Long-term residence (EU) and permanent stay
Official name: Dugotrajno boravište / stalni boravak
Foreigners who have lived in Croatia legally for 5 years can get EU long-term residence if they have means, health insurance and pass a Croatian language and Latin script test. Permanent stay is a separate status for family members of Croatian citizens (after 4 years), Croatians from abroad (after 3 years), some refugees and children.
Life in Croatia
Finance
3
Currency
Euro
EUR
Euro
Cost of living
59
Price level · US = 100
World Bank price levels, 2025
Tax
15–33%
Income tax (national)
VAT 25%
Local governments set a lower rate (15-23%) up to EUR 60,000 a year and a higher rate (25-33%) above it; default 20%/30% if no decision. Basic personal allowance applies.
Living
1
Happiness
#68 of 145 countries
World Happiness Report 2025
Your edge here Premium
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Long-term foreign residents of Croatia, family of Croatian citizens, people of Croatian origin.
Eligibility
Long-term residence: 5 yearsLong-term residence
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need five years of legal stay in Croatia right before applying, with limits on absences and some stays not counting.
Time limits
- Legal stay requiredimmediately before applying
- 5 years
- Absences in totalmaximum
- 10 months
- Absence at oncemaximum
- 6 months
- Counts: temporary stay, asylum or subsidiary protection
- University study counts half
- Time as a protection applicant counts half, or all if over 18 months
- Seasonal, posted, intra-corporate transfer stays and prison time do not count
Official wording
Five years of legal stay immediately before applying (temporary stay, asylum or subsidiary protection), with absences of no more than 10 months in total or 6 months at once. University study counts half; time as a protection applicant counts half (all of it if over 18 months). Seasonal, posted and intra-corporate transfer stays and prison time do not count.
Long-term residence: means, insurance, languageLong-term residence
Sign in to check this route against your profileShow means of subsistence, health insurance, and knowledge of Croatian and the Latin script.
- Language test is by approved faculties and institutions
- Exempt: preschool children
- Exempt: people schooled in Croatia
- Exempt: people over 65 unless employed
Official wording
Means of subsistence, health insurance, and knowledge of Croatian and the Latin script (test by approved faculties and institutions). Exempt: preschool children, people schooled in Croatia, people over 65 unless employed.
Permanent stay: family of Croatian citizensFamily of Croatian citizens
Sign in to check this route against your profileYou need four years of uninterrupted temporary stay for family reunification or life partnership with a Croatian citizen.
4 years
Required stay
Official wording
Four years of uninterrupted temporary stay for family reunification or life partnership with a Croatian citizen.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirement
- Document checklist
- Fees
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- 2 more requirements
- 4 documents
- 4 fees
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
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