Packed with natural beauty and rich history and culture, Croatia lies between Central and Southeast Europe. Visited by millions of tourists from around the globe, the country is a Mediterranean dream destination because of its historical heritage sites that have starred in many mainstream movies and serials (the King’s landing in ‘The Game of Thrones” is actually a site in Dubrovnik, Croatia).
To travel and stay in Croatia a non-EU citizen will require a visa unless specified as exempted. Lebanese citizens can acquire a visa from the Croatian consulate in Beirut, located at the Jounieh Highway in the Fares Foundation Building (formerly).
Lebanese who plan to stay more than 3 months in Croatia for work, education, employment, family reunion, or any combination of those need to apply for a long-term visa.
Long-term visa requirements
A Lebanese possessing a long-term visa can apply for a residence permit here while in Croatia. The requirements for long-term visa application are given below:
- Duly filled Croatian visa application form (all required details and properly signed)
- Valid passport (minimum 3 blank pages and 3 months validity from the time of entry)
- Xerox of the entire passport, including the cover and last page
- Two passport-sized pictures, as per the below format:
- 3.5cm x 4.5cm (dimension)
- White background (professionally taken)
- The face must be centered, facing straight with a neutral expression
- No glasses, goggles, shades, etc. recommended
- Headgear of any kind is not recommended – if worn for religious purposes, shouldn’t cover the face at all
- Travel & health insurance for stay duration in Croatia
- Minimum €30,000 insurance coverage in case of accident, illness, or repatriation
- Accommodation proof in Croatia (hotel bookings, apartment lease, etc)
- Return air-tickets
- Justified financial means to maintain decent subsistence in the country
- Last 3-month bank statement (other financial documents if demanded)
- Clean police record certificate
- Employment letter (sponsorship letter)
A long stay has further types, depending on the purpose of the stay. Each type allows the holder to stay in Croatia for the specific reason the visa is obtained for.
Work visa
To obtain a work visa, the applicant must first obtain employment in Croatia. The employer is responsible to obtain a work permit for the applicant, subsequently, the employer issues a letter on the basis of which the applicant shall apply for the work visa. A temporary residence permit cannot be applied for without a valid work permit.
Usually, a work permit is valid for 12 to 24 months, varying from case to case. The permit is extendable if applied at least 2 months before expiration. The extension is granted for 2 years after the first period expires.
Student Visa
A Lebanese student must complete the admission process in a Croatian university/college and submit the enrollment papers with the application to obtain a student visa. A student visa is good for the length of the course or degree enrolled and an additional 3 months in case one needs to extend the stay.
Family reunion
A family reunion visa is granted to Lebanese who have a blood relative already living in Croatia as a citizen or residence permit. If the relative is a Croatian citizen, the validity of a family visa is 2 years otherwise it is for 12 months.
Residence permit
Non-EU citizens such as Lebanese will have to apply for a temporary residence permit in Croatia before arrival. The permit can be applied for at the consulate office mentioned earlier. In some rare exceptions, Lebanese citizens may be able to apply for a residence permit at the local police station.
Exceptions examples are given below:
- Immediate family members of a Croatian citizen
- Partner/spouse of a Croatian citizen
- Researchers with visiting contract or their immediate family members
- Are applying on humanitarian grounds (relief or rehab programs etc.)
- Immediate family members of EU Blue Card holders
Long-term residence
The Croatian immigration law stipulates that a person living in the country on a temporary residence permit for at least 5 continuous years is eligible for a long-term residence permit. The applicant shall visit the nearest administrative police station and follow the same process while applying for a temporary residence permit.
A continuous stay is defined as a stay in Croatia where the absentee months during the five-year period do not exceed 10 months in total OR one-time absence does not exceed 180 days.
The time does not include:
- Work permit issued for seasonal workers (athletes, artists, etc.)
- Temporary stay on postings
- Volunteering work permit
- Stayed on a work permit issued to trainees, etc.
Citizenship through naturalization
Acquiring citizenship in any country, especially in a European country, is a lengthy process. It requires staying in the country for many years with a clean record and establishing oneself as a responsible and productive person. Once a Lebanese citizen has acquired a long-term residence permit, he/she is regarded as a responsible person and enjoys similar rights and benefits as a Croatian citizen. Having stayed for 4 years on a long-term residence permit creates eligibility to apply for citizenship through naturalization.
The citizenship process is highly expedited if a foreign citizen marries a Croatian citizen, however, there are complications that need to be understood before adopting this path.
