Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In Croatia

Checked on 23 October 2026

I am moving to Croatia: how do I access public healthcare?

In Croatia, health insurance is compulsory: if you have approved temporary residence and are not insured in another EU country, you must register with the HZZO (Hrvatski zavod za zdravstveno osiguranje, the national health insurance fund) within 8 days. Once insured, you freely choose your primary care doctor, generally near your home. Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers only care that cannot wait during a temporary stay.

Costs: Contributions depending on your situation; co-payment of €1.32 to €530.88 per invoice; HZZO supplementary insurance €15 per month (€180 per year) since 01/02/2026
Timeframes: Registration with the HZZO within 8 days of the approval of temporary residence

Steps

Declare your temporary stay first to the police (see HR-SEJOUR-TOUS-001).
Check your situation:
- Insured in another EU country (pensioner with an S1, posted worker with an A1, for example): you do not have to insure yourself in Croatia. You receive care on the same terms as Croatian insured people, within the limits of the European rules.
- Employee or self-employed in Croatia: you fall under Croatian compulsory insurance through your activity.
- No activity and no cover in another country: you must register with the HZZO yourself and pay your contributions.
Register within 8 days of the approval of your temporary residence, at the HZZO's područni ured (regional office) for your place of stay.
Pay your contributions if you insure yourself: entry into the insurance requires an advance payment equal to the contribution calculated on the minimum base, for a period of 12 months at most.
Choose your primary care doctor (izabrani liječnik) and your dentist, freely, generally near your home.
Consider the HZZO supplementary insurance (dopunsko zdravstveno osiguranje), which covers your share of the costs.

Documents

Certificate of temporary residence issued by the police.
Identity document.
If you are insured elsewhere: your S1 or A1 form.
The HZZO does not publish the exact list of documents on the pages consulted: the regional office gives it to you.

Costs and timelines

Registration deadline: 8 days after the approval of temporary residence.
Contribution for people who insure themselves: calculated on the lowest contribution base, paid in advance for 12 months at most. The lowest monthly base is €757.34 in 2026 (order NN 150/2025, coefficient 0.38); with the health contribution rate of 16.5%, this gives about €125 per month (calculation, the exact amount being communicated by the HZZO).
Co-payment (sudjelovanje): at least €1.32, at most €530.88 per invoice.
HZZO supplementary insurance: €15 per month, i.e. €180 per year, since 1 February 2026.
Emergencies: 112.

Common pitfalls

Letting the 8 days pass. Registration is compulsory for EEA citizens and Swiss citizens on a temporary stay who are not insured elsewhere.
Not paying your contributions. After 30 days of non-payment, your rights are limited to emergency medical aid until the debt and interest are settled.
The private insurance exemption. An EU citizen who has comprehensive private health insurance is not obliged to register, but then pays all their care themselves.
Living in Croatia with only your EHIC. It covers only care that cannot wait until your planned return, during a temporary stay, and not scheduled treatment.
Looking for a family doctor with an S1. People insured by a foreign body do not choose a doctor: they can consult any primary care doctor contracted with the HZZO.

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: the rules above. With the EHIC, urgent or necessary care is provided by providers contracted with the HZZO, on the same terms and at the same price as for a Croatian insured person; the co-payment remains at your expense.
Swiss citizens: same regime as EEA citizens: obligation to insure yourself on a temporary stay if you are not insured elsewhere, and Swiss EHIC accepted for temporary stays.
British citizens (Scots included): the HZZO accepts the British GHIC card (GKZO in Croatian) for care that cannot wait during a temporary stay. The HZZO also cites the United Kingdom among the countries whose nationals on a temporary stay must insure themselves in Croatia if they are not insured elsewhere.

Official sources (6) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in Croatia.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

For a Schengen short-stay visa, you must show travel medical insurance covering urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment and repatriation (including in case of death), valid in all Schengen countries, with at least €30,000 of cover (Visa Code, Article 15). For long stays, the EU directives ask for sickness insurance covering the risks normally covered for nationals of the destination, for example for students, family members, Blue Card holders and long-term residents. The exact proof, and whether you must buy private insurance or can join the public system, depend on the destination.

