Croatia Student Visa: Requirements, Cost, Process

Are you an international student looking to get a Croatia student visa? If yes then you are at the right place. Croatia is getting more popular among students because of its beautiful coastlines, rich history, and mix of cultures.

The universities in Croatia offer lots of programs in subjects like humanities, sciences, and engineering. Besides studying, Croatia is known for its friendly people, old places to visit, and fun lifestyle. 

In this article, we will learn more about the Croatia student visa, application requirements, documents needed, visa cost, processing time, and more. Let’s get started. 

Key Takeaways

• If you are from a third-world country, you will need a student visa to study in Croatia, while EU/EEA nationals don’t need one for stays under 90 days.
• Health insurance is important for approval of your stay in Croatia. The type of insurance you need depends on your nationality.
• Non-EU/EEA students must apply for a residence permit within 90 days of arrival. They also need to obtain a biometric residence card and a personal ID number.
• Visa and residence permit costs can vary. It depends on nationality and processing speed.
• The cost ranges from €46.45 to €59.73 for non-EU/EEA students.
• Temporary stay visas take about 15 days, residence permits take 60 to 90 days, and biometric residence cards take 3 weeks.
• The approval rate for Croatian student visas is around 88%.
• Student permits last for one year and must be renewed annually.
• Students can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week while studying in Croatia.

Why Should You Study in Croatia?

Croatia is an amazing place in Europe that many students choose for college. Here are some of the top reasons behind it:

1. Croatia has been enrolling students for a long time. They had their first university way back in 1396.
2. Their universities are good and respected worldwide.
3. You can study different subjects in their universities. Whether you are just starting, getting a higher degree, Croatia has something for everyone. 
4. You can study English at Croatian universities, so you do not have to learn a new language if you do not want to.
5. Croatians are nice to people from other countries. They speak lots of languages, like English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. So, you can make friends easily.
6. The Croatian government even gives scholarships to students from other countries who want to study there.
7. Studying in the US, UK, and Europe is more expensive when compared to studying in the best universities in Croatia.

How To Study in Croatia?

If you are thinking about studying in Croatia, here is what you need to do:

1. First, you need to figure out what you want to study and where you want to study it.
2. Then, you must apply directly to the university online. 
3. They will check out your application and decide if you can join them.
4. If they say yes, they will send you a letter saying so.
5. After that, you should apply for your student visa.
6. Go through all the steps for your visa and wait for it to get approved.
7. Once it is approved, you should start planning your trip to Croatia.

Best Universities in Croatia

Croatia has some top-notch universities for students from other countries. Let’s have a look at them: 

• The University of Zagreb
• The University of Rijeka
• University J. J. Strossmayera of Osijek
• University of Split
• University of Zadar
• Juraj Dobrila University of Pula
• University of Dubrovnik
• University Sjever, Koprivnica
• Libertas University, Dubrovnik
• Catholic University of Croatia

Top Courses To Study in Croatia

Croatia offers a lot of different courses for international students. They follow the Bologna process, just like many other European countries. 

This means you can study at three levels: Bachelor, Masters, and PhD. Here are some of the best courses you can think about:

• Dentistry
• Business Economics
• Hospitality and Tourism
• International Business
• Medicine
• Engineering
• Information Technology
• Digital Marketing
• Law
• International Management

Do You Need a Student Visa for Croatia?

a. For EU/EEA Nationals

If you are from the EU/EEA, you do not need a visa for stays under 90 days. You should register your stay if it is longer than 90 days. 

You can do this at the police station where you live. They will give you a certificate saying you are registered. EU/EEA students can also get a biometric residence card if they want, but it is not required.

b. For non-EU/EEA Nationals

If you are a non-EU/EEA student from third-world countries, you need to do the following:

1. First, you need to get a Type C visa from the Croatian embassy in your home country. 
2. Then, apply for a temporary stay permit for your studies.
3. If you are from a third-world country, you must get a biometric residence card. 
4. Within 3 days of arriving in Croatia, you must register your address. So, it is important to find a place to stay before you come to Croatia.

Croatia Student Visa Requirements

Before you apply for a visa to study in Croatia, the first thing you need to do is get health insurance. This insurance is important to get approval for your stay in Croatia. The type of insurance and the policy you need depend on where you are from.

a. For EU/EEA and Swiss Nationals

If you are from the EU/EEA or Switzerland, you have a couple of options for healthcare in Croatia.

1. You can use the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), which should be valid throughout your entire stay. 
2. Also, you can transfer your healthcare from your home country and get full coverage in Croatia. 
3. The only requirement is that you are enrolled in a full-time degree program in Croatia. 
4. You should provide proof of your health insurance from your home country.

b. For Nationals From Countries That Have Bilateral Health Agreements With Croatia

If you are from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, or Turkey, here is what you need to do: 

1. Before you come to Croatia, get in touch with your insurance provider. 
2. They will give you a document that allows you to get healthcare in Croatia. 
3. When you arrive, show this document to the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF). They will then give you a valid health insurance document.

c. For Other Third-Country Nationals 

If you are from a country not mentioned earlier, you will need to get private health insurance. This insurance should cover you for your entire stay in Croatia. You can find more information about health insurance in Croatia on the CHIF website.

