Living in Croatia

Coronavirus

You should follow the advice of the Croatian Government and your local authority. You can also read our Croatia travel advice for our latest guidance.

For information on getting a COVID-19 vaccine as a UK national in Croatia see our coronavirus travel advice.

Stay up to date

You should:

• sign up to email alerts to this guide
• follow the British Embassy Zagreb on Facebook and Twitter

You can also:

• readattend thefuture Croatianevents government’sfor guidanceUK onnationals theacross UK’sCroatia; withdrawalcheck fromprevious the EUevents
• read the MinistryCroatian ofgovernment’s Interior’s guidance for UK nationals on residency,the drivingUK’s andwithdrawal frontierfrom workersthe EU

The Withdrawal Agreement

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January 2020.

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Any arights fine,that thoughare yournot rightscovered underby the Withdrawal Agreement will not be affected.the subject of future negotiations. Read this guidance page for more information.

ReadIn the Croatianmeantime, government’smake sure you are registered as a resident in Croatia. We will update this guidance onas residencesoon rightsas andmore howinformation tobecomes applyavailable.

You should also read our guidance on living in Europe.

Moving

Visas toand Croatia

residency

Check the entry requirements for Croatia.

Passports and travel

Residency

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Passports

Check your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip. Your passport should be valid for the proposed duration of your stay.

You can apply for or renew your British passport from Croatia.

Passports from 1 January 2021

YouCheck your passport is valid for travel before you book your trip.

From 1 January 2021, you must have at least 6 months left on an adult or child passport to travel to most countries in Europe (not including Ireland). This requirement does not apply if you are entering or transiting to Croatia, and you are in scope of the Withdrawal Agreement.

If you renewed your current passport before the previous one expired, extra months may have been added to its expiry date. Any extra months on your passport over 10 years may not count towards the 6 months needed.

You will need to Renewrenew your passport before youtravelling book your travel if you do not have enough time left on your passport.

As a non-EEA national, different border checks will apply when travelling to other EU or Schengen area countries. You may haveneed to useshow separatea lanesreturn fromor EU,onward EEAticket and Swissthat citizensyou whenhave queueing.enough money for your stay. You may also needhave to showuse aseparate returnlanes orfrom onwardEU, ticketEEA and thatSwiss youcitizens havewhen enoughqueueing. moneyYour passport may be stamped for yourvisits stay.to these countries.

Entry requirements

YouFrom can1 January 2021, you will be able to travel to other Schengen area countries for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa for purposes such as tourism.

To stayThis longeris thana 90rolling days180-day inperiod.

To anystay 180-dayfor period,longer, to work or study, or for business travel, you mustwill need to meet the entry requirements set out by the country to which you are travellingtravelling. to. This could mean applying for a visa or work permit. You may also need to get a visa if your visit would take you over the 90 days in 180 days limit.

Periods of timestay authorised byunder a visa or permit will not count towardsagainst yourthe 90-day visa-free limit. Travel to the UK and the Ireland will not change.

Different rules will apply to EU countries that are not part of the Schengen Area. Check each country’s travel advice page for information on entry requirements.

Driving in Croatia

TravelDriving tolicence therules UKwill andstay Irelandthe hassame notuntil changed.

Driving31 inDecember Croatia

2020.

If you are resident in Croatia, you should exchange your UK licence for a Croatian one. You can still use your Croatian licence in the UK for short visits or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test if you return to live in the UK.

You should exchange your driving licence at the nearest police station. You can do this if you have either an approved temporary or permanent residence in Croatia. To exchange your licence, you will need the following:

• your original UK driving licence and translation
• payment slip
• administrative fee
• a 35 x 45 mm photograph

Other documentation may be required.

For information on driving in Croatia, you should read the guidance on:

• what you need to drive abroad
• road travel in Croatia
• driving licence renewal and exchange

Driving in the UK with a Croatian licence

You can use your Croatian licence in the UK for short visits, or exchange it for a UK licence without taking a test.

Bringing a UK-registered vehicle to Croatia

Read our guidance on taking a vehicle out of the UK.

You can read the European Union’s guidance on car registration and taxes in Croatia. You may be exempt from some of these taxes. If so you will need certificates of exemption.

Healthcare

ReadIf ouryou guidanceare onliving healthcare in Croatia andor makemove surethere youpermanently arebefore correctly31 registered.

