Croatia Student stay

Temporary stay for study at a Croatian higher education institution, with the right to work up to 25 hours a week. ^{1 2 3 4 5 6 7}

What you must show and pay

• Income of at least EUR 362.25 a month (≈ $400) · Monthly means of at least 25% of the previous year's average monthly net pay (Regulation Art. 3(1)); EUR 362.25 (≈ $400) on the 2025 average of EUR 1,449 (≈ $1,620). Proof of a scholarship can replace it. ^{5 6}
• Savings of at least EUR 869.4 (≈ $970) · Funds for the return journey of at least 60% of the previous year's average monthly net pay (Regulation Art. 3(2)); EUR 869.40 (≈ $970) on the 2025 average. ^{5 6}
• A fee of EUR 46.45 (≈ $52) · Administrative fee for temporary stay when the application is filed at a police administration or station. ¹
• A fee of EUR 31.85 (≈ $36) · Production of the biometric residence permit (EUR 59.73 (≈ $67) for the accelerated procedure); EUR 9.29 (≈ $10) more is paid for its issuance. ¹

Requirements

• The student is admitted to a Croatian higher education institution. ^{2 1 4}
• Monthly means of at least 25% of the average monthly net pay of the previous year, EUR 362.25 (≈ $400) on the 2025 average, or proof of a scholarship. ^{5 6}
• Funds for return of at least 60% of the average monthly net pay, EUR 869.40 (≈ $970) on the 2025 average. ^{5 6}
• A valid travel document, health insurance and proof of enrolment or admission. ^{1 4}
• On a first application, proof of no criminal conviction in the home country or country of residence of over a year. ¹
• Apply at a Croatian mission; students from visa-required countries studying at a university can apply at the police. ¹
• The permit is issued for up to a year, or for the programme length up to three years with enrolment confirmation each year by 31 October. ⁴
• The student may work up to 25 hours a week (student jobs, employment or self-employment) without a work permit. ⁴
• Half of the study time counts towards long-term residence. ⁷

Stay

• Temporary stay for up to one year, or for the study programme up to three years with annual enrolment confirmation by 31 October; mobility-programme students get up to two years. Half of the study time counts towards long-term residence.
• First stay: up to 36 months, decided case by case.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals (non EU/EEA/Swiss); nationals who need a visa apply at a Croatian mission or, for university study, at the police. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

May work, as an employee, student-job worker or self-employed, up to 25 hours a week without a work permit; study-integral internships are excepted.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Temporary stay of third-country nationals · Ministry of the Interior of Croatia · checked 2026-10-11
2. Stay and work · Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia · checked 2026-10-10
3. Work of third-country nationals · Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia · checked 2026-10-10
4. Aliens Act, consolidated text with euro amounts (NN 133/20, 114/22, 151/22, 40/25, 55/26), Article 113 · Zakon.hr (consolidated Narodne novine texts) · checked 2026-10-11
5. Regulation on the calculation and amount of means of subsistence for third-country nationals (NN 14/2021, consolidated) · Zakon.hr (consolidated Narodne novine texts) · checked 2026-10-11
6. Average monthly net and gross earnings in 2025: net EUR 1,449, gross EUR 2,016 · Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-01-01
7. Long-term residence and permanent stay · Ministry of the Interior of Croatia · checked 2026-10-10