- by croatiaweek
- in News
Croatia has approved €1.2 million in funding for 66 projects aimed at strengthening ties with the Croatian diaspora and encouraging people living abroad to return, relocate and integrate into Croatian society.
The Ministry of Demography and Immigration announced the funding on 15 October, following the completion of its 2026 public call for civil society organisations working with Croatian communities abroad and people considering a move to Croatia.
The funding is intended to support initiatives that maintain connections between Croatians overseas and their homeland, while helping returnees and their families settle into life in Croatia.
What will the funding support?
The approved projects cover a range of activities, from information campaigns and professional networking to cultural events and programmes for younger generations.
According to the ministry, the initiatives include:
• Information and promotion: Activities informing the diaspora about opportunities to return to and settle in Croatia.
• Business and professional connections: Programmes linking Croatians abroad with professional and economic opportunities in Croatia.
• Youth programmes: Exchange and experiential programmes for young people from the Croatian diaspora.
• Support for returning families: Activities helping children and young people returning to Croatia integrate into the country’s educational, social and cultural life.
• Cultural and sporting events: Activities promoting Croatian identity and maintaining connections between overseas communities and Croatia.
The projects fall under the public call for civil society organisations working to encourage the return, immigration and integration of the Croatian diaspora in 2026.
Eligible applicants included associations, foundations, Catholic Church legal entities and religious communities operating in Croatia or abroad, subject to the call’s conditions.
Individual projects could receive between €4,000 and €40,000, depending on the priority area. Projects focused on producing promotional and informational content were subject to a maximum grant of €10,000.
The ministry’s published call identified six priority areas, covering events related to return and relocation, information and promotional content, business and professional networking, cultural and sporting activities, support for children and young people, and exchange programmes for people aged up to 30.
Croatian Minister of Demography and Immigration Ivan Šipić said civil society organisations played an important role in connecting the diaspora with Croatia and providing practical support to people considering a return.
He said their work helped translate demographic policy objectives into activities and opportunities for individuals and families.
Šipić also highlighted the challenges involved in returning to Croatia, describing it as a major life decision that requires confidence, security and a sense of belonging.
The ministry said it would continue supporting initiatives intended to strengthen relationships with Croatian communities abroad and help returnees and their families integrate into Croatian society.
Where to find the approved projects
The ministry has published the funding decision, which lists the approved project proposals and the amounts allocated to them.
The full list is available in the official funding decision (PDF).