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Read howour toguidance on who can access healthcare asin aCroatia postedand workerhow to register.

State healthcare: S1

If you havelive a registered S1 form and were living in Croatia beforeand 1receive Januaryan 2021,exportable yourUK rightspension, tocontribution-based accessEmployment healthcareSupport willAllowance stayor theanother sameexportable ifbenefit, you aremay either:

• receivingcurrently abe UKentitled Stateto Pension
• receivingstate somehealthcare otherpaid ‘exportablefor benefits’
• aby frontierthe workerUK. whoYou livesmust inapply Croatiafor anda commutescertificate toof workentitlement inknown theas UK

an S1 certificate.

Read our guidance on usinghow to get an S1 form in Croatia to ensure you are correctly registered for healthcare..

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are resident in Croatia, you must not use your UK-issued EHIC forfrom the UK to access healthcare in Croatia.

IfWhen you weretravel livingfrom in Croatia beforefor 1a Januarytemporary 2021,stay youin mayanother beEuropean eligibleEconomic forArea a(EEA) newcountry UK-issuedor EHICSwitzerland, ifyou you’re:

• acan UKuse studentan inEHIC Croatia
• ato UKaccess Statestate-provided Pensionerhealthcare within athat registeredcountry. S1
During that short stay.
• athe frontierEHIC workercovers withtreatment athat registeredis S1

Applymedically nownecessary foruntil ayour newplanned UKreturn EHIC.

Anhome

• an EHIC is not a replacement for comprehensive travel insurance.

  Forinsurance

• for more information you can read our guidancetravel onadvice healthcare when travelling in Europepages and advice on foreign travel insurance.

There will be no changes to your healthcare access before 31 December 2020. You shouldcan also continue to use your EHIC, as you did before, during this time.

If you are a student, read the NHS guidance on:on healthcare and studying abroad.

• finding

  You ancan find English-speaking doctordoctors in CroatiaCroatia.

• You should also checkingcheck that your prescriptions are legal in Croatia

Croatia.

Working in Croatia

If you wereare legallyregistered as resident in CroatiaCroatia, before 1 January 2021, you have the right work to work,work asin longCroatia. asYou youcan remainread legallyour resident.

Ifguidance youon areworking planningin toan comeEU to Croatia to work, you may need a visa.country.

You may need to apply for a UK police certificate before you apply for a job..

Frontier workers

If you liveare resident in Croatia andon were regularly commuting to work in another EU or EFTA country, before January31 2021,December 2020, you maywill needmaintain ayour permitright to provework, thatas long as you areremain aresident frontierin worker.Croatia.

Money and tax

The UK has a double taxation agreement with Croatia to make sure that you do not pay tax on the same income in both countries. Ask the relevant tax authority your questions about double taxation relief.

Existing double taxation arrangements for UK nationals living in Croatia have not changed following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

You should read the guidance on:

• telling HMRC if you leave the UK to live abroad
• tax on your UK income if you live abroad
• paying income tax in Croatia

The Ministry of Finance has information about custom services and declarations of goods in Croatia.

You should get professional advice on paying tax in Croatia. You can find an English-speaking lawyer in Croatia.

National Insurance

Find out if you needcan to pay National Insurance inwhile theabroad UK or social security contributions in Croatia.

Banking

Whetherorder UK banks can provide services to customersprotect livingyour inState thePension EEAand isentitlement ato matterother ofbenefits local law and regulation.allowances.

If Your bank or finance provider should contact you ifare theyemployed needor toself-employed makein anythe changesEU to your product or theEEA wayand they provide it. If you have anya concernsUK-issued aboutA1/E101 whetherform, you mightwill beremain affected,subject contactto yourUK providerlegislation oruntil seek independent financial advice.

Read the Moneyend anddate Pension Service guidance on banking,the insurance and financial services changes for more information on cross-border banking.form.

Pensions

Read our guidance on entitlement to UK benefits and pensions while you are living in Croatia.

Tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

If you retire in Croatia, you can claim:

• your UK State Pension or new UK State Pension. Contact the International Pensions Centre to claim
• your Croatian pension through your local social security office (in Croatian)
• pensions from working in other EU countries, if you have worked in other EU countries

Read the Money and Pension Service guidance on pension and retirement changes for more information on cross-border pensions.

Life certificates for UK State Pensions

If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you don’t.

