Long-Term Residence (Dugotrajno boravište)

To qualify for this status, you must meet strict residency, financial, and integration thresholds.

1. The Five-Year Residency Rule

You must have lived in Croatia for a continuous period of five years before you can apply. This clock starts from the date your first temporary residence permit was issued.

• Absence Limits: Your stay is only considered "continuous" if you have not been outside of Croatia for more than 6 months at once or more than 10 months total over the five-year period.
• Permit Types: Time spent on work permits or family reunification permits counts 100% toward the five years.
• Student Limitations: If you were in Croatia on a student permit, only 50% (half) of that time counts toward the five-year requirement.
• Exclusions: Time spent as a seasonal worker, a "digital nomad" (stay of digital nomads), or a posted worker generally does not count toward long-term residence.

2. Financial Stability and Health

You must prove you have "stable and regular" resources to support yourself and any dependents. This means you cannot be reliant on the Croatian social welfare system. Additionally, you must maintain valid health insurance, typically through the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO).

3. Language and Culture

You must demonstrate a basic command of the Croatian language and the Latin script. This is usually verified through a formal exam. Under the 2025 legislative updates, there is increased scrutiny on integration, making this requirement a critical hurdle for applicants.

4. Security Clearance

You must not pose a threat to public order or national security. As part of the process, the Security and Intelligence Agency (SOA) will conduct a background check.