Trainee in Croatia

Conditions

You can apply to carry out a traineeship in the Republic of Croatia if you obtained a degree of higher education within the two years preceding the date of their application or of pursuing a course of study in a third country that leads to a higher education degree. You must have a training agreement with a host entity/company in the Republic of Croatia.

If you fulfil the conditions, you will be issued a stay and work permit.

Procedures

Where and how to apply

An 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 an application, it can be done to: 

• the diplomatic mission/consular office of the Republic of Croatia, or
• if 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. 

Fees

The 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 is30-60 days for a stay and work permit.

Documents required

• A copy of the third-country national’s valid travel document,
• a colour photograph (30x35 mm),
• evidence that during the planned stay, the trainee will have sufficient resources to cover subsistence costs (including return travel costs),
• evidence of heath insurance,
• a document proving that he/she has not been convicted of criminal offences by a final ruling, which has been issued by his/her home country or a country in which he/she has resided for more than a year immediately prior to arriving in the Republic of Croatia (dully legalised),
• an agreement on training with the host entity which provides for theoretical and practical training, comprising: a description of the training programme, including an educational or learning component, the duration of the traineeship, the conditions of implementation and supervision of the traineeship, traineeship hours and the legal relationship between the trainee and the host entity,
• evidence of the acquisition of a higher education qualification within two years preceding the date of submission of the application or evidence of an ongoing study with a view to obtaining a qualification of the higher education level.

Third-country nationals must not be subject to an entry and stay ban in the Republic of Croatia and must have no alert been issued in SIS for the purpose of banning their entry. Third-country nationals must not be considered a threat to public policy, national security or public health. 

Further requirements

The 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 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/visas

A stay and work permit can be issued to a trainee with a period of validity of up to six months.

Conditions for renewal

It may be extended for a maximum of another six months if this is necessary to complete his/her traineeship.

Appeals

No appeal shall be admissible against the decision of the Ministry. 

However, an administrative judicial dispute may be instituted against all decisions (first application, non-renewal or revocation) in line with the Act on Administrative Disputes, Official Gazette, 20/10, 143/12, 152/14, 94/16, 9/17 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, non-renewal or revocation), if not otherwise prescribed.

Rights

Change of status

The trainee may submit in the police department or police station an application for the issuance of a new authorisation for a temporary stay for another purpose, e.g. family reunification, if possessing a valid residence permit.

Family members

A family member can regulate a temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification under the terms listed on the ‘Family members’ page and also here.

Long-term residence

Time spent under a stay and work permit for the purpose of training will not count towards long-term residence.