Benefits

Pensions after 31 December 2020

ReadThere ourwill guidancebe no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on entitlementclaiming the UK State Pension in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020 you will get your UK State Pension uprated every year for as long as you continue to live there. This will happen even if you start claiming your pension on or after 1 January 2021, as long as you meet the qualifying conditions explained in the new State Pension guidance.

If you are living in Croatia by 31 December 2020, you will be able to count future social security contributions towards meeting the qualifying conditions for your UK State Pension.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Croatia, you will still be able to add your UK social security contributions towards your Croatian pension. This will happen even if you claim your pension after 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to Croatia on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

You whilecan youcontinue areto livingreceive your UK State Pension if you live in Croatia.the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you can still claim your UK State Pension.

Benefits

Tell the UK government offices that deal with your benefits, pension and tax if you are moving or retiring abroad.

CheckYou whichmay still be able to claim some UK benefits like child and disability benefits if you live in Croatia. You should:

• read our guidance on which benefits you can claim whileif you live abroad
• use andour howtool to check which benefits you can claim them.
  while you’re abroad

Many income-related benefits such as pension credit and housing benefit cannot be paid to you if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.

You can request proof of the time you’ve worked in the UK from HMRC if you are asked for this.

Croatian benefits

You may be entitled to Croatian benefits. To find out if you are entitled to Croatian benefits and how to claim, check Croatian social security benefits.

Benefits after 31 December 2020

There will be no changes before 31 December 2020 to the rules on claiming UK benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland as a result of the UK leaving the EU.

If you are living in the EU, EEA or Switzerland by 31 December 2020, you will continue to receive any UK benefits you already receive. This will continue for as long as you live there and meet all other eligibility requirements.

If you work and pay social security contributions in Croatia, your UK social security contributions will be taken into account when applying for Croatian contributions-based benefits. This will happen even if you claim contributions-based benefits after 31 December 2020.

If you are considering moving to Croatia on or after 1 January 2021 and you are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, the rules depend on negotiations with the EU and may change. Check our guidance on benefits and pensions in the EU.

Voting

You cannot vote in local municipal elections in Croatia or European Parliament elections.

You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:

• check if you are able to vote
• register as an overseas voter if you would like to vote

Births, deaths and getting married

If your child is born in Croatia, you will need to register the birth abroad.

If someone dies in Croatia you can:

• read our guidance on what to do after someone dies abroad
• find English-speaking funeral directors in Croatia
• read guidance for UK nationals on bereavement information for Croatia

Find out how to get married abroad.

Find out about notarial and documentary services for UK nationals in Croatia.

Accommodation and buying property

Read our guidance on buying a property abroad.

Pets

IfCurrent you have a pet passport issued by Croatia or another EU member state, you can use it to travel withrules yourwill petstay tothe Greatsame Britainuntil and31 elsewhereDecember in the EU.2020.

AIf GB-issuedyou’re EUtravelling petwith passportyour ispet not valid for travel to the EUfirst ortime Northernyou Ireland.must Youvisit should speak to your vet before you travel to get thea necessary pet travel documents and ensure you’re compliant with the EU Pet Travel Regulations.passport.

Read guidance on:

• on bringing your pet tointo GB
• travelling with your pet in the EUUK
• travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel..

Emergencies

You can dial the European emergency number on 112 or Croatia uses:

• 192 for police
• 193 for fire brigade
• 194 for ambulance
• 195 for search and rescue at sea
• 1987 for road assistance

Find the full list of emergency numbers in Croatia.

If you’re the victim of crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis abroad, contact the British Embassy Zagreb.

You may also need:

• English-speaking translators and interpreters in Croatia
• English-speaking lawyers in Croatia
• notary and documentary services in Croatia

Returning to the UK

Tell the UK and Croatian authorities if you are returning to the UK permanently. To help prove you are now living in the UK, you should de-register:

• temporary or permanent residence in Croatia at the local police station
• from your local health centre

To move your pension to the UK, contact the International Pension Centre.

If you get healthcare in Croatia through the S1 form, you must contact the Overseas Healthcare Team on +44 (0)191 218 1999 to make sure your S1 is cancelled at the right time.

Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on, amongst other things, tax, access to services and bringing family members.

Disclaimer

This information is provided as a guide only. Definitive information should be obtained from the Croatian authorities. The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) is not liable for any inaccuracies in this information.