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 Medical Chamber.

In that case, an online declaration is sent to the competent authority via hlk@hlk.hr, along with a photo or a scan of the following documents and certified translation of the documents done by a court interpreter:

• proof of EU/EEA citizenship
• certificate of establishment in EU/EEA country for practising the profession
• criminal records bureau certificate
• 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 qualifications (diploma in medicine, certificate/diploma of specialisation, certificate of conformity of the professional qualification with the Directive issued by the competent authority or certificate of acquired rights issued by the competent authority of an EU/EEA country)
• 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)

A competent authority will verify the above data via the Internal Market Information System (IMI).

The following documents will be submitted directly to the competent authority by post, along with certified copies of the original and Croatian translation of said documents done by a court interpreter:

• information on insurance

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 qualifications (diploma in medicine, certificate/diploma of specialisation, certificate of conformity of the professional qualification with the Directive issued by the competent authority or certificate of acquired rights issued by the competent authority of an EU/EEA country) (certified translation by a court interpreter)
• 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 Medical Chamber
• proof of citizenship — certified translation by a court interpreter
• marriage certificate or other certificate proving change of name and/or surname (translation)

A competent authority will verify the data under point 1 via the Internal Market Information System (IMI).

Recognition of qualifications 

Recognition of qualifications in healthcare and education

The Croatian Medical Chamber carries out the procedure of the recognition of professional qualifications for doctors of medicine and specialist doctors of medicine 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 hlk@hlk.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 doctor of medicine)
• document certifying successful completion of the professional state examination, when necessary
• proof of professional qualification

A competent authority will verify the above data via the Internal Market Information System (IMI).

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

1. Evidence required by the automatic recognition system:

• proof of professional qualification set out in points 5.1.1, 5.1.2 and/or 5.1.3 or 5.1.4. of the Directive 2005/36 EC (a certificate from the 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 Medical Chamber can verify this with another authority via IMI system)
• certificate from the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin confirming that the professional qualification meets the minimum training requirements set out in Articles 23 and 24 (basic medical training) or Article 25 (specialist medical training) or Article 28 (specific training in general medical practice) of Directive 2005/36 EC (the said certificate may be requested by the Croatian Medical Chamber from another authority via the IMI system)

• certificate of acquired rights from the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin when the professional qualification does not meet the minimum training requirements set out in Articles 24, 25 or 28 of the Directive 2005/36 EC where the training commenced before the reference date referred to in points 5.1.1, 5.1.2 and/or 5.1.3 or 5.1.4 of Directive 2005/36 EC, and the holder of the professional qualification has actually and lawfully pursued the profession of a medical doctor or specialist doctor for at least three consecutive years within the five years preceding the 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:
  1. 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 24, 25 or 28 of the Directive
  2. 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.

The competent authority will verify the above data via the Internal Market Information System (IMI).

1. 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
  1. diploma
  2. diploma supplement
  3. study curriculum valid at the time of completion of the studies
• proof of professional training and lifelong learning programme
• proof of professional experience
• proof of membership in a foreign medical chamber, if a member
• certificate of competence

The Croatian Medical Chamber, as the competent authority, may request the applicant to provide other evidence in accordance with Annex VII of the Directive 2005/36 EC when carrying out the above procedures:

• proof of good character or reputation (or to be verified via IMI)
• evidence that the competent authority of the applicant’s EU/EEA country of origin did not prohibit the applicant from practising the profession as a doctor or specialist due to serious professional misconduct or criminal offence (these documents may be replaced by a statement made by the applicant before a competent judicial or administrative authority or before a notary)
• 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 66.26 for costs incurred by the Croatian Medical Chamber in the implementation of the procedure for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications under the automatic recognition system

EUR 132.52 for costs incurred by the Croatian Medical Chamber in the implementation of the procedure for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications under the general recognition system

EUR 13.25 for the registration fee for membership in the Croatian Medical Chamber

EUR 198.78 for the annual membership fee in the Croatian Medical Chamber

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

Payment via online banking

IBAN: HR 49 2360000 1101464267

Reference number: OIB or JMBG of the payer — 430

The purpose of the payment: the cost of the procedure for recognition of foreign professional qualifications according to the automatic recognition system of the Croatian Medical Chamber

User: Hrvatska liječnička komora, Grge Tuškana 37, 10000 Zagreb

In the case payment is made abroad, the equivalent of the above amount shall be paid at the mid-market exchange rate of the Croatian National Bank on the day of payment, to:

Giro account/IBAN of the Croatian Medical Chamber (Hrvatska liječnička komora), opened at Zagrebačka banka d.d., Trg Bana Josipa Jelačića 10, 10000 Zagreb: HR 49 2360000 1101464267

SWIFT/BIC: ZABAHR2X

Payment model: 67

Reference number: Applicant’s OIB or other applicant’s identification number

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Competent authority and regulations

Ministry of Health

Ksaver 200a, 10 000 Zagreb

+ 385 1 4607 555

pisarnica@miz.hr

 Croatian Medical Chamber

Professional Medical, Legal and International Affairs Service

Department for Professional, Medical and International Affairs

Ul. Grge Tuškana 37, 10000 Zagreb

+ 385 1 4500 830

hlk@hlk.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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Authorization

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

Decision of the Croatian Medical Chamber on Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualification.

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 recognition of foreign professional qualifications conducted according to the general recognition system:

Decision of the Croatian Medical Chamber. In order to practice medical profession as a doctor of medicine in the Republic of Croatia, it is necessary to meet the general conditions for the exercise of the medical profession in accordance with Article 6 of the Act on Medical Practise (Official Gazette no 121/03 and 117/08), and it is, therefore, necessary to obtain recognition of the traineeship completed abroad by the applicant and successfully complete the professional state exam at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, in accordance with Article 84(5) of the Act and Article 15 of the Ordinance on Criteria.

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. Within one month from the date of implementation of the supplementary measure.

Explanation: supplementary competence check — 6 months deadline, supplementary adaptation measure — deadline up to 3 years. 

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Legal remedies

You may submit a complaint within 15 days of receipt of the decision to the Croatian Medical Chamber, Zagreb Ulica Grge Tuškana 37 or electronically via hlk@hlk.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.

Date of last update: 8 December 2022