Within 15 days of arrival, register your residence at the nearest police station. You will need an ID card or passport and proof of address. If you do not yet have an OIB, the Tax Administration can issue it quickly online or in person. Since 2025, returnees have been entitled to tax relief and income tax refunds for five years.
Applications for health insurance are submitted at the nearest HZZO office. If you are arriving from the EU, you can use the S1 form to transfer your rights. Other returnees may obtain insurance based on registered residence. Afterwards, you may choose a general practitioner and a pediatrician for children.
Schools are required to accept children of returnees even during the school year. For children arriving from outside the EU, diploma recognition through the Education Agency is required. It is recommended to contact the school before returning. University diplomas are recognized through the relevant faculty or AZVO.
Register with the Croatian Employment Service if you are unemployed. You are entitled to counseling and workshops. To open a business or company, use the Start.gov.hr portal. Returnees may also use state self-employment support through the “Biram Hrvatsku” program.
WE ARE HERE FOR YOU
"I lived in Munich for twenty years. When I came back, I thought I would feel like a stranger in my own country. The association helped me with the paperwork. After three months, it feels as if I never left."
"I was worried about how the children would settle in at school. Our son had friends within a month, and our daughter said the Croatian school was easier than the German one. We have not regretted a single day."
"I opened an IT services business. The association helped me with registration and connected me with my first clients in Croatia. My income is higher than in Germany and the cost of living is lower."
"I didn't know I was entitled to a tax relief. If nobody had told me, I would have lost thousands of euros. That one piece of advice changed my entire calculation for returning."
"My husband got a job before we even moved. I took care of the children and the paperwork. Without the support of the association, I wouldn't have known where to begin."
"Our children were born in Canada and did not speak Croatian. Today, one year after returning, our older son writes his school assignments in Croatian. That was priceless for us."
"The hardest part was making the decision. Once I made it, everything else was manageable. The association was there for every question, at any time."
"I returned with an idea, experience and capital. What I was missing was a network. The association opened the doors to the institutions and investors I needed. Today I employ seven people."
"My mother-in-law was ill and we wanted to be closer to her. The return was emotionally difficult, but logistically manageable thanks to concrete step-by-step support."
"We thought the recognition of our diplomas would take years. We finished in two months. Now we both work in our profession. Croatia gave us a second chance."
"I lived in Munich for twenty years. When I came back, I thought I would feel like a stranger in my own country. The association helped me with the paperwork. After three months, it feels as if I never left."
"I was worried about how the children would settle in at school. Our son had friends within a month, and our daughter said the Croatian school was easier than the German one. We have not regretted a single day."
"I opened an IT services business. The association helped me with registration and connected me with my first clients in Croatia. My income is higher than in Germany and the cost of living is lower."
"I didn't know I was entitled to a tax relief. If nobody had told me, I would have lost thousands of euros. That one piece of advice changed my entire calculation for returning."
"My husband got a job before we even moved. I took care of the children and the paperwork. Without the support of the association, I wouldn't have known where to begin."
"Our children were born in Canada and did not speak Croatian. Today, one year after returning, our older son writes his school assignments in Croatian. That was priceless for us."
"The hardest part was making the decision. Once I made it, everything else was manageable. The association was there for every question, at any time."
"I returned with an idea, experience and capital. What I was missing was a network. The association opened the doors to the institutions and investors I needed. Today I employ seven people."
"My mother-in-law was ill and we wanted to be closer to her. The return was emotionally difficult, but logistically manageable thanks to concrete step-by-step support."
"We thought the recognition of our diplomas would take years. We finished in two months. Now we both work in our profession. Croatia gave us a second chance."
