First option: FREEDOM TO PROVIDE CROSS-BORDER SERVICES
If you already have a registered establishment in another EU/EEA country, you are free to provide services on an occasional and temporary basis, without the obligation to register your establishment in Croatia with the Croatian Chamber of Psychotherapists and to wait for prior verification.
In such case, you shall send every year e-statement to Point of Single Contact or directly to tajnistvo@hkpt.hr and send the following photographed or scanned documentation:
- Proof of citizenship
- Proof of establishment in an EU/EEA country for practicing the profession of psychotherapist or counseling therapist, confirming that at the time of issuance of the certificate, there is no (even temporary) ban on practicing the mentioned profession
- Proof that the applicant has practiced the profession of psychotherapist or counseling therapist for at least one year within the last ten years, in case the profession of psychotherapist or counseling therapist is not regulated in the country of establishment
- Proof of higher education qualification
- Proof of professional qualification
- Proof of a clean criminal record
Second option: FREEDOM TO ESTABLISH
If you are established in EU/EEA country, you are free, as a natural or legal person, to provide services on a permanent basis, upon registration of the establishment in Croatia and delivery of the following documents:
- proof of citizenship
- proof of completion of the formal education
- additional certificate about the study and the curriculum
- proof of professional qualification and certificate of competence
- certificate from the origin country that confirms that it has not been forbidden to an applicant to perform profession or activities, in the moment of the issuance of the certificate
- proof on professional experience
- proof of the necessary knowledge of Croatian language for performing the profession (C1)
- recognition of the qualification (EUR 150)
- membership in the professional chamber (registration fee: EUR 39.81 & monthly membership fee EUR 13.27)
Recognition of qualifications
- Proof of citizenship (certificate of nationality, passport, or another appropriate document proving citizenship).
- Proof of formal training and other evidence of professional qualifications:
- Proof of completed formal education
- Diploma supplement showing the educational program, or a document stating the official title and duration of the study program, year of enrollment, all courses prescribed by the study program that the applicant completed to obtain the educational qualification in the country where the training took place, total hours for each subject, and confirmation that the courses were passed (grades)
- Certificate of competence
- Proof of recognition of educational qualification by the ENIC/NARIC office
- Proof of passing a professional examination, if such an examination was taken
- Proof of professional qualification
- Proof of professional development and training
- Proof of professional experience (employer’s certificate or work record book)
- EU certificate
- Proof that at the time of application, there is no ban on practicing the profession or activity
- Proof of payment of the administrative fee and costs of the procedure
- For candidates who obtained their qualification in a third country: a certificate of professional experience in a member state that recognized the professional qualification acquired in a third country (for candidates who have professional experience and whose qualification has been recognized in a member state).
- Proof of membership in a foreign chamber/professional association of psychotherapists, if the applicant is a member and such an association exists.
- Other documents (marriage certificate or decision from the competent authority for individuals who have changed their name and/or surname, etc.).
- Proof of payment of the fee for the costs of the recognition procedure for foreign professional qualifications (€350.00).
The documents listed under point 2 must be submitted as certified copies and with a certified translation into Croatian.
Other documents may be submitted as ordinary copies with an uncertified translation.
Fees
EUR 39.81 for chamber registration fee (only in cases with business origin)
EUR 138.00 EUR for yearly chamber membership fee
Payment via online banking
IBAN: HR3924020061100956407
Reference number: OIB (Croatian personal identification number) of the member
The purpose of the payment: chamber registration fee or/and annual chamber membership fee
User: Croatian Chamber of Psychotherapists
First option: e-usluga
Second option: tajnistvo@hkpt.hr (for sending photographed or scanned documents; signed, without a stamp)
Competent authority and regulations
Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy
Ulica grada Vukovara 78, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 555 7039
info@mrosp.hr
Croatian Chamber of Psychotherapists
Trg Drage Iblera 9/5, Zagreb
tajnistvo@hkpt.hr
Psychotherapy Activity Act (OG 18/22)
Authorization
Law on the Practice of Psychotherapy (Official Gazette 18/22)
Law on Regulated Professions and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications (Official Gazette 82/15, 70/19, 47/20, 123/23)
Ordinance on the Conditions for the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications for Practicing the Regulated Profession of Psychotherapist or Counseling Therapist for the Purpose of Establishment in the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette 109/2022)
Deadline: 30 days
Legal remedies
You can file an appeal against the Chamber’s decision to Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy within 15 days.
Last update date: February 20, 2025.
