Do you want to return to Croatia? Here's what awaits you in the process

The interest of Croats in returning from abroad is constantly growing. But what prevent even greater momentum are numerous bureaucratic obstacles. What documents you need, where to go to first, and ultimately, how long it all takes, were the subject of today’s Global Croatia show.

One of the thirty thousand Croats who have moved to their homeland in recent years is Mariano Trivelli Chavez Fernandez. Because of his Croatian origin, he left Peru and moved to Zagreb. His first incentive was a scholarship to learn the Croatian language, but he admits - the administrative procedures are not always simple.

“When we received the scholarship, we had a workshop where they told us what papers we needed to bring in order to enroll in Croaticum. If you are a member of a Croatian club abroad, you have more points. The most important thing is to have a passport and proof of Croatian origin,” said Mariano.

Return to Croatia: what is needed?

The return procedure depends mostly on whether the returnees have Croatian citizenship. If they have a certificate of citizenship, they first register their place of residence with the Ministry of Interior. Those without citizenship begin the process by obtaining a residence permit, and then the process of acquiring citizenship follows.

“One of the main reasons for amending the Citizenship Act was the affirmation of Croatian emigrants. They now do not have to submit the evidence they previously had to,” explained Renata Pernek Miklenić, Head of the Directorate for Immigration, Citizenship and Administrative Affairs at the Ministry of Interior.

As explained by the Ministry of Demography and Immigration, Croatian returnees without citizenship are no longer treated as foreigners. They receive a certificate that regulates their residence and grants them the right to employment, study and various types of education.

“This certificate is valid for two years, and last year around 600 people applied for it, pointed out Ivana Perkušić, Head of the Directorate for the Implementation of Public Immigration Policies.

Mariano was able to get a job because of this certificate, but he is still waiting for citizenship.

“I submitted my papers a year ago. The police told me that the process was going well, but that I had to wait a little longer,” he says.

Language – the biggest challenge

One of the main obstacles for returnees is not knowing the Croatian language. That is why the Ministry awards hundreds of scholarships to universities every year.

“The hardest thing when I arrived was the language. I think we need more help there. The rest is enough – we have food and accommodation,” added Mariano.

The Central State Office for Croats Abroad also plays a major role in integration, having launched an online Croatian language course, which was attended by more than 32 thousand participants. In addition, they implement special quotas for university enrollment, without taking the state graduation exam, and they help with accommodation and scholarships.

A new life in the homeland

Every year, around 10 thousand emigrants return to Croatia, and they most often choose Slavonia and Split-Dalmatia County. However, experts warn that the process of diploma nostrification needs to be accelerated, especially for regulated professions such as doctors.

“We need to cooperate with chambers because the process can often take a long time, but we have been noticing good progress recently,” emphasized Perkušić.

Although the path to citizenship and full integration is not always short, thanks to incentive measures and support from institutions – returning to Croatia can be the beginning of a new life story for many.

Source: HRT