Are you a non-EU citizen wishing to study in Croatia? You can find information below on the conditions to fulfil and procedures to follow, as well as the rights you can enjoy during your stay.
Foreigners 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.
Where and how to apply
| Foreigners apply in person at a diplomatic mission/consular office of the Republic of Croatia or at a police administration/station according to the place of their intended stay. | |
Documents required | The application shall contain the following documents:
|
Duration of validity of permits | The temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies shall be granted for the period of up to one year, or until the end of the academic year. |
| Further requirements | The application for the approval of the extention of the temporary stay permit shall be submitted at a jurisdictional police administration/station according to the place of stay, no later than 60 days before the expiry of the validity of the existing temporary stay permit. |
Appeals | A police administration/station decision may be appealed within 15 days from the date of the service of the decision. The decision shall be reached by the Review Commission which deals with appeals concerning the procedures applied under the provisions of the Foreigners Act. |
Further information | The training by a foreigner who has been granted a temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies shall not be considered as work within the meaning of the provisions of this Act. |
Change of employment
| N/A | |
| Employment during research | N/A |
| Employment after research | N/A |
| Long-term residence | Foreigners who have been granted a temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies, at the time pending the approval of a permanent stay permit under the Foreigners Act, Article 92 (2) (temporary stay permit granted for an uninterrupted period of 5 years), only half of the time spent on grounds of the temporary stay permit for the purpose of university studies shall be taken into account. |
If you have a permit/visa for studies in an EU country and are covered by an EU or multilateral programme or an agreement between universities, you may carry out part of your studies and work (in addition to your studies) in the Republic of Croatia if you fulfil certain requirements. You may reside and study in the Republic of Croatia for up to 360 days.
If you are not covered by a programme or agreement, you can apply for a new permit in the Republic of Croatia (please see here and here).
Procedure
A student who has a valid authorisation issued by another EEA Member State and 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 their 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. The student will inform the competent police administration or police station according to the place of residence on the intention of stay when registering for a short stay.
Documents required
The student will inform the competent police administration or police station according to the place of residence during the registration of a short stay, in such a way that he
she will provide:
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. After entering data, the certificate of mobility application will be printed from the Ministry of Interior’s information system.
Applicable fee
N/A
Allowed number of working hours/days
Students can work and self-employ for a maximum of 15 hours per week, without the obligation to provide the stay and work permit or certificate of work registration.
Other information
If third-country nationals acquired higher education level in the Republic of Croatia:
Temporary residence for other purposes in order to seek employment or to establish a company or to register a craft may be granted to a third-country national who, in addition to fulfilling the general conditions (demonstrates the purpose of residence, has a valid travel document, has the means to supporting himself, has health insurance, no prohibition of entry and stay in the Republic of Croatia and poses no danger to public order, national security or public health) provides evidence of the acquired higher education level in the Republic of Croatia.