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Post by johnnyenglish on Apr 22, 2011 11:18:23 GMT 1
Hello all
A couple of things I'd like to find out, perhaps someone already knows the answers or can offer some useful info before I head off down to MUP etc.
I'd like to get a work permit (radna dozvola) to be able to work as a regular employee in Croatia.
I have (had, actually it expired) a Business permit (poslovna dozvola) but still have a registered and active small business (obrt) here.
I have actually been resident here for several years, the last five of them married to a Croat. I've not been out of Croatia much at all in that time, however I've been rather slack in keeping my papers up to date (stupid, I know).
Now, I'd like to get my papers up to date. Here's what I need to find out:
1) Most importantly I'd like a work permit. I can have a business permit without permanent residency, but do I need permanent residency for a work permit?
2) Assuming I apply for permanent residency, would there likely be an issue since I cannot provide documents prooving I've been here for some years? I have of course been paying my taxes etc. and until now nobody seems to mind that I live and run a business here.
3) Does being married to a Croat improve my chances of getting residency and/or a work permit?
4) If I can apply now for a work permit, perhaps under a temporary residency, what papers do I need to produce?
Any advice anyone can provide here will help get the ball rolling for me, and of course will be much appreciated.
Thanks!
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Post by crojoe on Apr 22, 2011 12:05:14 GMT 1
Get a spouse visa and you can work automatically (via your obrt). This is the simplest way to go. You have to show 1 year worth of cash for living expenses for both you and your wife in the bank (you can also show a bank account from abroad) or mix the two to make the amount required. It's currently like 5700 Kuna per person per year (live like a beggar) or something like that. You will also need health insurance cover, a Croatian marriage certificate no older then 3 months and current address in Croatia. It's pretty straight forward. You may also need your birth certificate (to prove you where actually born), and of course a valid 12 month passport.
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Post by crojoe on Apr 22, 2011 12:15:09 GMT 1
Kind of shot over your post, but I noticed you have been here under the radar, so you might want to leave the country, get an entry stamp, then apply. If you don't, chances are they will fine you big time. If you’re from the EU, then you might want to apply from the Croatian Embassy in your home country, just to bring your status up to date (worth the investment instead of complications here). When you apply for your spouse visa locally you will most likely either get a visit from the police or have to go to the police station to give them a statement of your life, education, what you do, mother, father, sisters and brother and business, and where you get your money from. That info will then be passed onto MUP.
Being married to a Croatian is a big plus (visa wise), but doesn’t mean it will be easy. The main point is your access to finances.
If you go via the spouse route, then you don't have to show info about your self-employment, just money in the bank.
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Post by johnnyenglish on Apr 22, 2011 12:18:31 GMT 1
Thank you Crojoe, I hadn't heard of a spouse visa before, I'll look into that  My obrt has been running for a few years now, so income isn't a problem especially if we only require a small amount like that. I have my health and pension all paid up because of having an obrt, I even have dopunsko osiguranje Marriage certificate, passport etc. all no problem. Yet another birth certificate can be obtained if necessary, which always makes me chuckle, since the birth certificate usually has to have been issued within the last 3 months to be valid. Heh, and the marriage certificate too now is it  The thing is though, it's an actual work permit I'd like to get. The taxes I pay, accountant fee etc. as well as all the additional hassle, for having a small business are relatively high. I'd much rather put the obrt to sleep and get a work permit and regular job instead. Can I get an actual work permit on a spousal visa? |
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Post by johnnyenglish on Apr 22, 2011 12:34:45 GMT 1
And thanks again Crojoe for the additional info.
As it happens I did leave the country a couple of months back and already have an entry stamp in my passport. I just wish I'd kept my papers up to date, then likely none of this would be an issue by now. That's what I get for trying to duck the beaurocracy I guess.
I did also hear that if an employer produces a statement that they'd like to hire me, then that could count toward getting a work permit.
