EEA Temporary Stay as Employed Worker

EEA nationals and their family members may work and provide services in the Republic of Croatia without a stay and work permit, or a work registration certificate. The provisions of the Act on EEA Nationals and their Family Members that apply to EEA nationals also apply to the nationals of the Swiss Confederation.

EEA nationals will be issued with a registration certificate if they have a valid ID or travel document and if they provide proof that they are: employed (a contract of employment or a certificate of employment issued by their employer), or self-employed (e.g. excerpt from the crafts and trades register or extract from the register of companies in case of a majority owner of a company), or a posted worker (A1 certificate). Exceptionally, workers posted from Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Denmark, or the Swiss Confederation can submit salary receipts instead of an A1 certificate.

EEA nationals who intend to stay in the Republic of Croatia for more than 3 months are obligated to register their temporary stay ( Form 1b ) at the competent police administration/station according to their place of stay, no later than 8 days following the expiration of their 3-month stay. When registering their stay, they have to provide a copy of a valid ID or travel document (which will be certified by an authorised officer after comparing it with the original), documents depending on the purpose of their stay, proof of health insurance, proof of sufficient means of support and proof of accommodation (see item 3 for more information). A certificate confirming that an EEA national has registered his temporary stay is printed out of the information system free of charge. A biometric residence card is issued upon the request of the EEA national for a fee of 13,27 EUR with a validity period of 5 years.

The following persons are considered to be family members of EEA nationals: 1. spouse 2. common-law partner, if the relationship lasts three years or less provided that the stability of the durable relationship can be established on the basis of some other circumstances 3. lineal descendant by blood of the EEA national or his spouse, common-law partner, or life or informal life partner, up to 21 years of age 4. adoptee of the EEA national or his spouse, common-law partner, or life or informal life partner, up to 21 years of age 5. the person referred to in items 3 and 4 over the age of 21 who the EEA national or his spouse or his common-law partner, or life or an informal life partner is obligated to support and is actually supporting, 6. lineal ancestor by blood who has to be supported and is actually supported by the EEA national or his spouse or common-law partner, or life or informal life partner. Exceptionally, other family members of the EEA national or his spouse or common law partner, or life or informal life partner may be considered family members if, in the country of origin, they are: 1. a dependent family member 2. a household member, or 3. dependent on his personal care due to a serious health condition.

Non-EEA family members of an EEA national who intend to stay in the Republic of Croatia for more than three months have to apply for a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen ( Form 2b ) at a police administration/station according to their place of stay no later than eight days from the expiry of their three-month stay. They will immediately be issued with a certificate of application and they can use their residence card to prove their right to temporary stay. A biometric residence permit is issued for a 13,27 EUR fee with a validity period of five years.

EEA nationals and their family members may work and provide services in the Republic of Croatia without a stay and work permit, or a work registration certificate.

Non-EEA family members of EEA nationals who are accompanying or joining the EEA national can stay in the Republic of Croatia for up to three months form the date of entry into the Republic of Croatia without registering their short-term stay at a police administration/station if they have a valid travel document, and under the condition that they do not become an unreasonable burden on the social welfare system.

EEA nationals are entitled to permanent stay after five continuous years of legally staying in the Republic of Croatia. In exceptional cases, EEA nationals are entitled to permanent stay even if they have been legally staying for less than five continuous years. Exceptions are laid down in Article 28 of the Act on EEA Nationals and their Family Members.