Croatia’s START system lets you found a company online, but only if you are a Croatian citizen living in Croatia. Foreign founders reach the same result another way: they sign a power of attorney at home, have it apostilled, and a lawyer in Croatia completes every step on their behalf. You never need to travel.
Hi, my name is Šime Jozipović, founder and CEO of Mandracchio Capital. I am a Croatian lawyer based in Split, with an LL.M. from Harvard Law School and a doctorate in international tax planning. Because I regularly assist foreign entrepreneurs in setting up businesses in Croatia, I have seen firsthand how the right approach can save time, reduce costs, and avoid unnecessary complications.
Starting a Croatian company online at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Can a foreigner use START? | No. START is for Croatian citizens with a registered address in Croatia. |
| Can a foreigner register a company without coming to Croatia? | Yes, through a power of attorney signed at home and apostilled. |
| Who files the company? | Your Croatian lawyer, before a notary, under your power of attorney. |
| How long does it take? | 10–14 working days once the original power of attorney reaches Split. |
| Minimum share capital | €2,500 for a d.o.o.; €1 for a simple d.o.o. (j.d.o.o.) |
| Do I need to live in Croatia to own or run the company? | No. Nationality and residence don’t limit who can be a shareholder or director. |
Who Can Start a Croatian Company Online Using START Platform?
START is open to Croatian citizens with a permanent or temporary registered address in Croatia. Every participant logs in through e-Građani, Croatia’s e-government portal, with a Croatian electronic ID or another credential the national identification system recognises, and signs with a qualified electronic signature. In practice this means a Croatian identity card with an active electronic certificate.
A foreign founder can’t meet these conditions, and the system has no foreign-founder option. The government has announced wider access in the past, but none is available as of October 2026. If you’d like to know how e-Građani works for foreigners after the company exists, I cover it in e-Građani for foreign founders.
How foreign founders register a company
Foreign founders have three routes, and only one of them avoids travel and paperwork in a language you don’t read.
| Route | Who can use it | What it involves |
|---|---|---|
| START | Croatian citizens resident in Croatia | Fully online through e-Građani |
| The court’s online service (e-Osnivanje) | EU citizens | Your home country’s electronic ID, a Croatian personal identification number obtained first, and a qualified electronic signature; covers the court filing, not the bank or tax steps |
| A Croatian notary | Everyone, including non-EU citizens | In person in Croatia, or through a lawyer holding your power of attorney |
The court’s online service looks attractive for EU citizens, but the forms are in Croatian, you need a Croatian personal identification number before you start, and it ends at court registration. The bank account, tax registration and accountant are still yours to arrange. Going to a notary in person means at least one trip to Croatia, usually two once you count the identification number and the bank.
That’s why almost every founder abroad, EU or not, registers through a power of attorney. It’s the core of the work we do at Mandracchio Capital.
How remote registration with a power of attorney works
You work with our team online throughout: a video call to plan the company, drafts and checklists by email, and updates at each stage. The steps behind that are these.
For a detailed timeline, required documents, government authorities involved, and how we support clients at every stage, read our Croatia Company Registration Process guide.
You sign one power of attorney at home
We draft a power of attorney in English and Croatian that authorises our lawyers to act for you before the tax office, the notary, the bank and the Commercial Court. You sign it in front of a local notary and have it apostilled, the international certification that makes it valid in Croatia.
In the US that’s the Secretary of State of the state where you signed; in the UK, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. You then courier the original to our office in Split.
We obtain your personal identification number
Every founder and director needs a Croatian personal identification number (OIB) before the company can be founded. We apply for yours at the tax office with your passport copy and the power of attorney, and this step is included in our service. I explain what the number is used for after registration in Croatia OIB number.
We prepare and sign the founding documents
We draft the founding documents setting out the company’s name, registered office, business activities, share capital and director. You approve every draft by email. Our lawyer then signs on your behalf before a Croatian notary, who certifies the documents and files them with the court electronically.
You deposit the share capital
We open a temporary account for the company and you transfer the share capital from your own bank, at least €2,500 for a standard d.o.o. The bank’s deposit confirmation goes to the court with the filing. Once the company is registered, the money is the company’s working capital.
The court registers the company
The Commercial Court issues its registration decision and enters the company in the court register. We send you the decision and the register extract with an English translation.
We complete the registrations and connect you with an accountant
After registration we handle the statistical and tax registrations and agree with you whether the company should enter the VAT system now or later. We then introduce you to an English-speaking accountant who knows cross-border businesses, so bookkeeping runs from the first month. I describe what the company must file each month and year in Accounting and compliance after company formation in Croatia.
Requirements to register a Croatian company online
- A clear copy of your passport
- Proof of your home address from the last 3 months
- A short description of the business, which we turn into the correct activity codes
- Your preferred company name and one or two alternatives
- A short statement of where the share capital comes from, such as savings or business income
- A registered office address in Croatia: your own, or our virtual office in Split
- The original apostilled power of attorney
If the shareholder is a company rather than you personally, we also need its certificate of incorporation and a current register extract, both apostilled.
For the wider decisions before incorporation, such as d.o.o. or j.d.o.o., tax residence and how you’ll pay yourself, start with my main guide, Starting a business in Croatia as a foreigner.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start a Croatian company entirely online as a foreigner?
You can’t use START, but you can register without travelling. You sign a power of attorney at home, and a Croatian lawyer completes the identification number, notary, court and tax steps for you while you work with them by email and video call.
How long does remote registration take?
About 10–14 working days once your original power of attorney reaches Split. Getting it apostilled at home usually adds one to three weeks, depending on your country or state.
Can I open the company’s bank account remotely?
We prepare the bank’s identification and anti-money-laundering file during registration, and several banks accept identification without a branch visit. Some banks still ask the director to appear in person once; if yours does, we tell you at the start and book everything on a single day.
Do I need a Croatian director or partner?
No. A foreigner can own 100% of a Croatian company and act as its sole director without living in Croatia.
Register your Croatian company remotely with Mandracchio Capital
Our remote company formation service covers everything above in one fixed fee: the power of attorney, your personal identification number, the founding documents and notary, the share capital deposit, court registration, tax registration and an introduction to your accountant. You work with our team online from start to finish. See what’s included and the current fees on our company registration service page, or book a free call to plan your company.