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

Registering, the European Health Insurance Card, the S1 form.

In Croatia

Checked on 23 October 2026

I am moving to Croatia: how do I access public healthcare?

Costs: Contributions depending on your situation; co-payment of €1.32 to €530.88 per invoice; HZZO supplementary insurance €15 per month (€180 per year) since 01/02/2026
Timeframes: Registration with the HZZO within 8 days of the approval of temporary residence

Steps

Declare your temporary stay first to the police (see HR-SEJOUR-TOUS-001).
Check your situation:
- Insured in another EU country (pensioner with an S1, posted worker with an A1, for example): you do not have to insure yourself in Croatia. You receive care on the same terms as Croatian insured people, within the limits of the European rules.
- Employee or self-employed in Croatia: you fall under Croatian compulsory insurance through your activity.
- No activity and no cover in another country: you must register with the HZZO yourself and pay your contributions.
Register within 8 days of the approval of your temporary residence, at the HZZO's područni ured (regional office) for your place of stay.
Pay your contributions if you insure yourself: entry into the insurance requires an advance payment equal to the contribution calculated on the minimum base, for a period of 12 months at most.
Choose your primary care doctor (izabrani liječnik) and your dentist, freely, generally near your home.
Consider the HZZO supplementary insurance (dopunsko zdravstveno osiguranje), which covers your share of the costs.

Documents

Certificate of temporary residence issued by the police.
Identity document.
If you are insured elsewhere: your S1 or A1 form.
The HZZO does not publish the exact list of documents on the pages consulted: the regional office gives it to you.

Costs and timelines

Registration deadline: 8 days after the approval of temporary residence.
Contribution for people who insure themselves: calculated on the lowest contribution base, paid in advance for 12 months at most. The lowest monthly base is €757.34 in 2026 (order NN 150/2025, coefficient 0.38); with the health contribution rate of 16.5%, this gives about €125 per month (calculation, the exact amount being communicated by the HZZO).
Co-payment (sudjelovanje): at least €1.32, at most €530.88 per invoice.
HZZO supplementary insurance: €15 per month, i.e. €180 per year, since 1 February 2026.
Emergencies: 112.

Common pitfalls

Letting the 8 days pass. Registration is compulsory for EEA citizens and Swiss citizens on a temporary stay who are not insured elsewhere.
Not paying your contributions. After 30 days of non-payment, your rights are limited to emergency medical aid until the debt and interest are settled.
The private insurance exemption. An EU citizen who has comprehensive private health insurance is not obliged to register, but then pays all their care themselves.
Living in Croatia with only your EHIC. It covers only care that cannot wait until your planned return, during a temporary stay, and not scheduled treatment.
Looking for a family doctor with an S1. People insured by a foreign body do not choose a doctor: they can consult any primary care doctor contracted with the HZZO.

What changes by country of origin

EU and EEA citizens: the rules above. With the EHIC, urgent or necessary care is provided by providers contracted with the HZZO, on the same terms and at the same price as for a Croatian insured person; the co-payment remains at your expense.
Swiss citizens: same regime as EEA citizens: obligation to insure yourself on a temporary stay if you are not insured elsewhere, and Swiss EHIC accepted for temporary stays.
British citizens (Scots included): the HZZO accepts the British GHIC card (GKZO in Croatian) for care that cannot wait during a temporary stay. The HZZO also cites the United Kingdom among the countries whose nationals on a temporary stay must insure themselves in Croatia if they are not insured elsewhere.

Official sources (6) ›

The European framework

These European rules also apply in Croatia.

