Third-country nationals who have a regulated residence in the Republic of Croatia can apply for long-term residence or permanent residence after a certain period of time.
Long-term Residence
Long-term residence may be granted to a third-country national who, on the day of submitting the application in the Republic of Croatia, has continuously held an approved temporary residence, asylum, or subsidiary protection for five years. It is considered that a third-country national has continuously resided in the Republic of Croatia even if they have been absent from Croatia multiple times for a total of up to ten months within a five-year period or once for up to six months.
At the time of deciding on the approval of long-term residence, a third-country national must have an approved temporary residence, asylum, or subsidiary protection in the Republic of Croatia. Long-term residence will be granted to a third-country national who has a valid foreign travel document, means of support, health insurance, proficiency in the Croatian language and the Latin script, and does not pose a threat to public order or national security.
Permanent Residence
There are several grounds on which a third-country national can be granted permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia.
Firstly, if they are a family member or life partner of a Croatian citizen who, on the day of submitting the application, has continuously held an approved temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification or life partnership for four years.
Furthermore, if they are a member of the Croatian people with foreign citizenship or without citizenship, whose status is proven by confirmation from the competent state administration body responsible for relations with Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia, and who has been determined to have returned with the intention of permanently living in the Republic of Croatia, and who, on the day of submitting the application, has continuously held an approved temporary residence for three years.
Then, if they have continuously held an approved temporary residence for three years and have been a refugee for at least ten years.
If they had a residence in the Republic of Croatia on October 8, 1991, and are a beneficiary of the return or reconstruction or housing program, which is proven by confirmation from the body responsible for housing and have been determined to have returned with the intention of permanently living in the Republic of Croatia, with the obligation to provide evidence of having no criminal record in their home country or in a country where they resided for more than one year immediately before coming to the Republic of Croatia.
Finally, permanent residence can be granted to a third-country national who was born in Croatia and has lived in the territory of the Republic of Croatia since birth but, due to justifiable reasons beyond their control, did not have a regulated residence.
More about the topic: Long-term and permanent residence