How do long absences abroad affect family reunification leading to permanent stay?

Continuity of residence matters when you are building toward permanent stay through family reunification. Spending too long outside Croatia can interrupt the qualifying period and reset your clock.

For the permanent-stay categories, the tolerance is limited: roughly up to six months of absence in total, or around four months in any single absence, within the applicable qualifying years. If you anticipate extended travel, plan it carefully and keep evidence of your residence so a long trip does not jeopardize your eligibility.