First option — FREEDOM TO PROVIDE CROSS-BORDER SERVICES

If you are established in an EU/EEA country, you have the freedom to provide services without the obligation of establishment in Croatia or mandatory membership in the Croatian Chamber of Physiotherapists.

In that case, an online declaration is sent to the competent authority via an online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications, along with a scan of the following data and documents (signed, without a stamp):

• proof of EU/EEA citizenship

• an attestation certifying that the holder is legally established in a EU/EEA country to pursue 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 to pursue the activities in Croatia
• information on insurance
• proof of payment of the fee

The statement should also contain the personal identification number OIB, if assigned.

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 Physiotherapists
• proof of citizenship — certified translation by a court interpreter
• marriage certificate or other certificate proving change of name and/or surname (translation)
• proof of payment of the fee

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Recognition of qualifications

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

• proof of good character or reputation
• proof that the competent authority of the EU/EEA country from which the applicant comes has not prohibited the applicant from practicing the profession of physiotherapist in the event of a serious breach of professional rules or a criminal offence (these documents may be replaced by a statement made by the applicant before a competent judicial or administrative body or before a notary public)
• proof of insurance against financial risks arising from their professional liability on the territory of the Republic of Croatia or the EU
• power of attorney to receive letters or to represent with a residence in the Republic of Croatia, for applicants residing abroad
• proof of payment of the fee

The application and documentation may be submitted by post or directly to the competent authority, or by electronic means referred to above.

The Croatian Chamber of Physiotherapists, as the competent authority, may request the applicant, in the implementation of the above-mentioned procedures, to submit other evidence in accordance with Annex VII of Directive 2005/36/EC:

• proof of good character or reputation
• proof that the competent authority of the EU/EEA country from which the applicant comes has not prohibited the applicant from practicing the profession of physiotherapist in the event of a serious breach of professional rules or a criminal offence (these documents may be replaced by a statement made by the applicant before a competent judicial or administrative body or before a notary public)
• proof of insurance against financial risks arising from their professional liability on the territory of the Republic of Croatia or the EU
• power of attorney to receive letters or to represent with a residence in the Republic of Croatia, for applicants residing abroad
• proof of payment of the fee

I. Evidence required by the general recognition system shall be submitted to the competent authority by post as certified copies of the original with a translation into Croatian:

• proof of citizenship
• proof of previously completed education
• proof of formal qualifications or other proof of completion of formal education
  • diploma
  • diploma supplement
  • study curriculum valid at the time of completion of the studies
• proof of professional training and a lifelong learning programme
• proof of professional experience
• proof of membership in a foreign medical chamber, if a member
• attestation of competence
• proof of payment of the fee

The Croatian Chamber of Physiotherapists, as the competent authority, may request the applicant to provide other evidence in accordance with Annex VII of the Directive 2005/36 EC:

• proof that they are of good character or repute
• proof that the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin did not prohibit the pursuit of the profession as a Physiotherapists in the event of serious professional misconduct or criminal offence (such documents may be replaced by a solemn declaration made by the applicant before a competent judicial or administrative authority or before a notary)
• proof that the applicant is insured against the 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 199.08 for general recognition procedures

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

Online payment details:

Account holder: Croatian Council of Physiotherapists

Account No.: HR6224020061100594086

Model: HR00

Purpose of payment: costs of recognition of foreign professional qualifications

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Competent authority and regulations

Croatian Council of Physiotherapists

Donje Svetice 46c/IV

10 000 Zagreb

+385916192558

hkf@hkf.hr

Health Care Act (OG 100/18, 125/19, 147/20, 119/22, 156/22, 33/23 and 36/24)

Act on Regulated Professions and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications (OG 82/15, 70/19, 47/20 and 123/23)

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

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

Ordinance on the procedure and conditions for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications

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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 Physiotherapists 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 Physiotherapists on administrative application.

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 submit a complaint within 15 days of receipt of the decision to the Croatian Chamber of Physiotherapists, Donje Svetice 46c/IV, 10 000 Zagreb, or electronically by sending an e-mail to hkf@hkf.hr or via an online system for recognition of foreign professional qualifications.

The complainant must state the decision he is contesting, the name of the professional chamber as a body governed by public law which has adopted the said decision, and the reasons for his dissatisfaction with the decision. If the complainant presents new facts and new evidence, it is for the complainant to state why he 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 2 June 2025