• OFFICIAL NAME: Republic of Croatia
• FORM OF GOVERNMENT: Parliamentary Democracy
• CAPITAL: Zagreb
• POPULATION: 4,270,480
• OFFICIAL LANGUAGE: Croatian
• MONEY: Kuna
• AREA: 21,621 square miles (56,594 square kilometers)
• MAJOR MOUNTAIN RANGES: Dinaric Alps, Biokovo
• MAJOR RIVERS: Drava, Danube

Long-Term Residence and Permanent stay

LONG-TERM RESIDENCE
Long-term residence may be granted to third-country nationals who have been legally staying in the Republic of Croatia for an uninterrupted period of five years before submitting their application, which includes temporary stay, asylum or subsidiary protection.

It is considered that third-country nationals have stayed in the Republic of Croatia for an uninterrupted period of time if their several-time absence from the Republic of Croatia within a period of five years did not exceed 10 months, or if their one-time absence did not exceed 6 months.

Third-country nationals need to have a valid temporary stay status, asylum or subsidiary protection in the Republic of Croatia at the time of the decision on their long-term residence.

Long-term residence will not be granted to third-country nationals whose asylum or subsidiary protection has been revoked.

An application for  long-term residence (Form 1a) is submitted at a competent police administration/police station according to the alien’s place of temporary residence. The decision with regard to the application is made by the Ministry of the Interior.

The time required for granting long-term residence does not include:

1. stay on the basis of an issued stay and work permit for seasonal workers
2. stay on the basis of an issued stay and work permit for service providers
3. temporary stay granted to posted workers
4. stay on the basis of an issued stay and work permit for volunteers
5. stay on the basis of an issued stay and work permit for trainees
6. stay on the basis of an issued stay and work permit for intra-corporate transferees and their family members
7. stay on the basis of an issued stay and work permit for other essential personnel, as defined by the Protocol of Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation, as well as their family members
8. stay on the basis of an issued stay and work permit for frontier workers
9. stay granted for other purposes
10. stay granted for the purpose of secondary school education
11. the time spent serving a prison sentence.

Quick Facts:

Types of permanent residence

There are 2 types of permanent residence that you can get in Croatia. They are actually the same, but each of them can be granted under different terms.

As a third-country national you may be granted:

1. Dugotrajno boravište (long-term residence)

OR

1. Stalni boravak (permanent residence)

Dugotrajno boravište and stalni boravak are both granted for an indefinite period. The main difference between the two is that stalni boravak can be obtained on more favorable terms.

Third-country nationals who receive either dugotrajno boravište or stalni boravak have the same rights in Croatia.

They both have the right to:

• Work and self-employment
• Professional development
• Education and student scholarships (state scholarships are excluded)
• Social welfare
• Child allowance
• Tax reliefs
• Access to the market of goods and services
• Freedom to associate and be members of organizations that represent workers or employers, or organizations whose members perform particular occupations, including fees paid to them by such organization

PERMANENT STAY
Permanent stay may be granted to a third-country national who:

• is a family member or a life partner of a Croatian citizen who, prior to the day of submission of his application, has had granted temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification or life partnership for an uninterrupted period of four years
• is a member of the Croatian people with foreign citizenship or who is stateless and proves his status with a certificate issued by the state administration authority for Croats abroad if it is established that he has returned with the intention of residing permanently in the Republic of Croatia, provided that he has had granted temporary stay for an uninterrupted period of three years prior to the day of submission of his application
• by the date of submission of his application, has had at least three years of uninterrupted temporary stay, and refugee status for at least 10 years, which is proven by a certificate issued by the state administration authority competent for housing care
• is a minor child who has had granted temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification for an uninterrupted period of three years prior to the day of submission of his application, and one of the parents has had granted permanent stay or long-term residence
• had permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia on 8 October 1991, and who is a beneficiary of a return, reconstruction or housing care programme, which is proven by a certificate issued by the state administration authority competent for housing care if it is established that he has returned with the intention of residing permanently in the Republic of Croatia, provided that he encloses proof of no criminal record issued by his home country or a country in which he resided for more than a year immediately prior to arriving in the Republic of Croatia, or to
• underage children who live in the Republic of Croatia:
  • whose one parent had a permanent stay or long-term residence status at the moment of the child’s birth (with the consent of the other parent),
  • whose one parent had a permanent stay or long-term residence status in the Republic of Croatia at the moment of the child’s birth, and the other parent is unknown, dead, pronounced dead, deprived of parental rights or fully or partially deprived of legal capacity with regard to parental care,
• third-country nationals who were born in the Republic of Croatia and have been living here since their birth, but who have not regulated their residence status for justified reasons that they could not have any impact on (which is proved by an extract from birth register, proof that they have attended preschool or school, proof of employment, proof of being beneficiaries of health care services or social rights and any other proof showing that the said person has been living in the Republic of Croatia).

