Important Notice
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is intended to give a general overview of the temporary stay process in Croatia. It does not represent legal advice, immigration advice, or an official interpretation of Croatian law.
Requirements, procedures, forms, deadlines, and supporting documents may change or may vary depending on your nationality, purpose of stay, visa status, accommodation type, and the competent police administration or police station.
Before applying, always check the latest official information from the Croatian Ministry of the Interior (MUP) or contact the competent police administration directly. HomeInZagreb may help explain practical accommodation-related steps, but each applicant is responsible for preparing and submitting the required documents correctly.
How to Obtain a Temporary Stay Permit in Croatia: Third-Country Nationals
If you are a third-country national planning to stay in Croatia for more than 90 days, you usually need to regulate your stay by applying for a temporary stay permit.
This guide gives you a simple overview of the basic steps, required documents, accommodation requirements, and what to expect during the process.
Who is considered a third-country national?
A third-country national is a person who is not a citizen of Croatia, the European Union, the European Economic Area, or Switzerland.
This usually includes students, workers, digital nomads, family members, interns, and other non-EU/EEA nationals who want to stay in Croatia for a longer period.
Short-term stay and accommodation registration
Before applying for temporary stay, it is important to understand that short-term accommodation registration is not the same as a temporary stay permit.
During short-term stay, the accommodation provider is normally responsible for registering the accommodation of a third-country national within one day of arrival. If the accommodation provider cannot do this, the third-country national must register the accommodation within two days of entering Croatia or changing accommodation.
This short-term accommodation registration does not replace the temporary stay permit process if you plan to stay longer than allowed under short-term stay rules.
When do you need temporary stay?
Temporary stay may be approved for different purposes, including family reunification, secondary school education, university studies, scientific research, humanitarian reasons, life partnership, work, posted work, stay of persons with long-term residence in another EEA country, other purposes, digital nomads, and return of Croatian emigrants. Temporary stay for work is handled as a stay and work permit.
For most international students, the relevant purpose will usually be studying. For employees, the relevant process will usually be a stay and work permit. Digital nomads, family members, and other categories may have different documentation requirements.
Where and how do you apply?
In general, an application for temporary stay is submitted at a Croatian diplomatic mission or consular office before entering Croatia.
If you are a third-country national who does not need a visa to enter Croatia, you may also apply at the competent police administration or police station in Croatia, according to your intended place of stay, the employer’s registered office, or the place of work.
If you are a third-country national who does need a visa to enter Croatia, you may apply in Croatia only in specific situations. One important exception is for students arriving for university studies at undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate level. Other exceptions include close family members of Croatian citizens, researchers, certain family members, humanitarian cases, EU Blue Card cases, and some other categories listed by the Ministry of the Interior.
The application is submitted using Form 1a, together with supporting documents and a color photo measuring 3 x 3.5 cm.
What documents do you need?
The exact documents depend on the purpose of your stay, but in general, you should prepare:
- completed application form — Form 1a
- valid passport or travel document
- color photo, 3 x 3.5 cm
- proof of the purpose of your stay
- proof of sufficient means of support
- proof of health insurance
- proof that you have not been finally convicted of criminal offences in your home country or in a country where you lived for more than one year immediately before coming to Croatia, when required
- proof of accommodation or address registration documents, depending on the stage of the process
- additional documents requested by the competent authority
The travel document must usually be valid for at least three months longer than the period of validity of the temporary stay permit. Documents submitted with the application should generally be originals or certified copies, and foreign documents usually need to be legalized and translated into Croatian, unless a specific exception applies.
Proof of purpose of stay
You must prove why you are staying in Croatia.
Depending on your situation, this may include:
For study:
proof of enrolment at a Croatian university or higher education institution. Temporary stay for study is generally issued for up to one year or until the end of the academic year, depending on the case.
For work:
the process is usually handled as a stay and work permit, and the documentation depends on the employer, job position, and whether a labour market test or Croatian Employment Service opinion is required.
For digital nomads:
proof that you perform work through communication technology for a foreign employer or your own foreign company may be required, together with other documents.
For other purposes:
you may need documents that justify the purpose of your stay, such as property ownership, accommodation in a registered accommodation facility, enrolment in a Croatian language course, medical documentation, or other relevant proof.
Proof of accommodation and address registration
For address registration, the competent police administration or police station may require Form 16a, a valid travel document or residence document, and proof supporting the address registration.
Proof may include a title deed, purchase contract, rental agreement, or owner consent. If a notarized lease agreement or notarized owner consent is provided, the property owner does not need to be present for the address registration.
For HomeInZagreb properties, always check the listing and communication before booking to see what kind of residence-registration support is available for that property.
After approval
If your application is approved, you must obtain a biometric residence permit. If you applied through a Croatian diplomatic mission or consular office, you will be instructed to contact the competent police administration or police station after entering Croatia to provide biometric data.
Third-country nationals on temporary stay must report their temporary residence address within three days of entering Croatia, or within three days of changing address.
Where to apply in Zagreb
If your address is in Zagreb, the competent authority is the Zagreb Police Administration. For questions related to foreigners and citizenship, the Zagreb Police Administration lists the following contact email:
zg.drzavljanstvo.stranci@mup.hr
For work-permit-related questions in Zagreb, the listed email is:
Final note
This guide is intended as a practical overview for tenants, students, and other third-country nationals staying in Zagreb. Requirements may vary depending on nationality, purpose of stay, visa status, document type, and the competent authority handling the application.
Before applying, always check the official information from the Croatian Ministry of the Interior and prepare your documents early.