Croatian Law Centre publishes its 2025 National Asylum System Report

Within the framework of the project “Legal Assistance and Capacity Building on Access to the Territory in Croatia”, financed by UNHCR, the Croatian Law Centre published its 2025 National Asylum System Report, providing an overview of developments in the fields of EU and national international protection. The report is available for download here (in English).

The report highlights that 2025 was marked by significant legislative developments, particularly amendments enabling the extension of temporary protection beyond the previous statutory limit of 3 years, following the EU decision to prolong temporary protection until March 2027. It also notes the adoption of an ordinance regulating accommodation cost-sharing for beneficiaries of international and temporary protection. Further legislative developments included the initiation of the process to incorporate the Pact on Migration and Asylum into Croatian law, amendments to the Law on Foreigners, and changes to ordinances governing the treatment of third-country nationals and eligibility for state scholarships.

The report also outlines changes in institutional organisation in 2025, notably the reorganisation of the Ministry of the Interior, which established the Sector for International Protection as a dedicated unit comprising 3 services: the Service for International Protection, the Service for Reception and Accommodation, and the Service for the Dublin Procedure.

Despite the continued decline in applications for international protection, which decreased by 44% compared with 2024, the report identifies persistent challenges in the area of integration, particularly regarding Croatian language learning, housing, and access to healthcare. At the same time, the report notes that Croatia continued to play a significant role along the Western Balkans migration route, accounting for 76% of all arrivals on that route. Relative to GDP and population, Croatia ranked second among EU Member States for irregular border crossings and third for return orders issued. The report further notes that 98% of applications for international protection were lodged at border police stations and border crossing points, while fewer than 10% of expressed intentions to seek asylum resulted in the formal lodging of an application. With only 25 positive international protection decisions issued during 2025, the findings reaffirm Croatia's role primarily as a transit country. The European Commission identified Croatia as both being at risk of migratory pressure and facing a significant migratory situation under Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/2323.

Regarding reception conditions, the report indicates that access to reception centres remained largely restricted to external stakeholders throughout 2025. Only the Croatian Red Cross and Médecins du Monde maintained continuous access, while the Croatian Law Centre was granted access only in late 2025. Finally, in the area of integration, the report highlights that the City of Zagreb's One-Stop Shop continued operating throughout 2025 as a central information and support point for refugees and migrants.