Checked on 23 October 2026

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Who decides: Consulates (Schengen visas); the immigration authority of the destination (long stays)
Costs: Set by insurers; Schengen visa insurance must cover at least €30,000 (Visa Code, Article 15)

Before you act

No promise. The consulate or immigration authority decides whether your insurance is acceptable. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Scams. Buy insurance only from a real, identifiable insurer, and check the policy before paying. A fake or inadequate insurance certificate can lead to refusal of your application.
Ask a professional (the insurer, the consulate or a lawyer) if you have a chronic illness, are pregnant, or are over the age limits of standard policies.
Be honest in insurance forms about your health and your plans.

Steps

Short stay with a visa: buy travel medical insurance that meets Article 15 of the Visa Code (below) for the whole trip; for a multiple-entry visa, it must cover the first trip, and you sign a statement that you know you need insurance for later trips. Exceptions: the requirement may be considered met where adequate cover can be presumed from the applicant's professional situation (for example seafarers, Article 15(6)), and holders of diplomatic passports are exempt (Article 15(7)).
Visa-exempt short stay: insurance is not among the entry conditions listed in the Schengen Borders Code (Article 6), but medical care abroad can be expensive: travel insurance is your choice.
Long stay: read the destination's list for your route. Denmark and Ireland did not take part in the five directives below and are not bound by them (see the recitals of each text), so their rules are purely national. In the other EU countries, the directives ask for insurance "for all risks normally covered for nationals" for:
- students and researchers, valid for the whole planned stay (Directive (EU) 2016/801, Article 7(1)(c));
- family reunification, for the sponsor and the family, if the country requires it (Directive 2003/86/EC, Article 7(1)(b));
- Blue Card and seasonal workers, for periods not already covered through the job (Directive (EU) 2021/1883, Article 5(1)(e); Directive 2014/36/EU, Article 5(1)(b) for stays up to 90 days and Article 6(1)(b) for stays over 90 days);
- EU long-term residents, for themselves and for dependent family members (Directive 2003/109/EC, Article 5(1)(b)).
After arrival: ask whether your permit gives access to the public health system, and from when (see the destination's health fiche).

Documents

An insurance certificate in the name of each person, with dates, cover, amount and territory.
For a Schengen visa: proof that the cover is valid in all Schengen countries and is at least €30,000 (Article 15(3)); for a visa with limited territorial validity covering several Member States, the cover must be valid at least in the Member States concerned.

Costs and timelines

Price: set by insurers. The Visa Code asks you to take insurance, in principle, in your country of residence, or in another country if that is not possible (Article 15(4)).
Check: consulates verify that claims against the insurer can be recovered in an EU country (Article 15(5)).

Common pitfalls

Cover too low or not valid everywhere. For a Schengen visa: at least €30,000 and valid in all Schengen countries.
Wrong dates. The insurance must cover the whole stay or transit (Article 15(3)).
Travel insurance for a long stay. A short-trip policy may not meet the "all risks normally covered for nationals" standard required for long-stay permits, and what each country actually accepts varies: ask the immigration authority directly before you buy.
Gaps between the visa and the permit. Keep cover until you are registered in the public system or have the insurance the permit requires.

What changes by profile

Workers may be covered through their job; the Blue Card and seasonal directives ask for insurance only for periods not covered by, or resulting from, the work contract.
Retirees and people living on passive income follow national rules for national visas (for Portugal, see PT-VISA-TIERS-050).

Official links

Visa Code (consolidated), Article 15: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:02009R0810-20240628
Commission, applying for a Schengen visa: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/schengen/visa-policy/applying-schengen-visa_en

Official sources (9) ›

These guides give the general rules. Your situation can change the answer: Moovy looks at it with you and tells you when you need a professional.

Healthcare

In Croatia

I am moving to Croatia: how do I access public healthcare?

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics

Healthcare

In Croatia

I am moving to Croatia: how do I access public healthcare?

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by country of origin

The European framework

Health insurance required for visas and permits: what EU rules ask (short and long stays)

Steps

Documents

Costs and timelines

Common pitfalls

What changes by profile

Other topics