Asylum and international protection in Croatia

Asylum is granted to a person outside their country of nationality or habitual residence who has a well-founded fear of persecution because of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, and who cannot or does not want to accept that country’s protection. Subsidiary protection is granted to a person who does not qualify for asylum but would face a real risk of serious harm if returned: the death penalty or execution, torture, inhuman or degrading treatment, or a serious individual threat to life from indiscriminate violence in an armed conflict.

Temporary protection is a separate status introduced by a government decision based on a decision of the Council of the EU when large numbers of people arrive from a country affected by war or widespread violence. It is granted for one year, can be extended by six months at a time and may last at most three years.

You can express the intention to apply during border checks at a border crossing point, or at any police administration, police station or aliens reception centre if you are already in Croatia. The official application is then lodged in person at the reception centre for applicants for international protection in Zagreb or Kutina, where your statement is recorded; exceptionally, depending on personal circumstances, it can be recorded elsewhere. The MUP Service for Foreigners and Asylum decides at first instance.

A person who entered irregularly, coming directly from a territory where they were persecuted, is not punished for the irregular entry or stay if they express the intention to apply without delay and give valid reasons. After the application is lodged you receive an applicant’s card, which confirms your right to stay and your address but is not an identity document.

Asylees and people with subsidiary protection may stay in Croatia and receive accommodation paid by the state for up to two years after the decision, with exceptions. They may work without a permit and have rights to health care, education, social welfare, free legal aid in cessation or revocation cases, integration support, property ownership under the 1951 Convention and family reunification with a spouse or partner, minor children, dependent adult children, parents of a minor and a dependent first-degree ascendant who lived with them. Asylees receive a five-year residence permit and a five-year travel document; people with subsidiary protection a three-year permit and a special passport valid up to two years.

They must register their residence within 15 days of receiving the decision, carry the residence permit, attend a course in Croatian language, history and culture, and inform MUP within 15 days if they move abroad or stay abroad for more than 90 days in 180.

Applicants may stay in Croatia until the procedure ends and move freely, unless movement is restricted by law. They are accommodated in the reception centre with food, clothing, toiletries, financial aid, reimbursement of public transport for the procedure, health care, Croatian language classes and other activities. They have the right to a procedure in a language they understand, information and legal counselling, primary and secondary education, free legal aid before the first-instance administrative court and freedom of religion; minors and people without legal capacity are given a guardian.

Applicants with sufficient own income may be asked to contribute to accommodation costs and, with MUP approval, may live at a private address at their own expense. They must cooperate with the authorities, undergo identity checks and a medical examination, respect the centre’s house rules, attend interviews, stay in Croatia during the procedure and report a change of address within two days.

The Ministry of the Interior decides on the application at first instance. Its decision can be challenged by bringing an administrative dispute before the competent administrative court, and applicants are entitled to free legal aid before the first-instance administrative court. MUP publishes a list of providers of free legal aid in the international protection procedure.

Croatia applies the common EU asylum rules. According to the European Commission, the new rules of the Pact on Migration and Asylum entered into application in June 2026: applicants must apply in the EU country of first entry and remain there until the country responsible for their claim is determined, and a mandatory border procedure applies to applicants who are unlikely to need protection, mislead the authorities or pose a security risk.