PERMANENT RESIDENCE

A foreigner holding a permanent residence permit is entitled to:

1. work, job placement services, and unemployment benefits;
2. education and professional development;
3. recognition of diplomas and certificates;
4. social assistance, health, and pension insurance;
5. tax benefits, in accordance with the law;
6. access to the market of goods and services;
7. freedom of association, affiliation, and membership in organizations representing the interests of workers or employers.

Permanent residence may be granted to a third-country national who:

1. Is a family member or life partner of a Croatian citizen and, at the time of submitting the application, has had continuous temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification or life partnership for four years;
2. Is a member of the Croatian people with foreign citizenship or without citizenship, whose status is confirmed by a certificate issued by the state administration body responsible for relations with Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia, and who has been determined to have returned with the intention of permanently residing in the Republic of Croatia, and who, at the time of submitting the application, has had continuous temporary residence for three years;
3. Has had continuous temporary residence for three years until the date of submitting the application and has been in refugee status for at least ten years, which is confirmed by a certificate issued by the state administration body responsible for housing solutions;
4. Is a minor child who, until the date of submitting the application for permanent residence, has had continuous temporary residence for three years for the purpose of family reunification, and one of the parents has been granted permanent residence or long-term residence;
5. Had domicile in the Republic of Croatia on October 8, 1991, and is a beneficiary of a return or resettlement program or housing solution, confirmed by a certificate issued by the state administration body responsible for housing solutions, and who has been determined to have returned with the intention of permanently residing in the Republic of Croatia, with the obligation to submit proof of non-conviction from the home country or the country where they resided for more than a year immediately before coming to the Republic of Croatia;
6. Is a minor child living in the Republic of Croatia:
   • Whose one parent, at the time of the child’s birth, has been granted permanent residence or long-term residence with the consent of the other parent;
   • Whose one parent, at the time of the child’s birth, has been granted permanent residence or long-term residence in the Republic of Croatia, and the other parent is unknown, deceased, declared dead, deprived of parental care, or fully or partially incapacitated in terms of parental care;
7. Was born in the Republic of Croatia and has lived in the territory of the Republic of Croatia since birth, but due to justified reasons beyond their control, did not have regulated residence.
   
   

The third-country national submits an application for approval of permanent residence to the police administration or police station according to the place of residence, and the Ministry of the Interior decides on the application.