A mild climate, gentle waters of the Adriatic Sea, and cozy towns, fascinating with their architecture: this is how Croatia presents itself to those who come here for the first time. Immigration to Croatia requires knowledge of immigration legislation and the presence of the necessary package of documents.
Croatian migration policy
Croatia joined the European Union on April 1, 2013, so immigrating to Croatia has become somewhat more complicated since then. However, high cultural standards, low prices, safety, calm and stable life still attract immigrants.
The most common reasons for moving to the country are:
- Advantageous geographical location.
- Low prices, high level of education and health.
- Unique nature and favorable ecological situation.
- The language is clear and easy to learn from the Slavs.
As disadvantages, the applicants point out individual difficulties in adapting and overcoming obstacles.
Methods of emigration to Croatia
All foreigners who intend to stay in the Republic for more than 3 months are subject to the provisions on obtaining a residence permit in Croatia. The most common ways of obtaining citizenship are:
- Work. It is quite difficult for a foreigner to get a job in the country. Firstly, the level of unemployment in Croatia is quite high, and secondly, the niche of labor professions for which there is a demand in the country is occupied by people from Poland and other neighboring countries. Labor immigration to Croatia from Ukraine is possible for representatives of the IT sphere, qualified scientists and engineers. In order to obtain a work permit in Croatia, you must first qualify for the annual quota of foreign specialists and find an employer who can prove your worth as a professional. And only after that, the applicant can move to Croatia and receive an EU Blue Card for a period of two years. University teachers, journalists, athletes do not need a blue card. After 5 years of stay in the country, the immigrant can get a permanent residence permit in Croatia.
- Business. Own business is the most realistic possibility of obtaining Croatian citizenship, which is supported by the local authorities. Foreign investments help bring the country’s economy to the level of the EU, for which the authorities take them leniently. To immigrate to Croatia, a businessman must register a company of any organizational and legal form with a charter capital of at least HRK 200,000. At the same time, the costs of staying in the country can be covered by the costs of maintaining the company. In addition, the specified enterprise must create at least 3 jobs for citizens with the national average salary. Immigration to Croatia is also possible for Ukrainians if they own at least 51% of the shares of a Croatian company. The company is registered after submitting a business plan to the Commercial Court of the country, opening a bank account with authorized capital and company name in Croatian. During the first year of operation, the enterprise must be profitable, and deductions to social funds and submission of tax returns must be made in advance.
- Scientific work. Immigration to Croatia from Ukraine becomes quite real if you are a researcher whose scientific activity lasts more than 3 months. In order to confirm your scientific work, the organization that invites you must submit relevant documents to the Ministry of Science. If the application is approved within 30 days, you receive accreditation for 5 years. A contract must be concluded with the researcher, which gives him the right to health insurance and the opportunity to submit documents to the NHSHU.
- Education. The cheapest immigration to Croatia from Ukraine is considered to be in the case of receiving education in local educational institutions. In addition, foreign students can enroll in both public and private universities. The cost of training ranges from 800 to 3000 euros, and at the end of the training, each graduate receives an international diploma recognized in other EU countries. Immigration to Croatia from Ukraine is possible only if the student has successfully passed the exam and received an invitation from the educational institution. The student’s GNP is valid for 1 year, after which the permit is extended annually for the duration of the studies. If the student is under 18 years of age, PNB gets a companion along with him.
- Family meeting. Having entered into an official marriage with a citizen of the country, you can also receive a GNP for a period of 1 year. After that, the document continues, and immigration to Croatia for Ukrainians ends with obtaining citizenship after 5 years of married life. Unofficial cohabitation can also be a basis for receiving GNP. In this case, in order to obtain citizenship, it will be necessary to live together for 3 years, and in the case of the birth of a child, the term can be shortened. If a foreign citizen has relatives in the country who are citizens of Croatia or have obtained a PMP, VNP or have refugee status, they can also submit documents for receiving a VNP.
- The situation with refugees. If your life is threatened in your country of origin, you should know how to get Croatian citizenship through refugee status. For this, at the border of the country or at the police station, it is necessary to apply to representatives of the authorities with an application for the granting of asylum. If the refugee has lived in the country for at least 10 years, the Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs has the right to issue a PNB. The refugee and his family members have the right to free accommodation, food, clothing and compensation for transportation costs for 2 years. Health care, primary and secondary education, social assistance are also provided by the state. If an asylum seeker decides to open his own business, he can do it
If you immigrate to Croatia from Ukraine and receive a PMP, you will have to renounce Ukrainian citizenship, as dual citizenship is possible only in special cases, each of which is considered separately by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Croatia.
