Provision of Services and Recognition of Professional Qualifications in the Republic of Croatia
First Option - FREEDOM TO PROVIDE CROSS-BORDER SERVICES
If you are established in EU/EEA state, you are entitled to provide services in the Republic of Croatia on a temporary and occasional basis, without the obligation to establish a business presence in Croatia and without a prior professional qualification check.
In such cases, an online declaration shall be submitted directly to the competent authority at pisarnica@mingo.hr and/or
rudarstvo@mingo.hr, together with a photograph or scan of the following documents (signed, without a stamp):
- proof of establishment in an EU/EEA Member State;
- proof that there is no prohibition on the provision of the service;
- proof that the service has been provided for at least two (2) years within the previous ten (10) years;
- proof of professional qualifications.
A foreign geological company may provide temporary services in the Republic of Croatia using its own engineers or employees to perform such activities, without their foreign professional qualifications being subject to a prior check.
Registration with the Ministry of Economy, Mining Sector, is not required for the temporary provision of
services, unless such provision involves the appointment of a natural person as the responsible person for the performance of mining exploration works through their employer, being a mining business entity.
Second Option - FREEDOM OF ESTABLISHMENT
If you are established in an EU/EEA Member State, you may, as a natural or legal person, provide services in the Republic of Croatia on a permanent basis, provided that you establish a business presence in Croatia and submit the documentation required for the recognition of professional qualifications in the field of geology (geological engineer).
Registration with the Ministry of Economy, Mining Sector, is not required for the establishment of a business, unless the provision of services involves the appointment of a natural person as the responsible person for the execution of mining exploration works through their employer, being a mining business entity.
A natural person who is a geological engineer may freely provide services in the Republic of Croatia without the obligation to contact the competent authority, provided that such services do not constitute regulated activities.
Where the services provided fall under regulated activities applicable to citizens of the Republic of Croatia (e.g., acting as a responsible person for mining exploration works), the employer shall appear before the competent authority and demonstrate that the natural person meets all conditions required of citizens of the Republic of Croatia.
Recognition of Professional Qualifications - Geological Engineer
The principles for the recognition of foreign professional qualifications in the field of geology (geological engineer) are identical to those applicable to mining engineers, with the following exception:
- The competence check (professional examination in geology) is conducted by the Ministry of Science and Education, which is the competent authority for issuing a certificate of competence for independent geological research.
The following documentation must be submitted along with the application for recognition of a foreign professional qualification in the field of geology:
a) proof of citizenship (EU/EEA Member State);
b) proof of formal education (diploma, certificate, or other public document issued by a competent educational institution);
c) supplementary documentation detailing the educational program (subjects, lectures, classes, exercises);
d) proof of acquired professional work experience in relevant positions and its duration;
e) proof of professional qualification (e.g., passing a professional examination, obtaining authorisation for independent practice from the competent professional chamber, where applicable);
f) certificate issued by the competent authority of the home country confirming that the applicant is not prohibited from practising the profession at the time of issuance, where applicable.
Documents referred to under points b) and c) shall be submitted as certified copies, together with a certified translation into Croatian. Translations must be certified by an authorised permanent court interpreter for the language in which the document was issued.
For positions requiring compliance with Article 35 of the Ordinance on Passing the Professional Examination in Mining, it is necessary to pass a professional examination in geology in the Republic of Croatia, regardless of qualifications obtained in the home country.
Fees
None
Competent Authority and regulations
Ministry of Economy
Ulica grada Vukovara 78, 10 000 Zagreb
+385 1 6106 111 (Central Office)
+385 1 6106 940 (Mining Sector)
pisarnica@mingo.hr;
rudarstvo@mingo.hr
Law on Geological Research (OG
34/86, 53/91)
Mining Act (OG
56/13)
Act on Amendments to the Mining Act (OG
98/19)
Ordinance on Passing the Professional Examination in Mining (OG
84/24)
Authorization
Decision on the application for recognition of a foreign professional qualification in the field of geology
Time limit: 30 days
Recognition of a foreign professional qualification in the field of geology
Time limit: 90 days
Legal remedies
The Ministry shall decide on the application by issuing a decision against which no appeal may be lodged. However, an administrative dispute may be initiated before the
Administrative Court in Zagreb. The administrative dispute shall be initiated by filing a lawsuit within thirty (30) days from the date of delivery of the decision.