How To Apply for a Croatia Student Visa?

Here is how you can apply for a Croatia student visa:

1. To start your student visa process in Croatia, you need to see if you can get a visa to enter the country. 
2. If you can, then you fill out the temporary stay application. 
3. After that, you hand in the form with all the documents they ask for. You also pay the application fees and give your fingerprints when you apply.
4. Once you have your entry visa, you have to tell the local police where you live in Croatia. 
5. Then, within 90 days of arriving, you must apply for a residence permit and a biometric residence card.
6. After you get your residence permit, you should get a personal ID number (OIB) for the Tax Administration. 
7. You can do this at the Tax Administration office or online. This number is important for opening a bank account or doing any paperwork during your stay in Croatia.

Documents Required To Get a Croatia Student Visa 

If you are from another country and want to study in Croatia, you will need a temporary stay permit, also known as a Type C visa. Here is what you need to provide to get this visa:

• Fill out a visa request form.
• Make sure you have valid health insurance.
• Show proof that you have enough money to support yourself while you’re in Croatia. This could be a bank statement, a scholarship proof, or a letter from someone guaranteeing to support you.
• Bring your original personal identification document such as your passport and a copy.
• Have a recent photo of yourself, sized 35 × 45 mm.
• Provide proof of where you will be staying in Croatia.
• Show a document proving you have a clean criminal record.
• Include any other documents that explain why you are visiting Croatia.
• Also, make sure you have paid the visa fee if needed.

How To Get a Temporary Residence Permit in Croatia?

When you arrive in Croatia, you need to get a special permit to stay there for a while. It is called a temporary residence permit. 

You can apply for it at the police station in Croatia or the Croatian embassy in your home country if you have not left yet. This permit lets you stay for about a year. It costs around $73.

Croatia Student Visa Cost

If you are from a country outside of Europe and need a visa, it will cost you about €46.45. 

If you need a biometric residence card, the regular process costs around €31.85, but if you want it done faster, it is €59.73. 

Sometimes, there is an extra fee of €9.29 for handling everything. But if you are from the EU or EEA, the biometric residence card will cost you €13.27.

What Is The Processing Time of Croatia Student Visa?

If you need a temporary stay visa, it usually takes about 15 days to process. But if you are applying for a residence permit, it will take longer, around 60 to 90 days. 

Once you apply for a biometric residence card, it takes about 3 weeks to get it. But if you want it faster, you can choose the accelerated procedure, and it will only take 5 working days.

How Much Bank Balance Is Required for a Croatia Student Visa?

To get a student visa for Croatia, you will need to show that you have enough money to cover your studies and living costs there. The exact amount you need can change based on how long you will be studying, how much things cost in Croatia, and what the Croatian authorities ask for.

There is no set amount mentioned by the authorities. But it is a good idea to have a decent sum of money in your bank account to prove you can support yourself while you are studying.

To find out exactly how much money you need, it is best to contact the Croatian embassy or consulate in your country or check their website. They will give you the most accurate info based on your situation and the current rules.

What Is the Success Rate of a Croatia Student Visa?

If you want to get a visa for Croatia, it is pretty easy. It has an 88% approval rate. But whether you get approved depends on things like the type of visa and where you are from. 

To make sure you get your student visa, you need to have all the right documents and fill out the application form honestly. You can also practice for the interview, so you are ready to answer any questions they ask you during the interview.

Scholarships in Croatia

In Croatia, there are many scholarships available for international students. These scholarships are for different levels of education, such as Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs. Here are some of the scholarships you can apply for:

• Research Projects Scholarships
• Zagreb School of Economics and Management Scholarship Programs
• CEEPUS Scholarships
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD)
• Croatian Government Scholarships
• Scholarships of Bilateral programs in Croatia
• The Central European Exchange Program in Croatia

Validity and Renewal of the Resident Permit in Croatia

In Croatia, your student permit lasts for one year. But you have to renew it each year. When you finish studying, you can ask to stay longer to find a job. But you need to apply for this extension at least 60 days before your permit expires.

Can You Work With a Croatian Student Visa?

While studying in Croatia, you can work part-time for up to 20 hours a week. This helps you gain experience, improve your language skills, and manage your expenses better.

After you finish studying, you can stay longer in Croatia if you find a job or continue your education. This depends on the country’s rules at that time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

If you want to get a Croatia student visa, it is extremely simple. However, it is important to take the visa process seriously. You do not want visa problems to mess up your chance to study in Croatia.

If you are from another country and got into a Croatian university, you can apply for a student visa easily. This visa allows you to study full-time or take prep courses in Croatia before your main course begins.