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Post by crojoe on Apr 22, 2011 13:02:02 GMT 1
Thank you Crojoe, I hadn't heard of a spouse visa before, I'll look into that My obrt has been running for a few years now, so income isn't a problem especially if we only require a small amount like that. I have my health and pension all paid up because of having an obrt, I even have dopunsko osiguranje Marriage certificate, passport etc. all no problem. Yet another birth certificate can be obtained if necessary, which always makes me chuckle, since the birth certificate usually has to have been issued within the last 3 months to be valid. Heh, and the marriage certificate too now is it The thing is though, it's an actual work permit I'd like to get. The taxes I pay, accountant fee etc. as well as all the additional hassle, for having a small business are relatively high. I'd much rather put the obrt to sleep and get a work permit and regular job instead. Can I get an actual work permit on a spousal visa? Ok, I changed over to a spouse visa this year and it was a lot easier. I also have my own d.o.o. (aren’t I lucky). While I haven’t tried it yet, you can actually hire yourself to work for your company and get a salary and expenses paid. It’s true that having either an obrt or d.o.o. come with lots of expenses, even before penny is made. If you can get a job at a company, this is the easiest way to go and they can take care of paying your taxes, health insurance etc., plus we hope pay you a decent salery. You can still get a spouse visa and then work. Going for a visa via the working route can be complicated, especially with 300,000 people out of work in Croatia today. You’d have to be speed. Getting a business visa via a d.o.o. or obrt comes with loads of requirements, huge amounts of money in the bank, statements and regulations always change. Keep it simple if you can. |
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Post by crojoe on Apr 22, 2011 13:07:02 GMT 1
And thanks again Crojoe for the additional info. As it happens I did leave the country a couple of months back and already have an entry stamp in my passport. I just wish I'd kept my papers up to date, then likely none of this would be an issue by now. That's what I get for trying to duck the beaurocracy I guess. I did also hear that if an employer produces a statement that they'd like to hire me, then that could count toward getting a work permit. I guess if you did exit, then have an entry stamp, then went and registered at MUP, been here under 3 months, then you might be in luck. If anything is out of line, they may fine you? |
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Post by johnnyenglish on Apr 22, 2011 13:20:29 GMT 1
I agree that an obrt/d.o.o. can be expensive. I originally set mine up in order to be able to work legally for a company, and said company never paid me, rather just kept giving me promises of money "just around the corner, if I can just hang tight a little longer". By the time I got round to leaving them, I was not only owed six months wages but also had to pay tax, health and pension all on money I had never received. In the end it actually cost me money to go to work.
Fortunately where I am now, my invoices get paid without issue, and the obrt is functioning quite well.
Also, I'm a qualified spet/professional so I might be lucky when it comes to trading that for a work permit.
My wife has actually just gone to check out the details for a spousal visa, so if I get any more information about that which hasn't as yet been posted here, I'll post back later.
Thanks again for your help!
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Post by MartinM on Apr 23, 2011 9:35:52 GMT 1
@ crojoe - 'spouse visa' that's the same as 'family reunion/reunification' isn't it?
