The Croatian Law Center has prepared the National Report on the Asylum System for 2024 as part of the project “Access to the Territory of the Republic of Croatia – Legal Support and Capacity Building”, which is financially supported by UNHCR.
We highlight the most important events that marked the asylum and temporary protection system in 2024, both at the national and European levels, and you can learn more about them in the report itself:
- The Act on Amendments to the Act on International and Temporary Protection came into effect on 11 February 2025, enabling the extension of temporary protection beyond 4 March 2025 for another year or for as long as there is a need, to be decided by the Croatian Government on the basis of the decision of the Council of the European Union. In addition, the amendments foresee the adoption of a Strategic Planning Act for the asylum and migration management system (aligned with EU Regulations 2024/1351, on asylum and migration management, and 2024/1359, on crisis and force majeure) and extend the scope of solidarity measures in line with Article 56(2) of the Asylum and Migration Management Regulation.
- In 2024, the Republic of Croatia experienced a 58% decrease in irregular border crossings compared to 2023. Furthermore, there was a 61% decline in the number of applicants for international protection, with 26,776 people expressing their intention to seek asylum. The Ombudswoman’s report for 2024 also highlights a drop in the
number of complaints filed regarding pushbacks, although NGOs continue to gather information on pushbacks. - Regarding the Dublin procedure, 89% more individuals were transferred to Croatia compared to 2023, while outgoing transfers increased by 50%.
- In 2024, the Service for the Reception and Accommodation of Applicants for International Protection (SRA) issued 11% more decisions restricting freedom of movement compared to 2023. As in 2023, no alternatives to detention were utilised.
- In 2024, 71 individuals were granted asylum (42% more than in 2023), of whom 19 were men (27%), 20 were boys (28%), 13 were women (18%), and 19 were girls (27%). Compared to 2023, when only two individuals were granted subsidiary protection, in 2024 this status was granted to nine people (three men, three boys, two
women, and one girl), representing a 350% increase. - Administrative courts saw 265% more appeals against refugee status determination (RSD) decisions compared to the previous year.
- In 2024, there was a 31% increase in the number of children expressing their intention to seek international protection compared to 2023. Out of 26,776 individuals who expressed the intention to seek international protection, 1,980 were unaccompanied or separated children (UASC), including 1,614 boys and 66 girls. This represents a 30% increase on 2023, when 1,516 asylum-seeking UASC were registered. However, only 19 submitted a full application for international protection in 2024.
- The number of applications for temporary protection decreased by 25%, to 3,716 applications compared to 4,956 in 2024. The acceptance rate for applications submitted in 2024 was 91%, compared to 95% in 2023.
- As of 31 December 2024, 103 displaced children from Ukraine remained under the protection of a guardian, according to the Ministry of Labour, Pension System, Family and Social Policy, while data from the Ministry of Interior however, notes that 216 UASC with temporary protection resided in Croatia by the end of 2024.
- As of 31 December 2024, 25,997 people who were granted temporary protection in the Republic of Croatia were actively registered as residing on the territory of Croatia, which represents an increase of 12% in comparison to 31 December 2023, when 23,081 had a registered address in Croatia.
- Civil society and international organisations remain very active in support of the asylum system, implementing numerous activities aimed at improving the availability of services for individuals and their empowerment; expanding cooperation between organisations; raising public awareness and strengthening the capacities of key stakeholders.
The Croatian Law Centre has been actively engaged in the Croatian asylum system since 2003 as an implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Croatia and systematically monitors legislation and its implementation in practice in the field of asylum, based on which national reports on the asylum system have been prepared since 2010. The report includes publicly available data and data submitted to the CLC by various public bodies, international organizations and civil society organizations, including data submitted to UNHCR by the competent ministries.