Croatia

UNHCR in Croatia operates under the coordination of the Representation for Central and South-East Europe (RCSEE). The RCSEE is based in Budapest and supports operations in the region through a range of field presences and operational modalities.

Croatia, an EU Member State since 2013 and part of the Schengen Area and Eurozone since 2023, continues to advance its asylum and protection frameworks in alignment with international and EU standards. In 2024, the country registered nearly 27,000 asylum-seekers, down 61% from the previous year, while arrivals of unaccompanied and separated children increased. UNHCR has maintained its support for fair and efficient asylum procedures and durable solutions.

Croatia is a signatory to key refugee and statelessness conventions, including the Global Compact on Refugees. Since 2021, UNHCR has worked alongside the government and civil society to support the Independent National Monitoring Mechanism for border conduct, including through participation in its Advisory Board.

Croatia continues to host over 30,000 refugees from Ukraine under the Temporary Protection Directive, with national authorities providing healthcare and social welfare services. Concurrently, Croatia faces demographic challenges and labour shortages, positioning the socio-economic inlusion of forcibly displaced persons as a strategic priority. In a notable act of solidarity, Croatia made its largest-ever contribution to UNHCR in early 2025 to support winter relief efforts for war-affected Ukrainians.