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Guidance

Living in Croatia

Information about moving to, living or retiring in Croatia – including visas, working, healthcare and driving.

From:
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Published
23 January 2020
Last updated
11 December 2025 — See all updates

Getting help with living in Croatia

Help from the Croatian government

For any questions about moving to or living in Croatia, you may be able to get help from the:

The UK government and the British Embassy in Zagreb cannot give personalised advice on moving to, living or retiring in Croatia.

Professional help in Croatia

You can also get help from English-speaking professionals in Croatia, including:

  • lawyers
  • translators
  • notaries
  • funeral directors

Help from the UK government

Read the travel advice for Croatia to understand the risks you may face if you live in or visit Croatia. This includes the latest information on:

  • visas and entry requirements
  • laws and cultural differences
  • safety and security

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad.

, including in an emergency.

Visas, residency and citizenship

Make sure you meet the entry requirements for Croatia before you travel.

Visas and residence permits

Check which you need to live in Croatia. 

You can get a visa to:

  • work, including as a digital nomad
  • study
  • live with family in Croatia
  • do research

For more information, read the Croatian government’s guidance on .

Registering as a resident

Once you arrive, you need to register your address in Croatia at your local police station. For more information, read:

If you have any problems or questions about registering your address, contact:

  • your
  • an

Extending or replacing your visa or residence permit

Contact the for information on how to:

  • extend your visa or residence permit
  • replace a lost, damaged or stolen visa or residence permit

Permanent residency

You may be able to apply for permanent residency in Croatia if you have lived there legally and continuously for at least 5 years.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to apply, read the Croatian Ministry of the Interior’s guidance on .

Citizenship

Croatia recognises dual citizenship with the UK. This means that you do not have to give up (renounce) your British citizenship to become a Croatian citizen.

To find out if you’re eligible for Croatian citizenship:

  • read the Croatian Ministry of the Interior’s guidance on
  • contact the

Help with visa, residency and citizenship applications

The British Embassy in Zagreb cannot help with Croatian visa, residency or citizenship applications.

For any questions or issues, contact:

  • the
  • the
  • an

Residency if you moved to Croatia before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Croatia before 1 January 2021, and have been legally living there since then, you and your family members have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

Residence documents if you moved to Croatia before 1 January 2021

If you moved to Croatia before 1 January 2021, make sure you have a new Withdrawal Agreement biometric residence card (‘Dozvola boravka’).  This shows that you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. Read the Croatian government’s for more information.

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES), you’ll need a Withdrawal Agreement residence card when entering or leaving Croatia. If you have one, you will not have to register with the EES when . Without it, you may be wrongly identified as overstaying in the Schengen area and denied entry to Croatia or other Schengen countries.

If you do not have a residence document

If you were living in Croatia before 1 January 2021, but do not have a new Withdrawal Agreement biometric residence card (‘Dozvola boravka’), you must apply for one.

Read the Croatian government’s for details on how to apply. You’ll need to submit evidence to prove that you met the residency criteria at the time.

If your application is successful, you’ll get a ‘Dozvola boravka’ biometric residence card.

If your application is unsuccessful, you may be able to appeal. The police will send you a refusal notice with details of how to appeal. Consider getting legal advice from an .

Renewing your residence document if you moved to Croatia before 1 January 2021

You’ll need to renew your Withdrawal Agreement biometric residence card before it expires.

Contact your for information on how to renew your residence card.  

Bringing family members to Croatia if you moved there before 1 January 2021

The Croatian government’s explains:

  • which family members can join you in Croatia
  • how and when they should apply for their residence document

Passports and travel

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • apply for a British passport from abroad
  • travel urgently without your British passport

If you have a Croatian residence permit or long stay visa, the time you spend in Croatia does not count towards the 90-day visa-free period you can spend in the Schengen area.

Always carry your passport and residence document when . If you’re asked to show your passport at border control, make sure you also show your residence document or other evidence of residence status. Your passport may be stamped if you do not.

If you have dual citizenship with an EU or country, you should enter and leave Croatia using your EU or EFTA passport.

Dual citizens travelling to the UK 

When travelling to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passportĚý´Ç°ůĚýcertificate of entitlement. Read guidance on dual citizenship.

