In Croatia, the concept of a “Registered Agent” as it is known in some other countries (such as the United States) or “process agent” (for the UK) does not exist in the same way. Instead, Croatian companies are required to have a registered seat (sjedište) within the country. This is the official address of the company, where all official documents, correspondence, and legal notifications are sent.
Key Points Regarding Registered Office in Croatia:
- Mandatory Registered Office: Every company in Croatia must have a registered office. This address is listed in the court register and must be a physical address in Croatia. It cannot be just a P.O. box. In the USA it is required to appoint a Registered Agent to receive official mail.
- Management Responsibility: The company’s management is responsible for ensuring that the registered office is a place where the company can be contacted and where legal documents can be served.
- Address Change Notification: If the company changes its registered office, this change must be officially registered with the Croatian court register.
Role Similar to a Registered Agent:
While Croatia does not require a Registered Agent, companies often hire local legal or accounting firms to handle their administrative tasks, including receiving official correspondence. That is the reason why at LetterBox we tailored a service that gives a Registered Company Seat but also, insert a so call Registered Agent (opunomoćenik za primanje pismena i volje) in the Croatian court register. This should be particularly common for foreign investors or companies whose management is not based in Croatia. These firms essentially perform a role similar to that of a registered agent by ensuring that the company meets its legal obligations and stays compliant with Croatian regulations.
In summary, appointing a registered agent is not mandatory in Croatia, but having one would be absolutely an advantage. We encourage companies to choose to work with local professionals to manage this requirement, especially if they do not have a physical presence or management team based in the country that the reason why we create a concept of a One Stop Shop.
