First option — FREEDOM TO PROVIDE CROSS-BORDER SERVICES

If you are already established in an EU/EEA country, you have the freedom to provide services on occasional and temporary basis, without the obligation of establishment in Croatia or mandatory membership in the Croatian Medical Chamber.

In that case, an online declaration is sent to the competent authority via online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications, along with a scan of the following data and documents:

• proof of EU/EEA citizenship
• attestation certifying that the holder is legally established in an EU/EEA country for the purpose of pursuing the activities
• evidence of no criminal convictions
• proof that the competent authority of the EU/EEA country of establishment has not issued a temporary or permanent ban on the provision of the service
• certificate of the nature and duration of the activity issued by the competent authority of the EU/EEA country of establishment based on previous professional experience
• proof of professional qualification
• proof of the level of knowledge of the Croatian language for the purpose of pursuing the activities in Croatia (due to the impact on patient safety)
• information on insurance

The submitted documents must be translated into Croatian, and only the proof of professional qualification must have a certified translation into Croatian by a court interpreter.

Second option — FREEDOM TO ESTABLISH

If you are established in an EU/EEA country, as a physical or legal person you have the freedom to provide services on a permanent basis, by registering an establishment and delivering the following documents:

• proof of professional qualification
• decision on recognised foreign professional qualification in the Republic of Croatia (certified copy)
• proof of membership and license for independent work issued by the Croatian Chamber of Midwives
• proof of citizenship — certified translation by a court interpreter
• marriage certificate or other certificate proving change of name and/or surname (translation)

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Recognition of qualifications

The Croatian Chamber of Midwives carries out the procedure of the recognition of professional qualifications according to the automatic recognition system:

• if the professional qualification was obtained in the EU/EEA and the applicant is an EU/EEA national

The application for the recognition of the qualification which will be carried out under the automatic recognition system is submitted via online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications, along with the following documents and their certified translation into Croatian by a court interpreter:

• proof of formal qualifications or other evidence of successful completion of formal education (professional qualification of midwives)
• proof of passing the professional examination when necessary
• proof of professional qualification (midwife)

I. Evidence required by the automatic recognition system:

• proof of professional qualification set out in point 5.5.2 of the Directive 2005/36 EC (a certificate issued by a competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin attesting that this evidence of formal qualifications is precisely the one covered by the Directive may also be submitted; the Croatian Chamber of Midwives may verify this with another authority via IMI system)
• certificate issued by a competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin certifying that the professional qualification meets the minimum training requirements set out in Article 40 of the Directive 2005/36 EC and was issued before the reference date referred to in point 5.5.2 of Annex V, accompanied by a certificate stating that you have effectively and lawfully been engaged in the activities in question for at least two consecutive years during the five years prior to the issuance of the certificate.
• certificate of acquired rights issued by a competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin when the professional qualification does not meet the minimum training requirements referred to in Article 40 of the Directive 2005/36 EC where the training commenced before the reference date referred to in point 5.5.2. of the Directive 2005/36 EC, and the holder of the professional qualification has effectively and lawfully been engaged in the activities in question for at least three consecutive years during the five years prior to the issuance of the certificate
• in case the applicant’s professional qualification acquired outside the EU/EEA has already been recognised by another EU/EEA country, the application must be accompanied by:
  • evidence that the EU/EEA country has recognised the professional qualification obtained in a third country and has established the minimum training requirements referred to in Articles 40 of the Directive
  • certificate from the same EU/EEA country attesting that the applicant has effectively and lawfully been engaged in the activities of a midwife for at least three years within that EU/EEA country

II. Evidence required by the general recognition system shall be submitted to the competent authority via online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications:

• proof of citizenship
• proof of previously completed education
• proof of formal qualifications or other proof of completed formal education
  • diploma (certified translation by a court interpreter)
  • diploma supplement
  • study curriculum valid at the time of completion of the studies
• proof of professional training and lifelong learning programme
• proof of professional experience where appropriate (certified translation by a court interpreter)
• proof of membership in a foreign chamber of midwives (if a member)
• attestation of competence (certified translation by a court interpreter)

