The new Amended Regulation on the status of foreigners in the Republic of Croatia has been published in the Official Gazette No 36/2009 (Narodne Novine) on 23/03/09 and is valid as of 30/03/09.

Please note that further clarification of the new Regulation should be sought at Ministry of Interior, Department for Foreigners. British citizens do not need a visa for tourist stays of up to for 3 months (90 days) in every 6 months, counted from the first day of arrival into the country.

In the course of the initial 6 months British citizens can go in and out of Croatia as long as they have days left out of the 90 days (you should either de-register and register with the local police each time you leave the country/ come back, or insist on having stamps in your passport). British citizens intending to stay in Croatia for longer than 90 days must apply for temporary residence permit before the 90 days are up.

The temporary residence permit is entered into the passport, which has to be valid for at least 3 months longer than the period the permit is issued for.

The Aliens Act (in English), application forms for residence as well as explanations regarding different types of residence can be found on the official Ministry of Interior website (link above).

One of the differences is  that applications for the first temporary residence  have to be submitted  at Croatian Embassies/Consulates outside Croatia. Applications for  renewal of a temporary residence permit is to be applied for at the nearest police station according to the place of residence (check in advance if your nearest police station receives such applications).

The basic list of documents needed for residence is:

• the original British passport
• a fresh copy of the Birth Certificate (not older than 3 months, with the apostille stamp on it)

Copies of Birth Certificates are obtainable at the local register offices or the General Register Office (GRO) in Southport- for births in England and Wales look at the GRO for England and Wales, for births in Scotland look at the GRO for Scotland and for births in Northern Ireland look at GRO for Northern Ireland.

Apostille stamp for documents issued in the UK can be obtained only from the Legalisation Office, Norfolk House (West), 437 Silbury Avenue, Milton Keynes, MK9 2AH, Tel 01908 295 111,  Fax 01908 295 122.

• Proof of health insurance (a letter from your insurance company or confirmation that you are paying health contributions in Croatia Croatian Institute for Health, Zagreb main office T. 01 4806 333)
• Letter of no criminal record (obtainable from the UK or the country where the person lived. If you lived in the London area, you can apply online at the Metropolitan Police, look for form 3019B, Tel no 020 7230 1212 (the process of obtaining the letter can take up to 40 days.) If you lived outside London please contact the local police in the town where you lived. Sometimes the police in Croatia want to see the apostille stamp on this document as well.

NB  Please check with the local police Department for foreigners or the nearest Croatian Embassy for the full list of documents that will be required in your case since all applications are looked at individually according to the applicant's circumstances

For any further details regarding the law, applying for residence permits, list of documents etc please see the above Ministry of Interior website or contact the nearest Croatian Embassy/Consulate or the police stations if in Croatia.

If you are having problems with residence in Croatia you may also wish to directly contact the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at stranci@mvpei.hr or the Ministry of Interior at pitanja@mup.hr or javnost@mup.hr.

The address of the Croatian Embassy in London is 21 Conway Street, W1T 6BN, T 020 7387 1144, F 020 7387 0936.

The contact details of the mainPolice Department for Foreigners in Zagreb are: Petrinjska 30, 10000 Zagreb; T (01) 4563 111 (switchboard).