European Entry/Exit System (EES)

Under the new digital Entry/Exit System (EES) there are new rules for . Non-EU nationals will need to have their photo and fingerprints taken or verified at the border. This data will be stored in a digital record and used to monitor how long visitors have spent in the Schengen area.

British nationals legally resident in Croatia, and who have a biometric residence card, do not need to register with the EES.

If you’re legally resident in Croatia but do not have a biometric residence card, contact your for information on how to get one.

For more information about the EES, read:

Healthcare in Croatia

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • plan your healthcare
  • take medicine abroad

is compulsory in Croatia.

To find out how to get medical treatment:

Working in Croatia

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers working abroad, including documents you may need from the UK government.

To work in Croatia, you may need a work permit or work visa. Our guidance on travelling to Croatia for work explains the different work permits and visas available to you. 

You do not need a work permit or visa if you have been living in Croatia legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

To apply for a job, you may need to provide a .

If you live in Croatia and were regularly commuting to work in another EU or country before 1 January 2021, read guidance for frontier workers.

Recognition of qualifications

If you want to work in Croatia, you may need to .

Driving in Croatia

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • drive abroad legally
  • take your UK vehicle abroad
  • get driving licence letters

The Croatian government provides information on driving in Croatia, including:

For more information read guidance on:

Driving in Croatia using a foreign driving licence

You can drive in Croatia for up to 12 months using a driving licence issued in:

  • the UK
  • Gibraltar
  • Jersey
  • Guernsey
  • the Isle of Man

You cannot replace or renew any of these licences if you live in Croatia. 

Exchanging a UK, Gibraltar, Jersey, Guernsey or Isle of Man driving licence

To continue driving after 12 months, you must .

You cannot make the exchange until you have been resident in Croatia for at least 185 days. You should apply for the exchange before the 12 months is over. Applications may take time to process, and you’ll need your Croatian licence to drive legally. 

If you were living in Croatia before 1 January 2021, read the information on driving licences in the Croatian government’s .

Applying for a Croatian driving licence

If your driving licence has expired or will expire in less than 6 months, you cannot exchange it. You can apply for a as a non-EU national.

You will need to pass a theory test and practical driving test.    

Disabled drivers

You may be able to apply for:

  • an
  • a

If you have a UK Blue Badge and live in Croatia, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.

Tax

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers tax, including paying UK tax and National Insurance. 

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Croatia so that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries.

Contact the for any questions about double taxation relief.

Consider getting professional advice on . To do this, find an .

National Insurance

Check if you need to pay National Insurance if you’re going to work in the EU, Gibraltar, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.

Pensions

Claiming your UK pension

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • how to claim your UK State Pension
  • where the UK government pays an annual increase in the State Pension

Your UK State Pension is calculated differently if you’ve previously lived in Australia, Canada or New Zealand and now live in the EU.

Claiming a Croatian pension

Contact the to find out whether you can claim a .

Benefits

Claiming UK benefits

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to claim UK benefits abroad, including Child Benefit. 

You can also read guidance on benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

Claiming Croatian benefits

You may be entitled to some Croatian benefits.

To find out if you’re eligible and how to claim:

  • read the Croatian government’s guidance on

Buying and renting property in Croatia

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers buying and renting property abroad. 

You can also read the Croatian government’s guidance on:

Contact an if you’re considering buying property or land.

Voting in Croatia

UK elections

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • vote in UK elections from abroad
  • register as an overseas voter

Croatian elections

You cannot vote in Croatian elections unless you hold Croatian citizenship.

You also cannot vote in European elections unless you hold citizenship of an EU country.

Studying in Croatia

If you plan to study in Croatia, you must meet all before you travel.

You do not need a student visa if you have been living in Croatia legally since before 1 January 2021, as you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.

For more information, read guidance on:

You can also contact:

  • your higher education provider in the UK or Croatia
  • the
  • the

Children

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers moving abroad with children, including:

  • getting permission to take your child abroad
  • claiming UK Child Benefit abroad
  • child maintenance payments if a parent lives abroad

Schools and education

The European Commission provides information about the .

All children must attend school in Croatia from the age of 6 or 7 until they are 14 or 15, depending on their birth month.

