The State Office for Croats abroad is a central state administration body established to promote cooperation and strengthen relations between the Republic of Croatia and Croatians living outside the country.

The State Office is mandated under the Act on the Relations between the Republic of Croatia and the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia to:

• coordinate and monitor the activities between the competent ministries, other state administration bodies and other competent authorities for cooperation between the Republic of Croatia and the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia,
• care for the protection of rights and interests of the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia,
• care for the preservation and strengthening of the identity of the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia,
• establish, maintain and promote the relations with the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia,
• strengthen cooperation with the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia and elaborate the communication strategy for the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia,
• in cooperation with other competent ministries, carry out activities relating to the creation of conditions for the return of emigrants/diaspora to the Republic of Croatia and their inclusion in the economic and social life in the Republic of Croatia,
• propose a policy of encouraging of, and providing assistance in the return and immigration,
• conduct measures and programmes for integration of Croatian returnees and immigrants,
• provide assistance in business investments,
• offer economic support for the return and sustainable survival of the Croatians as a constituent people in Bosnia and Herzegovina and of the Croatian minorities in the Republic of Serbia, Montenegro and the Republic of Kosovo,
• offer economic support for other Croatian communities if necessary,
• implement the Strategy and propose projects and implementation plans, and monitor their implementation,
• keep stipulated records on the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia,
• plan and ensure financial means to the Croatians outside the Republic of Croatia for programmes and projects, and; 
• other activities regulated by a special law.