Croatia family reunification visa

The sponsor can be a Croatian citizen, or a third-country national with permanent stay, long-term residence, temporary stay or international protection in Croatia. Close family members are the spouse; the common-law partner (an unmarried couple living together for at least three years, or less if they have a child or later marry); minor unmarried children of either partner, including adopted children; and the parents of a minor child who is Croatian or has long-term residence, permanent stay, asylum or subsidiary protection. Exceptionally, other relatives can qualify for special personal or serious humanitarian reasons.

Family reunification is not available to relatives of a seasonal worker, a posted worker, a service provider, or a person on temporary stay for other purposes. According to the Croatian-language MUP page, relatives of a worker on an HZZ-based stay and work permit can join only once the worker has held temporary stay continuously for at least two years; the English page still says one year. Minor children of two permit holders, or of a single parent with a permit, are an exception.

A marriage is proven with an extract from the marriage register and a parent-child relationship with a birth register extract or an adoption decision. A common-law partnership is proven with the birth certificate of a joint child, or with documents on single status, the partners’ statement on their life together, witness statements and proof of a shared household for at least three years before the application. The same evidence applies to life partnerships and informal life partnerships.

Family members of Croatian citizens do not have to submit Croatian civil status extracts, which the registry office obtains itself, and do not need to prove means of support. Family members of a person with asylum or subsidiary protection are exempt from proof of health insurance and means. All foreign documents must be legalised, translated into Croatian by a certified translator and not older than six months, except for family of protected persons.

The application is made on Form 1a with a 30 x 35 mm photo, usually at a Croatian mission before entering. Close family members and life partners of Croatian citizens may apply at the police in Croatia even if they need a visa. A person granted asylum or subsidiary protection can file the application at the police on behalf of a family member who is abroad, and an application for a minor child abroad can be filed at the police when both parents, or a single parent, hold a residence status in Croatia. Visa-regime nationals add Form 18a for a first application.

If the stay is approved while the family member is abroad, they obtain a D visa within two months of the permit’s start date; it is free for the spouse and children of a Croatian citizen and EUR 93 otherwise. Children born in Croatia must have a temporary stay application filed within three months of birth.

Renewal is requested at the police no later than 60 days before expiry. After three years of continuous temporary stay for family reunification, a spouse, partner or child who has reached adulthood can obtain autonomous stay, which no longer depends on the sponsor, and the same applies if the sponsor dies after three years. The family member of a Croatian citizen can apply for permanent stay after four years of continuous temporary stay for family reunification.

Family members may work without a stay and work permit when they join a Croatian citizen, a long-term or permanent resident, a person with asylum or subsidiary protection, an EU Blue Card holder, an intra-corporate transferee, a researcher with a hosting agreement or a long-term resident of another EEA state. The permit is issued for up to two years when the sponsor is Croatian, a long-term or permanent resident, a protected person or a temporary resident; for family of a Blue Card holder it runs as long as the card.

Temporary stay is withdrawn if the spouses or partners do not live in a genuine marriage or partnership, or if the family member stays abroad beyond the limits: more than 90 days in total or 30 at once on a permit of up to one year, and more than 180 days or 60 at once on a permit of up to two years.