For more information, read the Croatian government’s guidance on .

Childcare

The is responsible for .

For more information about childcare and parental benefits in Croatia, read the .

Births, deaths, marriages and civil partnerships

Births

If your child is born in Croatia, .

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to:

  • register the birth with the UK authorities to get a UK birth certificate
  • apply for your child’s first British passport

Deaths

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers:

  • what to do after someone dies abroad
  • how to register the death with the UK authorities

If someone dies in Croatia, read guidance on:

Marriages and civil partnerships

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get married or form a civil partnership abroad. 

The Croatian government’s guidance on provides information on how to:

  • register an or in Croatia

Divorce and separation

Read our guidance on moving, living or retiring abroad. This covers how to get a divorce or end a civil partnership.  

The Croatian government offers guidance on and .

Consider taking legal advice from an .

Documents for British people in Croatia

Read our guidance on documents for British people abroad. This covers: 

  • legalising and certifying UK documents
  • marriage and civil partnership documents
  • affirmations and affidavits
  • witnessing signatures

Lawyers, translators and notaries

To find an English-speaking lawyer, translator or notary in Croatia, read guidance on professional services if you’re abroad.

Pets

If you want to bring your pet with you to Croatia, read guidance on:

Returning to the UK

Read returning to the UK permanently. This includes information on bringing family members back to the UK, tax and access to services.

If the NHS funds your healthcare in Croatia through the S1 form, to cancel it.

Disclaimer

We provide this information as a guide only. For definitive information, contact the Croatian authorities.

Read our consular information disclaimer.

Updates to this page

Published 23 January 2020
Last updated 11 December 2025 show all updates

  1. Added new information about dual citizens travelling to the UK ('Passports and travel' section).

  2. Rewrote guide to make it easier to read and understand.

  3. Information on visas and residency if you were living in Croatia before 1 January 2021 and on passports and travel has been updated.

  4. Important information in the Working in Croatia, and National insurance sections if you work in Croatia, even it if it is for an employer based in the UK.

  5. Updated 'Visas and residency if you were living in Croatia before 1 January 2021' section with information about the appeals process if your application for the 'dozvola boravka' is refused. Updated the 'Driving in Croatia' section with information about how to register a vehicle in Croatia.

  6. Guide reviewed and updated, including in the driving licences, births, deaths and marriages and pets sections.

  7. Guidance reviewed for people who are moving or moved to Croatia after 1 January 2021. Following the residency application deadline, it also includes sub-sections relevant to people living there since before 1 January 2021.

  8. Updated information for accommodation and buying property

  9. Healthcare section updated including guidance on the S1 form and applying for EHIC and GHIC cards; working in Croatia section updated with link to Department for International Trade (DIT) guidance on working or providing services and guidance on recognition of professional qualifications.

  10. Coronavirus section updated with a link to guidance on vaccines

  11. Updated as the transition period ends with new information on residency, pet travel and moving to Croatia.

  12. Passports and travel section updated on carrying proof of residence when travelling

  13. Healthcare section updated on how to apply for a new UK EHIC as a student or S1 holder. Working section updated with information on frontier workers.

  14. Passports and travel section updated to include information on passport validity and entry requirements when travelling to other European countries from January 2021

  15. Brexit update: includes further details on passport validity, healthcare rights and State Pension uprating if the UK leaves the EU with a deal.

  16. First published.

  17. Brexit update: healthcare section updated to reflect transitional arrangements announcement

  18. Brexit update: Pensions section updated to include further details on State Pension uprating.

  19. EU Exit update: added in latest information to passports and returning to the UK section

  20. EU Exit update: New information in Living in Croatia guide

  21. We have updated the contact details you need to apply for an S1 form.

  22. EU Exit update: visas and residency; applying for Croatian citizenship and driving licences sections updated.

  23. EU Exit update on residency, citizenship and driving licences.

  24. EU Exit update - Updated information on access to healthcare

  25. EU Exit update: updated information on pensions and driving

  26. EU Exit update: New information in residency and visa section on draft withdrawal agreement in principle between the UK and EU. Plus information on travelling with pets in Europe in pet section

  27. Complete revision of guidance to ensure it's up to date and accurate.

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