ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - Croatia's government on Thursday forwarded into parliamentary procedure a bill regulating the residence of foreigners, envisaging three status categories. The first category refers to stays up to 90 days long
(without a visa, with a visa, or with a border pass). The second category refers to temporary residence, and the third to permanent residence.
ZAGREB, June 6 (Hina) - Croatia's government on Thursday forwarded
into parliamentary procedure a bill regulating the residence of
foreigners, envisaging three status categories. The first category
refers to stays up to 90 days long (without a visa, with a visa, or
with a border pass). The second category refers to temporary
residence, and the third to permanent residence. #L#
Temporary residence would be granted to foreigners who wish to stay
in Croatia for a defined period of time, with a defined purpose,
e.g. due to work commitments, medical treatment or education.
Permanent residence would be granted to foreigners who have five
years of temporary residence in Croatia or who have been married for
two years to a Croatian citizen or a foreigner with permanent
residence.
Foreigners will work in Croatia on the basis of work or business
permits.
Croatia would introduce an annual quota of work permits. This quota
would be determined by the government by October 31 of the current
year for the following year.
The Interior Ministry would be in charge of issuing work permits
rather than the Employment Bureau and the Labour Ministry that have
so far issued such documents.
Budget funds will be required so that the Interior Ministry can
ensure technical and personnel support for the new tasks.
It is estimated that around 45 staff would have to be employed to
handle these duties. Their salaries, the registration of foreign
citizens, and the printing of new application forms will require an
amount of 5.1 million kuna (over half a million dollars) annually.
The government on Thursday also forwarded into parliamentary
procedure a bill on inheritance.
Under this bill, a common-law husband or wife would have the same
rights as a married husband/wife; in the second sequence of
inheritance, the spouse would have advantage before the testator's
siblings and their children. The circle of the necessary legal
successors would be restricted to the lineal descendants:
children, adopted children and the spouse.
The new bill envisages the transfer of many tasks in this field from
courts to public notaries. The latter would be allowed to draw up
public wills, and contracts on life-time support, and the
renunciation of the right to inheritance. Notaries would also
conduct probate proceedings.
A bill of amendments to the road transport law was also forwarded to
the Sabor for discussion. The purpose of the draft amendments is to
regulate the issuance of licences for cargo and passenger
transport.
(hina) sb ms
(hina) sb ms