marriage register, a birth certificate or evidence of living together

What it costs

Approval of temporary stayAn administrative fee paid when the application is filed	46,45 EUR
Biometric card (standard procedure)The card is produced within the ordinary time	31,85 EUR
Biometric card (accelerated procedure)The card is produced within a shorter time	59,73 EUR
Issuance of the biometric cardAn additional fee for issuing the card	+9,29 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Issuance of the biometric card” adds 9,29 EUR; the “Biometric card (accelerated procedure)” branch replaces the “Biometric card (standard procedure)” line — 106,18 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	78.3–87,59 EUR

Paid separately

Translation of documents — Not included in the state fee; paid separately where needed
Notarisation — If documents need to be notarised, this is paid separately

Documents to gather

The documents prove the family relationship and the applicant's identity. Family members of Croatian citizens do not attach kinship documents — the authorities confirm them through official channels.

An extract from the marriage register (for spouses)
A birth certificate (for children and parents)
An adoption decision (where applicable)
Evidence of living together for at least three years (for common-law partners without a shared child)
The birth certificate of a shared child (for common-law partners)
A valid travel document (a passport or a travel certificate)
A certificate of no criminal record (where required by law)

How the process runs

The process involves filing the application with the competent police authority, checking the documents and receiving the decision.

1
Filing the application with the police
The application is filed with the police administration for the sponsor's place of residence or for the applicant's planned place of residence. All the required documents are attached and a fee of EUR 46.45 is paid.
2
Checking the documents and the conditions
The police authorities check the documents proving kinship, the applicant's identity, the sponsor's status and the absence of grounds for refusal. The sponsor's employment status is also checked (not a seasonal worker, not a posted worker, not a service provider).
3
The Ministry takes a decision
The decision to grant or refuse temporary stay is taken by the Ministry of the Interior. A positive decision allows the applicant to register and to obtain a biometric card.
4
Collecting the biometric card
Once approved, the applicant collects the biometric card in person at the police administration. The fee for producing the card (EUR 31.85 standard or EUR 59.73 accelerated) and for issuing it (EUR 9.29) is paid.

Timelines and rights

Work

A residence permit for reunification with a Croatian citizen, with a holder of dugotrajno boravište or stalni boravak, or with a person granted asylum gives the right to work without a dozvola za boravak i rad and without a potvrda o prijavi rada. There is no need to change the purpose of stay in order to work.

Who you can bring with you

The programme provides for a move from temporary stay to permanent stay after a certain period of continuous residence. The requirements differ for adult and for minor family members.

The spouse or partner of a Croatian citizen

Obtains permanent stay after four years of continuous temporary stay under the reunification programme. Over that period absences of up to six months in total and of no longer than four months in a row are allowed.

A minor child of a Croatian citizen

Obtains permanent stay after three years of continuous temporary stay under the reunification programme. The same limits on absence apply: up to six months in total, no more than four months in a row.

The spouse or partner of a foreign national with long-term residence or permanent stay

Obtains permanent stay after four years of continuous temporary stay under the reunification programme, provided they hold a valid travel document and pose no security threat.

A family member of a person with international protection

Obtains permanent stay after four years of continuous temporary stay, provided the sponsor has kept their protection status and meets all the other requirements.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

The sponsor may be a Croatian citizen, a foreign national with permanent residence, with temporary stay, with long-term residence or with international protection. Reunification is not allowed with holders of a seasonal work permit, with posted workers or with service providers

Temporary stay on the basis of the family reunification programme is granted for up to one year. Once that period ends, the applicant may file a new application for renewal or move to permanent stay status if they meet the conditions (four years of continuous stay for adults, three years for minors). Renewal does not require the main fee of EUR 46.45 to be paid again if the status does not change.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

A family member or partner of a Croatian citizen is granted stalni boravak after 4 years of continuous residence permits for family reunification. A minor child of a resident — after 3 years. Over that period absences of up to 6 months in total and no longer than 4 months in a row are allowed.

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 Family reunification

Who can be the sponsor for family reunification?

The sponsor may be a Croatian citizen, a foreign national with permanent stay, temporary stay or long-term residence, or a person granted international protection. People holding a seasonal work permit, workers posted by foreign companies and service providers cannot be sponsors.

For how long is temporary stay under the family reunification programme granted?

Temporary stay is approved for up to one year. Once that period ends, you may apply for a renewal or for a move to permanent stay status.

Which documents prove marriage for the reunification programme?

Marriage is proven by an extract from the marriage register. Common-law partners need either the birth certificate of a shared child or evidence of living together for at least three years. Family members of Croatian citizens are not required to attach these documents.

After how many years can permanent stay be obtained following family reunification?

A family member or partner of a Croatian citizen obtains permanent stay after four years of continuous temporary stay under the reunification programme. A minor child obtains it after three years. Over that time absences of up to six months in total and of no more than four months in a row are allowed.

Can the family be away during the summer holidays?

Yes, provided the limit on absence is observed. Absences of up to six months in total are allowed over the period of continuous stay, but a single absence must not exceed four months. This makes a summer holiday possible as long as the total time away stays within the set limits.

What is the total cost of obtaining temporary stay and a biometric card?

Approval of temporary stay costs EUR 46.45. A biometric card costs EUR 31.85 under the standard procedure or EUR 59.73 under the accelerated one, plus EUR 9.29 for issuance. The minimum total is EUR 87.59, the maximum (with the accelerated card procedure) EUR 115.47.

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.