Page contents Page contents Conditions You can apply to be a volunteer in the Republic of Croatia if you take part in a voluntary service on the basis of an agreement with the entity/organisation responsible for the voluntary service (both within and outside European Solidarity corps (former EVS).If you are:volunteers under the international exchange and volunteer cooperation programmes, and if volunteering outside the international exchange programme, they are required to have an approval from the authority competent for carrying out voluntary service schemes, orvolunteers under voluntary services under the Erasmus+ Programme for Education, Training, Youth and Sport and its successors, European Solidarity Corps programmes, as well as other international programmes, and other programmes and initiatives carried out by ministries responsible for education, science and voluntary service (they do not have to provide proof that the host entity holds a third-party liability insurance policy).If you fulfil the conditions, you will be issued a stay and work permit. Procedures Where and how to applyAn application for the issuance of a stay and work permit may be submitted by: the host entity/company at a competent police administration or a police station,the third country national.If the third-country national submits and application, it can be done to: the diplomatic mission/consular office of the Republic of Croatia, orif he/she is not obliged to possess a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia, it can be done to a competent police administration/station in the territory of Croatia, if residing legally.FeesThe administrative fee for processing the residence and work permit is EUR 74,32. The cost for issuing a biometric residence permit (in the form of a card) is EUR 31,85 for the normal procedure or EUR 59,73 for the accelerated procedure. An additional fee of EUR 9,29 should be added when issuing a biometric residence card, both for the normal and accelerated procedure.The indicative processing time is 30-60 days for a stay and work permit.Documents requiredA copy of the third-country national’s valid travel document,a colour photograph (30x35 mm),evidence of heath insurance,evidence that during the planned stay, volunteers will have sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs (including return costs),proof that they have not been convicted by a final ruling of any criminal offences in their home country or a country where they resided for more than one year immediately prior to arriving in the Republic of Croatia (for first permits, dully legalised),an agreement concluded with the host entity registered in the Republic of Croatia,proof that the host entity has third-party liability insurance, unless they are coming in the framework of the European Solidarity Corps,if the third-country national is a minor, present a parental authorisation or an equivalent document for the planned stay.The applications for residence and work permits for third-country nationals who are volunteering outside the framework of an international exchange and volunteer cooperation programme shall be accompanied by the following:a copy of the third-country national’s valid travel document,a colour photograph (30x35 mm),evidence of adequate means of supporting himself/herself,evidence of heath insurance (please see conditions under general conditions),proof that they have not been convicted by a final ruling of any criminal offences in their home country or a country where they resided for more than one year immediately prior to arriving in the Republic of Croatia (for first permits, dully legalised),a volunteer agreement in accordance with the regulations governing volunteering, andproof that the host entity has third-party liability insurance.Further requirementsThe biometric residence permit (card) is issued only on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, in the competent police station/police administration.If a third-country national requires a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia after the stay and work permit was granted, he/she needs to apply for a long-term visa (visa D) in a diplomatic mission/consular office of the Republic of Croatia, or it may be issued by a diplomatic mission, namely the Consulate office of another State with which the Republic of Croatia has concluded a visa representation agreement.3 days after the entry into the territory, the third-country national needs to register a short-term stay and provide his/her address in a police station/police administration. Third-country nationals will be invited to give biometric data in a police station/police administration once on the territory of Croatia in order to be issued with a biometric residence permit (within 30 days after the issuance of a D-visa).Duration of validity of permits/visasThe stay and work permit shall be issued to a volunteer with validity of up to one year.Conditions for renewalA stay and work permit can be extended for a maximum of 12 more months, if required by EU programmes for volunteering. A stay and work permit can be extended for a maximum of six months, if it is required by the volunteer programme.An application for granting a prolonged temporary stay for the purpose of employment (stay and work permit) is submitted at a competent police administration/station according to the place of temporary residence or the registered office of the employer at least 60 days prior to the expiry of the valid temporary stay and work permit.AppealsNo appeal shall be admissible against the decision of the Ministry.However, an administrative judicial dispute may be instituted against all decisions in line with the Act on Administrative Disputes, Official Gazette, 20/10, 143/12, 152/14, 94/16, 29/17 and 110/21.All written negative decisions shall include instructions on the legal remedy that shall inform on the possibility to lodge an administrative judicial dispute against the decision, before which body, in what time limit and in which manner.Which are the competent courts?Administrative courts (Administrative court in Zagreb, Administrative Court in Split, Administrative court in Rijeka, Administrative court in Osijek).What are the timelines for making use of the dispute procedures?In line with the Act on Administrative Disputes, Official Gazette, 20/10, 143/12, 152/14, 94/16, 29/17 and 110/21, the administrative dispute shall be submitted to the court within 30 days after the delivery of the written individual decision (first application or revocation), if not otherwise prescribed. Rights Change of statusA volunteer may apply for the issuance of a new authorisation for a temporary stay for another purpose, e.g. family reunification at the police department or police station, if the residence permit is still valid.Family membersA family member can regulate a temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification under the terms on the ‘Family members’ page.Long-term residenceTime under a stay and work permit for the purpose of volunteering does not count towards long-term residence. Links More informationRelevant legislative act: The Aliens Act (Official Gazette, Number: 133/20, 114/22, 151/22) - English version (only version Official Gazette, Number: 133/20).Ordinance on the Status and Labour of third-country nationals in the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette, Number: 20/2022, 155/22) and amendments (Croatian language only).
