Determining authority

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Croatian Law Centre Visit Website

Asylum matters are under the responsibility of the Directorate for Immigration, Citizenship and Administrative Affairs, under which the Sector for foreigners and international protection is divided into following organisational units dealing with asylum matters:[1]

1. Service for international protection

• Department for international protection procedure
• Department for Dublin procedure
• Department for integration

2. Service for reception and accommodation of applicants for international protection

• Reception centre for applicants of international protection in Zagreb
• Reception centre for applicants of international protection in Kutina

The Department for international protection procedure of the Ministry of Interior is an administrative authority responsible for examining applications for international protection and competent to take decisions at first instance. In September 2020, a new Decree on the internal structure of the Ministry of Interior entered into force,[2] and was amended in 2022.[3] The same organisational units were responsible for asylum related matters in the course of 2024.

No detailed information on trainings of the officials is available for 2024. However, the training of officials is continuously carried out through the EUAA curriculum, as well as through workshops organised, for example, by the UNHCR.

In May 2024, UNHCR Croatia organised a two-day training on refugee status determination for eighteen staff from the Ministry of Interior’s Service for International Protection. The workshop covered effective interviewing techniques, with a special focus on working with applicants for international protection with specific needs, particularly children and survivors of trafficking and gender-based violence. Additionally, the training addressed credibility assessments and eligibility guidelines.[4]

Croatia has a single procedure for international protection. The Department for International Protection Procedure examines whether the applicant fulfils the eligibility criteria for refugee status and, failing that, subsequently examines whether the applicant is eligible for subsidiary protection. The civil servants working in the Department for International Protection Procedure issue a decision on the application based on their findings following an interview with the applicant, taking into account all the relevant facts and circumstances arising from the application, the applicant’s position and personal circumstances (including sex and age) based on the testimony presented during the interview, the evidence submitted and available country of origin information and if necessary information about the country through which s/he travelled, as well as the activities of the applicant after leaving the country of origin to assess whether these activities might expose him/her to persecution or serious harm if they are returned to that country. The existence of an internal protection alternative in the country of origin, and the possibility for the applicant to obtain the protection of their alleged country of nationality, are also considered when taking a decision.[5]

When deciding on the credibility of the applicant’s statements, the person conducting the procedure should abide by the principle of the benefit of the doubt.[6]

As far as the Croatian Law Centre is aware, the Head of the Department for international protection procedure reviews all decisions in order to ensure the quality of decisions.

[1]           This Sector further includes unites responsible for other migration-related matters, e.g., citizenship, legal residence of foreigners, visas etc.

[2]           Decree on the internal structure of the Ministry of Interior, Official Gazette 97/2020, available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/2Rrj1zK.

[3]           Amendments of Decree on the internal structure of the Ministry of Interior, Official Gazette 7/2022 available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3n6iDGG; Amendments of Decree on the internal structure of the Ministry of Interior, Official Gazette 149/2022 available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3TCOKKi.

[4]           Information provided by the UNHCR Office for Croatia, 18 March 2025.

[5]           Articles 27 and 28 LITP.

[6]           Article 29 LITP.