Croatia residence permit for other purposes

You must meet the general conditions for temporary stay and prove the purpose with one of the documents listed by MUP: a title deed for property in Croatia, proof of staying in an establishment that provides accommodation under the hospitality rules, confirmation of enrolment in a Croatian language course at an authorised institution, medical documentation, or other documentation that justifies the purpose.

The general conditions are a passport valid at least three months beyond the stay, means of support, health insurance, a legalised criminal record certificate for a first application, no entry ban or Schengen alert, and no threat to public order, security or health. Nationals who need a visa also attach Form 18a, a doctor’s health and vaccination certificate not older than 90 days.

Visa-required nationals apply at a Croatian embassy or consulate before entering; an application filed at a Croatian police station by a visa-required person who is not in one of the exempt groups is rejected. After approval the applicant obtains a D visa (EUR 93) at the mission or VFS centre, valid for up to six months with 30 days of stay, and registers in Croatia.

At a mission the temporary stay fee is EUR 55.74, paid when applying. At the police the fees are EUR 46.45 for the stay, EUR 9.29 for issuing the residence permit and EUR 31.85 for the biometric card (EUR 59.73 accelerated), paid after approval.

Register your address at the police administration with Form 16a and a lease, title deed or the owner’s statement; temporary stay is withdrawn if the address is not registered within 30 days of the start of the permit, or six months where a D visa is required. Leaving Croatia for more than 90 days in total or 30 days at once during a one-year permit also leads to withdrawal unless you notified the police of a justified absence of up to 90 days.

This status does not allow work, does not open family reunification for relatives and is excluded from the time counted for long-term residence. People who intend to settle should look at work, family or long-term residence routes instead.

Temporary stay for other purposes cannot be extended. A new application for other purposes, or for the digital nomad status, can be filed only once six months have passed since the previous stay for other purposes, as a digital nomad, or as a family member of a digital nomad expired.

Three exceptions allow an extension: a retired third-country national over 60 who owns property in Croatia, together with a spouse, common-law partner or life partner; a minor athlete training with a sports organisation registered in Croatia; and a person continuing medical treatment in Croatia with an opinion from the health ministry that the treatment needs to continue. Extensions are requested at the police no later than 60 days before expiry.