The Croatian Law Centre has produced the 2025 National Asylum System Report as part of the project ” Legal assistance and capacity building on access to the territory in Croatia”” which is financially supported by UNHCR. The report provides a detailed overview of key legislative and institutional changes that have shaped the asylum and temporary protection system, as well as relevant statistical data.
We highlight the most important events and data below, while more details can be read in the full report:
Legislative and Institutional Changes:
- Amendments: In 2025, amendments to the Act on International and Temporary Protection and the Foreigners Act entered into force.
- Strategic Planning: The Migration and Asylum Management Plan of the Republic of Croatia for the period up to 2030 was adopted, along with an Action Plan through 2027.
- Institutional Restructuring: The reporting period was marked by institutional restructuring within the Ministry of the Interior. The Sector for International Protection was established as a separate organizational unit, encompassing specialized services and departments for procedures, integration, reception, and tasks related to the Dublin Regulation.
Key Statistical Data:
- Temporary Protection for Displaced Persons from Ukraine: 3,532 new applications for temporary protection were submitted, of which temporary protection was granted to 3,054 persons during the reporting period. Regardless of the year of application, temporary protection was granted to a total of 3,181 individuals throughout 2025.
- Decline in Intentions for International Protection: The number of persons expressing an intention to apply for international protection fell by 44%, from 26,776 in 2024 to 14,928 in 2025.
- Top Countries of Origin: The highest number of applicants for international protection came from Russia (3,227), Turkey (2,597), Afghanistan (1,365), Egypt (1,364), and Syria (1,253).
- Dublin System and Transfers: 14,882 incoming requests were received (77.6% of which relate to take-back), and 1,364 incoming transfers to Croatia were realized, primarily returning from Germany (572), France (178), and Switzerland (172). Conversely, Croatia submitted 3,425 outgoing requests, and 28 transfers from Croatia to other countries were realized.
- Restriction of Freedom of Movement and Detention: During 2025, 130 decisions on the restriction of freedom of movement were issued, and 122 applicants for international protection were placed in closed-type reception centres for foreigners (95 in the Ježevo Reception Centre for Foreigners, 3 in Tovarnik, and 24 in Trilj).
- Croatia as a Transit Country: Data indicates that for a large number of applicants, Croatia remains a transit country. Out of 14,928 expressed intentions, only 1,236 applicants for international protection lodged their first application for international protection in Croatia. The majority of applicants continue to leave the reception centres for applicants for international protection within 24 hours of arrival.
- Number of Granted Protections: The Ministry of the Interior issued 1,493 decisions in the procedure for granting of international protection status, with protection granted to 25 persons (24 received refugee status, and 1 received subsidiary protection).
- Integration Challenges: Challenges persist in the area of integration, particularly regarding Croatian language learning, housing, and access to healthcare. Despite these challenges, there is continued cooperation between state institutions, local self-government, and civil society organizations through numerous projects that promote social cohesion and the long-term inclusion of persons with granted protection into Croatian society.
Read more in the full report: