Student in Croatia

Conditions

Third-country nationals who intend to stay in the Republic of Croatia for the purpose of university studies shall regulate their temporary stay for the purpose of university studies. Temporary stay for the purpose of university studies shall be granted to a third-country national who meets the general conditions for temporary stay in Croatia (to have valid travel documents, proof of sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs, health insurance, must not pose a threat to public security, public order and public health) who is studying at a higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia and who has sufficient means for return travel costs.

A temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies can be issued with a period of validity of one year, or for the duration of study if shorter.

For students covered by EU or multilateral programmes that comprise mobility measures or by an agreement between two or more higher education institutions, a temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies can be issued with a period of validity of up to two years or for the duration of the studies, if the latter is shorter.

A student who has a valid authorisation issued by another EEA Member State and who is covered by an EU programme or a multilateral programme that comprises mobility measures or by an agreement between two or more higher education institutions may spend a part of his/her studies at a higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia in a period of up to 360 days without an obligation to regulate his/her temporary stay for the purpose of university studies. When registering his/her short-term stay, the student shall inform the competent police administration or police station according to his/her place of stay about his/her intention of stay.

Procedures

Where and how to apply

Third-country nationals may apply in person either:

• at a diplomatic mission or a consular post of the Republic of Croatia in the country of origin, or
• at a police administration or a police station according to the third-country national’s intended place of stay, if the third-country national is legally present on the territory (including shot-term visa).

Fees

The administrative fee for procedure for granting temporary stay is EUR 46,45. The cost for issuing a biometric residence permit (in the form of a card) is EUR 31,85 for the normal procedure or EUR 59,73 for the accelerated procedure. An additional fee of EUR 9,29 should be added when issuing a biometric residence card, both for the normal and accelerated procedure.

Documents required

The application shall contain the following documents:

• a copy of the third-country national’s valid travel document,
• a colour photograph (30x35 mm),
• evidence that during the planned stay, students will have sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs and return travel costs,
• evidence of heath insurance,
• proof that they have not been convicted by a final ruling of any criminal offences in their home country or a country where they resided for more than one year immediately prior to arriving in the Republic of Croatia (for first permit, dully legalised),
• proof of enrolment in a higher education institution,
• if the third-country national is a minor, present a parental authorisation or an equivalent document for the planned stay.

Further requirements

Third-country nationals must not be subject to an entry and stay ban in the Republic of Croatia and must have no alert been issued in SIS for the purpose of banning their entry. Third-country nationals must not be considered a threat to public policy, national security or public health.

Duration of validity of permits

The temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies can be granted for the period of one year, or for the study duration if shorter.

A student covered by EU programmes or multilateral programmes covering mobility measures or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions can be granted a temporary stay for the purpose of studying for the period of validity of up to two years.

Condition for renewal

The application for the approval of the extension of the temporary stay permit must be submitted at a jurisdictional police administration/station according to the place of residence, no later than 60 days before the expiry of the validity of the existing temporary stay permit. A third-country national who has applied for the extension of a temporary stay permit before the expiry of the valid temporary stay permit may remain in the Republic of Croatia until the decision on his/her application becomes enforceable.

Appeals

No appeal shall be admissible against the decision of the Ministry.

However, an administrative judicial dispute may be instituted against all decisions (first application, family reunification, non-renewal or revocation) in line with the Act on Administrative Disputes, Official Gazette, 20/10, 143/12, 152/14, 94/16, 29/17 and 110/21. 

All written negative decisions shall include instructions on the legal remedy that shall inform on the possibility to lodge an administrative judicial dispute against the decision, before which body, in what time limit and in which manner.

Which are the competent courts?

Administrative courts (Administrative court in Zagreb, Administrative Court in Split, Administrative court in Rijeka, Administrative court in Osijek).

What are the timelines for making use of the dispute procedures?

In line with the Act on Administrative Disputes, Official Gazette, 20/10, 143/12, 152/14, 94/16, 29/17 and 110/21, the administrative dispute shall be submitted to the court within 30 days after the delivery of the written individual decision (first application, non-renewal or revocation), if not otherwise prescribed.

Further information

A student who has to exercise compulsory training within full-time course of study up to 90 days, through an authorised organisation or on the basis of Union programmes or multilateral programmes covering mobility measures or inter-university programmes does not have to regulate the temporary stay for study purposes and may work without the work and stay permit or certificate of work registration. A student who has to exercise compulsory training within full-time course of study that lasts more than 90 days is required to regulate the temporary stay.

The biometric residence permit (card) is issued only on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, in a competent police station/police administration.

If a third-country national requires a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia after the temporary stay was granted, he/she needs to apply for a long-term visa (visa D) in a diplomatic mission/consular office of the Republic of Croatia, or it may be issued by a diplomatic mission, namely the Consulate office of another State with which the Republic of Croatia has concluded a visa representation agreement.

3 days after the entry into the territory, third-country nationals need to register a short-term stay and provide their address in a police station/police administration.

Third-country nationals will be invited to give biometric data in a police station/police administration once on the territory of Croatia in order to be issued with a biometric residence permit (within 30 days after the issuance of a D-visa).

Rights

Employment during studies

Outside their study time, students are entitled to be employed and to exercise a self-employed economic activity for a maximum of 20 hours per week.

Stay and employment after studies

After the completion of studies, third country nationals have the possibility to stay on the territory for a period of one year and renewable for one more year in order to seek employment or set up a business.

Change of status

For every change of status, third-country nationals must, before the expiry of validity of a residence permit, submit a new application for a stay and work permit or for a residence permit on grounds as prescribed in legislation.

Long-term residence

For third-country nationals who have been granted a temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies, when applying for a long-term residence, only half of the time spent on grounds of the temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies shall be taken into account.

Mobility

A student who has a valid authorisation issued by another EEA Member State and is covered by a union programme or a multilateral programme involving mobility measures or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions may carry out part of his/her study at a higher education institution in the Republic of Croatia for a period of not more than 360 days, without the obligation to regulate a temporary stay for the purpose of study, if he/she poses no threat to public order, national security and public health.

When registering his/her place of residence (address), the student must inform the competent police administration or police station according to his/her place of stay about his/her intention to stay in the country for mobility purpose.

Required documents

• a written notice stating the length of the stay,
• a document proving that he/she has a valid authorisation to stay in another EEA Member State, and
• a document proving that he/she is covered by a union programme or a multilateral programme involving mobility measures or an agreement between two or more higher education institutions.

Certificate of mobility will be given to student.

Application fee

N/A