First option — FREEDOM TO PROVIDE CROSS-BORDER SERVICES
If you are established in an EU/EEA country, you have the freedom to provide services on an occasional and temporary basis, without the obligation of establishment in Croatia or mandatory membership in the Croatian Nursing Council.
In that case, an online declaration is sent to the competent authority via hkms@hkds.hr, along with a scan of the following documents:
- proof of EU/EEA citizenship
- an 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 practising the profession in Croatia (due to the impact on patient safety)
- information on insurance
All submitted documents must be translated into Croatian, and only proof of professional qualification must be submitted as a certified translation into Croatian done 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 work issued by the Croatian Nursing Council.
- proof of citizenship — certified translation by a court interpreter
- marriage certificate or other certificate proving change of name and/or surname (translation)
Recognition of qualifications
Recognition of qualifications in healthcare and education
The Croatian Nursing Council carries out the procedure of the recognition of professional qualifications for nurses under the automatic recognition system:
- if the professional qualification of a nurse responsible for general care 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 hkms@hkms.hr along with the following documents and their certified translation into Croatian done by a court interpreter:
- proof of formal qualifications or other evidence of completion of formal education (the professional qualification of a nurse)
- Evidence required by the automatic recognition system:
- proof of professional qualification as set out in point 5.2.2. of the Directive 2005/36 EC ( a certificate from the competent authority of the EU/EEA home member state attesting that this proof of formal qualification is precisely the one covered by the Directive may be submitted; the Croatian Nursing Council may verify the aforementioned with another body via the IMI system)
- certificate by the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin confirming that the professional qualification fulfils the minimum training requirements referred to in Article 31 of the Directive 2005/36 EC, and issued before the reference date referred to in point 2.2. of the Annex V accompanied by a certificate stating that you have actually and lawfully carried out the activities in question for at least two consecutive years during the five years preceding the issue of the certificate.
- certificate of acquired rights from the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin when the professional qualification does not satisfy the minimum training conditions referred to in Article 31 of the Directive 2005/36 EC where the training commenced before the reference date referred to in point 5.2.2. 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 date of issue 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 conditions referred to in Article 31 of the Directive
- certificate from the same EU/EEA country attesting that the applicant has actually and lawfully practised the professional activity as a medical doctor or medical specialist in that EU/EEA country for at least three years
- Evidence required by the general recognition system shall be submitted to the competent authority by email hkms@hkms.hr or by post:
- proof of citizenship
- proof of previously completed education
- proof of formal qualifications or other evidence of successful completion of formal education
- diploma (certified translation by a court interpreter)
- diploma supplement
- curriculum valid at the time of completion of the studies
- proof of professional training and life-long learning programme
- proof of professional experience where appropriate (certified translation by the court interpreter)
- proof of membership in a foreign nursing council (if a member)
- certificate of competence (certified translation by a court interpreter)
During the implementation of the above-mentioned procedures, the Croatian Nursing Council, 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 dental technologist 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
Fees
EUR 53.01 for recognition under the automatic system
The administrative fee is not paid upon request, decision or complaint.
Payment via online banking
IBAN: HR8024840081101957224
Reference number: date of birth of the payer
The purpose of the payment: the cost of the procedure for recognition of foreign professional qualifications
User: Croatian Nursing Council (Hrvatska komora medicinskih sestara), Maksimirska 111/II, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Competent authority and regulations
Ministry of Health
Ksaver 200a, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 4607 555
pisarnica@miz.hr
Croatian Nursing Council (Hrvatska komora medicinskih sestara)
Maksimirska 111/II, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 5494 688
hkms@hkms.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)
Authorisation
Upon completion of the procedure for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification carried out under the automatic recognition system:
The decision of the Croatian Nursing Council on the administrative request.
Deadline for obtaining recognition under the automatic system: within 30 days and not later than 3 months from the date of receipt of the duly completed application.
Upon completion of the procedure for the recognition of a foreign professional qualification carried out under the general recognition system:
The decision of the Croatian Nursing Council on the administrative request.
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.
Legal remedies
You may submit a complaint within 15 days of receipt of the decision to the Croatian Nursing Council, Maksimirska 111/II, 10 000 Zagreb or electronically by sending an e-mail to hkms@hkms.hr.
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 8 December 2022
