Maternity benefits

Maternity benefits in Croatia are regulated by the Act on Maternity and Parental Benefits (Official Gazette nos. 85/08, 110/08, 34/11, 54/13, 152/14, 59/17 and 37/20).

The right to maternity and parental benefits can only be realised if you have compulsory health insurance regulated by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO) and if you meet other prescribed conditions.

Benefits are provided to the mother and the father of the child, adoptive parent, guardian, foster parent or other physical person to whom guardianship and upbringing of a minor child is entrusted by the decision of the competent authority.

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. Who are the beneficiaries of the right to maternity and parental benefits in Croatia?

Beneficiaries of the right to maternity and parental benefits are divided into three categories, depending on the legal (labour) status:

Employed and self-employed parents (including parents caretakers, parents on vocational training, persons providing care and assistance to Croatian disabled war veterans)
Unemployed parents, farmers who are not taxpayers of income and income tax, parents who generate other income and
Parents outside the work system (pensioners, regular students and pupils, persons unable to work and others).

2. Who can be considered as employed and self-employed beneficiaries?

Employed beneficiaries are persons who have a recognised status of an insuree in the compulsory health care and pension insurance on the basis of their employment according to labour regulations.

Self-employed beneficiaries are persons who have a recognised status of an insuree in the compulsory health care and pension insurance on the basis of their self-employment.

3. Can the right to maternity and parental benefits be granted to asylum seekers and persons under subsidiary protection?

Yes. The right to maternity and parental benefits may also be exercised by foreigners who, according to regulations on asylum, have obtained the status of asylum holders or persons under subsidiary protection. Appropriate provisions of the Act on Maternity and Parental Benefits shall be applied to such persons, according to their legal (labour) status, without the application of the terms regarding nationality and the length of their temporary or permanent residence in the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

4. How to obtain the right to benefits?

The right to maternity leave is realised based on the Report on temporary disability/incapacity for work issued by an elected gynaecologist, in which the expected term of birth is indicated.

For other rights, it is necessary to submit an application to the regional service or branch office of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund.