Registration of foreign associations

A foreign association may carry out its activity in the territory of the Republic of Croatia after registration in the Register of Foreign Associations in the Republic of Croatia

A foreign association is an association or another form of associating that has been established without the intention of making profit and in accordance with the Act on Associations, and that has been duly established in line with the legal order of a foreign country. 

By registering in the Register of Foreign Associations, a foreign association does not acquire legal personality (because it has already acquired legal personality on the basis of the legal order of the foreign country), and may carry out its activities in accordance with substantive regulations in force in the Republic of Croatia.

Conditions for carrying out the activities of a foreign association

A foreign association may carry out its activity in the territory of the Republic of Croatia after registration in the Register of Foreign Associations in the Republic of Croatia.
 
The application for the entry in the Register of Foreign Associations is to be submitted to the competent administrative authority by the person authorised to represent the foreign association in the Republic of Croatia.
 
The following documents must be enclosed with the application:
  • extract from the register in which the foreign association is registered in the country under whose law it was established, from which it is clear who is authorised to represent the foreign association
  • decision on the establishment of the foreign association, certified by the competent authority of the relevant foreign country, in case the law of the country in which it was established does not envisage entry of associations in a register
  • decision on the appointment of a person authorised to represent the foreign association in the Republic of Croatia
  • certified statements of the founder on the absence of obstacles from Article 11 (new) paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Law on Associations
  • certified statements of persons authorized for representation and liquidators on the absence of obstacles from Article 19 (new) paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Law on Associations
  • decision on the objectives and activities the foreign association will pursue in the Republic of Croatia
  • certified translation into the Croatian language and Latin script of an excerpt from the statute or other document comprising the objectives and activities of the foreign association
  • certified translations into the Croatian language and Latin script of documents under items 1, 2, 3 and 4
  • copy of the identity document of the person authorised to represent the foreign association in the Republic of Croatia
  • certificate of the Ministry of Finance - Tax Administration confirming the issuing of an OIB (personal identification number) to the foreign association
  • other evidence in case special requirements for the registration of the foreign association are stipulated by a special act.

The application for the entry in the Register of Foreign Associations can be found on the website of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration

Application for the entry in the Register of Foreign Associations.

The application can also be submitted electronically, via the website of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration

Entry of association in the Register of Foreign Associations.

The competent administrative authority of a county, or the City Office for General Administration in the case of the City of Zagreb, issues a decision on the entry of the foreign association in the Register. An appeal may be lodged against the decision with the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration.

Find out more about the registration of a foreign association on the website of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration

Register of Foreign Associations.