The government has sent a bill in fast track procedure to the parliament for amendments to the law on citizens from countries in the European Economic Area and their families that will regulate residency status for citizens of the United Kingdom (UK) and their families.

The bill regulates procedures to apply for temporary/permanent residency for UK citizens and their families and related matters.

Amendments are necessary with regard to Brexit considering that the transitional period for UK exit expires on 31 December.

“One of the fundamental rights that the agreement guarantees is citizens’ rights to residency and the issuance of the relevant documents while this bill regulates the relevant procedure to apply for temporary or permanent residency and being issued with new documents for UK citizens and their families,” Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic said.

The law will enter into force at the start of next year and provides instructions for UK citizens how to regulate their residency depending on whether they were registered or not prior to 31 December.

There are 1,103 UK citizens in Croatia and of them 747 have temporary residence while 356 have permanent residency status.