Stay and work

​Third-country nationals

Third-country nationals are aliens who are not nationals of the Member States of the European Economic Area (the European Union, the Principality of Liechtenstein, the Kingdom of Norway, and the Republic of Iceland) or nationals of the Swiss Confederation.

The Aliens Act (Official Gazette No 133/2020, 114/2022, 151/2022) prescribes the conditions for the entry, movement and stay, and work of third-country nationals.

Stay of third-country nationals

Third-country nationals may stay in the Republic of Croatia:
  • up to 90 days in any 180-day period in Schengen area– short-term stay
  • up to a year – temporary stay
  • indefinitely – permanent stay and long-term residence.

A short-term stay is a stay of third-country nationals defined by Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399 of 9 March 2016). A stay in the territory of any of the Member States of the Schengen area is counted as days in short-term stay up to 90 days in any period of 180 days.


Do you need a visa?