In the implementation of the above procedures, the Croatian Chamber of Midwives, as the competent authority, may request the applicant to provide other evidence in accordance with Annex VII of the Directive 2005/36 EC:

• proof of good character or reputation
• proof that the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin did not prohibit the pursuit of the profession as a midwife in the event of a serious professional misconduct or a criminal offence (such documents may be replaced by a declaration made by the applicant before a competent judicial or administrative authority or before a notary public)
• proof that the applicant is insured against financial risks arising from their professional liability on the territory of the Republic of Croatia or the EU
• power of attorney for receiving documents or power of representation to a person domiciled in the Republic of Croatia, for applicants domiciled abroad
• proof of payment of the fee

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Fees

EUR 795.10 for general recognition procedures

EUR 53.01 for automatic recognition procedures

EUR 198.78 for an additional measure of competence testing in the procedure of recognition of a foreign professional qualification

The administrative fee is not paid upon request, decision, or complaint

Payment via online banking

IBAN: HR0424020061100549055

Reference number: Payer’s OIB (PIN)

Purpose of the payment: Fee for recognition of foreign professional qualifications or Fee for conducting a competency test

Beneficiary: Croatian Chamber of Midwives, Ulica grada Mainza 11, 4. kat, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

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Competent body and regulations

Ministry of Health

Ksaver 200a, 10 000 Zagreb

+385 1 4607 555

pisarnica@miz.hr

Croatian Chamber of Midwives

Ulica grada Mainza 11, 4. kat, 10 000 Zagreb

+385 1 5494 688

komora@komora-primalja.hr

https://pisk.gov.hr

Health Care Act (OG 100/18 and 147/20)

Act on Regulated Professions and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications (OG 82/15, 70/19, and 47/20)

General Administrative Procedure Act (OG 47/09 and 110/21)

Ordinance on the Criteria for the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications (OG 89/13)

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Authorisation

Upon completion of the procedure for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification carried out under the automatic recognition system:

Decision of the Croatian Chamber of Midwives on administrative application.

Deadline for obtaining automatic recognition: within 30 days and no later than 3 months from the date of receipt of a duly completed application.

Upon completion of the procedure for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification carried out under the general recognition system:

Decision of the Croatian Chamber of Midwives on administrative application.

The deadline for obtaining recognition under the general system: within 3 months from the date of receipt of a duly completed application and may be extended by a maximum of one month if there are reasonable grounds.

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Legal remedies

You may lodge a complaint within 15 days from the receipt of the decision to the Croatian Chamber of Midwives, Ulica grada Mainza 11, 10 000 Zagreb, or electronically by sending an e-mail to komora@komora-primalja.hr or via online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications.

The complainant must state the decision they are contesting, the name of the professional chamber as a body governed by public law which has adopted the said decision and the reasons for the complainant’s dissatisfaction with the decision. If the complainant presents new facts and new evidence, it is for the complainant to state why they did not submit those facts and evidence during the proceedings at first instance before the professional chamber.

When the medical professional chamber, as the first-instance body, receives a complaint, it will examine whether the complaint is admissible, timely, and made by an authorised person.

If the complaint is not admissible, timely, and made by an authorised person, the professional chamber shall dismiss the complaint by a decision.

If the professional chamber does not dismiss the complaint or replace the contested decision with a new one, it will immediately submit the complaint with the case file to the Ministry of Health as the second-instance body.

The Ministry of Health must make a decision on the complaint and deliver it to the party via the first-instance body as soon as possible and no later than 60 days from the date of the submission of the duly made complaint.

Administrative proceedings may be initiated against the second-instance decision by filing a complaint with the competent Administrative Court (Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, or Osijek) within 30 days of the date of receipt of the decision. The complaint shall be filed directly or by post and may also be recorded in the minutes.

Last updated on 17 September 2024