Author
A new Law on Foreigners entered into force on 1 January 2021 and was amended in the course of 2022. One of the novelties introduced in 2021 was the distinction between long-term residence and permanent residence. Long-term residence may be granted to a third-country national who, prior to the day of submission of an application for long term residence, has been granted temporary stay, asylum or subsidiary protection in the Republic of Croatia for an uninterrupted period of five years. A third-country national shall be deemed as having continuously resided in the Republic of Croatia even if he or she was absent from the country within the five-year period for up to ten months in total for multiple absences, or up to six months for a single absence. At the time of deciding on the application for a long-term residence, the third-country national must have a granted temporary residence, asylum or subsidiary protection in the Republic of Croatia. The third-country national shall not be granted long-term residence if his or her asylum or subsidiary protection has been annulled.[1]
A beneficiary of international protection shall submit an application for a long-term residence to the Police Administration or Police Station based on the place of his/her temporary residence. The Ministry of Interior must approve the granting of long-term residence and an administrative dispute may be initiated against the Ministry’s decision.[3]
Long term residence shall be granted to a third-country national who, along with the above conditions:[4]
- Has a valid foreign travel document;
- Has means of subsistence;
- Has health insurance;
- Knows the Croatian language and the Latin script; and
- Is not considered to be a threat to public policy or national security.
Asylees and foreigners under subsidiary protection are not obliged to meet the condition of having a valid foreign travel document.[5]
An application for the issuance of a residence permit shall be submitted by a third-country national on long-term residence within eight days from the day s/he was granted long-term residence in the Republic of Croatia.[6]
In 2018, eight long term residence status were granted to asylees and seven to foreigners under subsidiary protection. A total of 15 long-term residence permits for asylees and 13 for subsidiary protection beneficiaries were valid at the end of 2018.[7] However, no information is available for 2019 and 2020.
In 2021, four long-term residence permits were approved (three to asylees, one to a beneficiary of subsidiary protection).[8] In 2023, long term residents were granted to 21 asylees and 3 foreigners under subsidiary protection.[9]
[1] Article 150 (1) (4) Law on Foreigners
[2] Article 151(3) Law on Foreigners.
[3] Article 152(1)(3) Law on Foreigners.
[4] Article 153 (1) Law on Foreigners.
[5] Article 153 (2) Law on Foreigners.
[6] Article 169 (1) Law on Foreigners.
[7] Information provided by the Ministry of Interior, 28 January 2019.
[8] Croatian Law Centre: The Croatian Asylum System In 2021 – National Report, The report was prepared as part of the project “Access to the territory and the asylum system in Croatia – legal support and capacity building” with the financial support of UNHCR; available in Croatian at: https://bit.ly/3NgBDfc and in English at: https://bit.ly/3NBvVpC.
[9] Information provided by the Ministry of Interior, 8 March 2024.