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Permanent Stay for a Non-EEA Family Member of an EEA National

CroatiaLong-term residence

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in Croatia Read the five questions ↓

What exact status does accumulated residence lead to?

The right to permanent stay of a family member of an EEA national who is not an EEA national, evidenced by a residence card issued within six months of the application for a fee of 13,27 EUR with a validity of ten years.

See recorded sources
  • chars 15866-16110
    A family member who is not an EEA national and who has the right to permanent stay will be issued with a residence card within six months from the date of submitting the application, for a fee of 13,27 EUR and a period of validity of ten years.

What qualifying residence period is required and when does the period begin?

A continuous period of at least five years of legally staying in Croatia with the EEA national. The official source does not state when the five-year period starts.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page does not say when the five-year period starts to run (e.g. from entry or from issue of the residence card).
  • chars 15142-15343
    Family members who are not EEA nationals and who have been legally staying in the Republic of Croatia with an EEA national for a continuous period of at least five years are entitled to permanent stay.

Which types of residence count fully, partially or not at all where the official rules specify this?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm which types of residence count towards the qualifying period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page only requires 'legally staying in the Republic of Croatia with an EEA national' (sentence cited under R2); it does not classify which residence types count fully, partially or not at all. Searched the permanent-stay section for 'count', 'temporary', 'student', 'absence': nothing beyond that sentence and the Article 33 derivative route (cited under R5).

What absence/continuity rules affect accumulation of the qualifying residence period?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the absence and continuity rules for the qualifying period.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • The page requires a 'continuous period of at least five years' (sentence cited under R2) but states no absence thresholds, no rule on what breaks continuity and no exceptions for absences. Searched the whole capture for 'absen', 'continu', 'interrupt': only the word 'continuous' in the qualifying-period sentences.

What other major conditions apply, how is the status obtained, and what renewal, document-validity, retention or loss rules matter?

The application for permanent stay (Form 3b) is submitted at the police administration or station for the place of stay before the current residence card of a family member of an EEA national expires. Family members staying in Croatia with an EEA national who has been granted permanent stay under Article 33 of the Act are entitled to permanent stay regardless of how long they have stayed. The official source does not state retention or loss rules for the status.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • No retention or loss rules for permanent stay are stated; the ten-year validity of the residence card (cited under R1) is a document validity, not the duration of the status.
  • chars 15344-15865
    An application for permanent stay ( Form 3b ) can be submitted at a police administration/station according to the place of stay, prior to the expiry of a valid residence card for a family member of an EEA national. Family members staying in the Republic of Croatia with an EEA national who has been granted the right of permanent stay pursuant to Article 33 of the Act on EEA Nationals and their Family Members will also be entitled to permanent stay, regardless of the duration of their stay in the Republic of Croatia.

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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