Upon arrival in Croatia, certain preliminary steps must be taken to ensure that you and your family are registered in the Croatian system. This registration is the foundation upon which you can access various rights. It is essential to lay this groundwork to organize your life in Croatia in a sustainable way, ensuring long-term stability for you and your children.
You can express your intention to apply for international protection (asylum) in the following ways:
- at a border crossing during border control
- at any police department or station and at the Reception Centre for Foreigners if you are already in the territory of the Republic of Croatia
- in exceptional circumstances, in order to enable access to the procedure for granting international protection, the intention may be expressed at the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers
If you are traveling with minors upon your arrival to Croatia, the border police will ask you to clarify your relationship with the minor during border control. To facilitate border control procedures, it is advisable to carry documentation that proves your relationship with the minor.
As the child's legal representative, you are expressing your intention to submit a request on their behalf.
If a minor arrives at the border unaccompanied, social services will be involved in the border control process.
Applying for international protection
You can apply for international protection by submitting a formal statement at the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers in Zagreb or Kutina In exceptional cases, based on personal circumstances, applications may also be submitted outside the Reception Centre.
If you have entered Croatia illegally but are coming directly from a territory where you were persecuted (as defined by the Geneva Convention) and face a real risk of serious injustice upon return, you will not be penalized for illegal entry or stay—provided that you immediately express your intention to apply for international protection and present valid reasons for your irregular entry or stay.
Authorities responsible for asylum and subsidiary protection
The Ministry of the Interior, Service for Foreigners and Asylum handles first-instance applications for international protection. If your application is denied, you may file an administrative dispute before the competent court.
Important!
- You may also apply for international protection if you are intercepted while crossing the Croatian border irregularly or staying in the country without authorization.
- Clearly state that you need protection, fear returning to your home country, or are facing persecution or life-threatening danger in your country. You can submit your request in writing, sign it, and hand it to a police officer. You can express your intent in any language.
- You are entitled to an interpreter in all interactions with the police, either in person or via phone. Do not hesitate to ask for interpretation assistance!
- If you are under 18 and have arrived in Croatia alone, we encourage you to immediately inform a police officer (if you are at the border or a police station) or any other official (e.g., if you are in a Reception Centre for Foreigners, your "inspector" or officer), so that a special guardian can be appointed to support you. This special guardian will protect your rights throughout the administrative procedures.
If you need legal support during the application process, various organizations can provide assistance, and the Croatian Law Centre has created a poster with contact details of organizations that provide assistance to persons in need of protection.
To make it easier for you to navigate legal assistance, the Croatian Law Centre has created a poster with contact information where you can request and receive legal support.
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