You can submit your complaint in writing via post, e-mail or in person.
Form
You do not need to fill in a specific form.
Language
The working language of the Ombudsperson is Croatian. This means that your application should be in Croatian. In exceptional circumstances, the Ombudsperson will also accept applications in other languages. However, in most cases, the official reply you will receive will be in Croatian.
Content
The complaint must contain:
- the name and surname of the complainant or the person whose rights have been violated
- residential address or address for receiving mail, whether you send a complaint by regular mail or e-mail
- circumstances and facts on which the complaint is based (preferably documentation)
- information on the body that threatened or infringed the right
- information on whether the remedy has already been used and when it has been filed
- the signature of the complainant or the signed consent of the person on whose behalf you are submitting the complaint
In your application you need to explain clearly:
- what has happened
- when it happened
- which state institutions or officials were involved
- to which institutions or officials you complained about this situation and what their responses were
- the application needs to contain your name, signature, date and return address
Your application does not need to be in legally correct language or refer to any specific legal provisions, but it has to be clear and understandable. Try to write only about the facts and issues relating to the violation about which you are complaining. To help the Ombudsperson better understand what has happened, try to keep the text simple, focused and avoid emotional or derogatory language.
Documents
If you can, please add all the documents (especially complaints you have made and the responses to them) that are related to the situation you are complaining about to your application.
Time limits
The Ombudsperson is entitled to freely decide whether they will accept the complaint into consideration and to which extent. For example, the Ombudsperson may not take action with respect to a complaint if the deadline for an appeal provided for by special regulations is still open or if three years have elapsed since the occurrence of an irregularity or the adoption of a decision by the state body. If you submit a complaint to the Ombudsperson, they will take a decision on whether to open a verification case and inform you about the decision within one month.
Address
The complaint can be submitted by post, by e-mail to info@ombudsman.hr or in person in the office in Zagreb, Rijeka, Osijek or Split or by calling 01 4851 855 (Zagreb), 051 563 786 (Rijeka), 031 628 054 (Osijek)
Applications must be sent to the following address:
The Ombudsperson of the Republic of Croatia
Savska cesta 41/3
10000 Zagreb
Republika Hrvatska
Legal aid
In Croatia, free legal aid is provided by the administrative bodies of the counties and the City of Zagreb, authorised associations, legal clinics and lawyers. Legal aid providers can inform you on your rights and possibilities to exercising them and if needed, they will contact other institutions regarding your case. The Office of the Ombudsperson is not a provider of free legal aid in Croatia. Having a lawyer is not compulsory when applying to the Ombudsperson. If you are not sure if your human rights have been violated and whether the Ombudsperson can investigate your case, you can email (info@ombudsman.hr) or call (+385 1 4851855) the Ombudsperson’s office before you make an application.