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Post by crojoe on Apr 23, 2011 11:01:23 GMT 1
@ crojoe - 'spouse visa' that's the same as 'family reunion/reunification' isn't it? Most likely, although at MUP you just don't ask questions. Like a good little boy I just sit there, twiddle my thumbs, listen to the birdies outside their window, try and not look at the scowling lady thumbing through my Gestapo pile of documents and pretend I'm one mega dumbo. So far it's worked. |
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Post by prkbrk on Apr 23, 2011 11:44:10 GMT 1
being married to a Croat is the easiest way to reside here and legally work without going through work permit/business permit/doo/obrt route - honest! Finding a job on the other hand........) Just get: 1) app form from local plod (and yes it is the reunification route) 2) current marriage certificate (translated if it is not in Croatian) 3) proof of funds- less than 3k kuna per month required if I recall 4) couple of photos (by that I mean passport size photos!) 5) health insurance (I have HZZO, but UK citizens may not have to pay depending on the mood of police at time of applying- some years it is not accepted, other yesars it is, so for me HZZO is best as it gives me local access to dental/doctor and low cost medicine!) 6) proof of house ownership (I guess if you rent then a long term contract agreement re renting)- a document from the court register suffices 7) 20 kuna for stamps 8) passport 9) the missus to agree to 'sponsor' you Oh and the obligatory police interview prior to issuance of visa ;D |
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Post by crojoe on Apr 23, 2011 12:30:32 GMT 1
being married to a Croat is the easiest way to reside here and legally work without going through work permit/business permit/doo/obrt route - honest! Finding a job on the other hand........) Just get: 1) app form from local plod (and yes it is the reunification route) 2) current marriage certificate (translated if it is not in Croatian) [glow=red,2,300] You can get a Croatian one if married to a Croatian (Easiest and no translation costs)[/glow]3) proof of funds- less than 3k kuna per month required if I recall 4) couple of photos (by that I mean passport size photos!) 5) health insurance (I have HZZO, but UK citizens may not have to pay depending on the mood of police at time of applying- some years it is not accepted, other yesars it is, so for me HZZO is best as it gives me local access to dental/doctor and low cost medicine!) 6) proof of house ownership (I guess if you rent then a long term contract agreement re renting)- a document from the court register suffices 7) 20 kuna for stamps [glow=red,2,300] - Plus 500 Kuna for actual visa.[/glow]8) passport 9) the missus to agree to 'sponsor' you Oh and the obligatory police interview prior to issuance of visa ;D |
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Post by johnnyenglish on Apr 25, 2011 7:18:32 GMT 1
Awesome, thank you very much for the information and heads-up about this.
We'll get the ball rolling tomorrow at MUP for a 'family reunification' visa, most if not all of the documents and things on that list we already have close at hand.
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Post by prkbrk on Apr 25, 2011 11:48:11 GMT 1
being married to a Croat is the easiest way to reside here and legally work without going through work permit/business permit/doo/obrt route - honest! Finding a job on the other hand........) Just get: 1) app form from local plod (and yes it is the reunification route) 2) current marriage certificate (translated if it is not in Croatian) [glow=red,2,300] You can get a Croatian one if married to a Croatian (Easiest and no translation costs)[/glow]3) proof of funds- less than 3k kuna per month required if I recall 4) couple of photos (by that I mean passport size photos!) 5) health insurance (I have HZZO, but UK citizens may not have to pay depending on the mood of police at time of applying- some years it is not accepted, other yesars it is, so for me HZZO is best as it gives me local access to dental/doctor and low cost medicine!) 6) proof of house ownership (I guess if you rent then a long term contract agreement re renting)- a document from the court register suffices 7) 20 kuna for stamps [glow=red,2,300] - Plus 500 Kuna for actual visa.[/glow]8) passport 9) the missus to agree to 'sponsor' you Oh and the obligatory police interview prior to issuance of visa ;D How do you get a Croat marriage certificate if you did not get married in Croatia - other than getting married again? I have to get a new one every year from Register House in London to show i am still actually married  Oh,and the visa cost was an oversight- probably 1,000kn this year for me.....thanks for reminding me........ |
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Post by crojoe on Apr 25, 2011 12:15:07 GMT 1
How do you get a Croat marriage certificate if you did not get married in Croatia - other than getting married again? I have to get a new one every year from Register House in London to show i am still actually married Oh,and the visa cost was an oversight- probably 1,000kn this year for me.....thanks for reminding me........ # I did it one month back! Well, my wife did it. Steps: Get your recent marriage certificate from the country you got married in, then get it translate into Croatian. The Croatian member of the family then goes to city hall with this document, their Croatian ID card and they should make it on the spot or a few hours. You may also need OIB numbers and maybe ID of the other foreign half. It was done very quickly and not difficult. After that you no longer need to get one from Abroad. |
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