Permanent stay will be granted to third-country nationals if they have a valid travel document and if they are not considered threat for public policy, national security or public health.
An application for permanent stay (Form 1a) is submitted at a competent police administration/police station according to the alien’s place of temporary residence. The decision with regard to the application is made by the Ministry of the Interior.

Permanent Residency & Path to Citizenship

In order to apply for permanent residency in Croatia, you must have lived in the country for five years. You’ll need a valid passport, proof of permanent income, health insurance and social security, and a basic knowledge of the Croatian language in order to be approved.

After five years of permanent residency, you can apply for citizenship. You’ll be required to know the Croatian language and Croatia will also require that you relinquish any other citizenship, as it does not allow dual citizenship.

How do I obtain a permanent residence permit in Croatia?

• A satisfactory level of the Croatian language is required.
• One must give up the existing citizenship, as Croatia does not accept dual citizenship.

Reasons to move to Croatia

1. In terms of total FDIs for 2019, Croatia registered nearly USD 30 billion.
2. The simplified business is highlighted by the 2020 Doing Business report that ranks Croatia 51st out of 190 worldwide economies.
3. The financial services in Croatia absorbed most of the FDIs in 2019, around 30% of the total.
4. Most investors in Croatia come from EU and countries like Austria, the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy.

Croatia Investor Residency Government Policy

Permanent Residence in Croatia by Investment

Applicants can obtain permanent residence in Croatia by:

1. Obtaining Temporary Stay Permit that is required by all individuals seeking to stay in the country for more than three months,
2. Permanent Stay Permit after submitting proof of uninterrupted stay in Croatia for a period of not less than five years.

The procedure for obtaining permanent residence in Croatia differs depending on whether the applicant is an EEA national or a non-EEA national.

Permanent Residence in Croatia for EEA Nationals

Eligibility Requirements:

While there is no minimum investment requirement for obtaining permanent residence in Croatia, an applicant who is an EEA national must fulfill the following conditions to obtain temporary stay:

• The applicant must be employed or self-employed.
• The applicant must have sufficient funds to support his or her family without requiring social care assistance during their stay in the Republic of Croatia.
• The applicant and his/her family must have adequate health insurance.

Fulfilling these conditions and reporting one’s temporary stay in Croatia to a competent police authority having jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of stay will entitle him or her to a certificate of reporting a temporary stay that is valid for a period of up to five years.

The applicant can seek permanent residence in Croatia after five years of uninterrupted residence in the country. Single absence of less than six months and multiple absences of less than ten months over the five year period will not be treated as an interruption in the residence.

After five years, the applicant can seek issue of permanent stay permit from police authorities having jurisdiction over his or her place of stay in Croatia. The permanent residence permit is issued with a validity of ten years.

Documents Requirements:

The applicant must submit the following documents:

1. Valid proof of identity
2. Valid travel documents
3. Proof of employment.
4. Proof of educational qualifications.
5. Proof of having adequate funds for sustenance in Croatia.
6. Proof of adequate health insurance for the entire family.

Permanent Residence in Croatia  for Non-EEA Nationals

Like EEA nationals, non-EEA nationals are not subject to any minimum investment requirements when seeking permanent residence in Croatia.

The procedure for becoming a permanent resident in Croatia involves two steps:

1. Obtaining a temporary stay permit and a stay and work permit outside the annual quota,
2. Obtaining permanent residence permit after five years of legal and uninterrupted residence in Croatia.

Temporary Stay Permit

A temporary stay permit can be obtained by submitting the following documents:

1. A valid travel document.
2. Proof of sufficient funds to support self and family during the stay in Croatia.
3. Proof of having adequate health insurance.
4. Purpose of the temporary stay i.e. proof of the stay and work permit outside the annual quota. This permit can be obtained by submitting the following documents:
   1. Proof of educational qualifications.
   2. Proof of ownership of 51% stake in a company that is executing strategic investment projects in Croatia and executes activities and projects involving expert and technical assistance from other countries or international organizations.
5. Proof of good character of the applicant indicating that his or her presence is not a threat to safety, national security, or public health.

Fulfilling these conditions will result in issue of temporary permit with a validity of one year. The permit must be repeatedly renewed for a period of five years.

Permanent Stay Permit

The non-EEA national can seek permanent residence after five years of uninterrupted residence in the country. The applicant should not be absent from the country for more than six months in a single trip and for not more than ten months over the five year period. The applicant must have a valid temporary stay permit when applying for permanent residence.

Documents Requirements

The applicant must submit the following documents with the application for permanent stay permit:

1. Valid travel documents.
2. Proof of having adequate funds to support self and family in Croatia.
3. Proof of adequate health insurance.
4. Proof of familiarity with the culture of the country and the setup of the Croatian society. This shall be determined on the basis of the questionnaire that is a part of the permanent application form.
5. Proof of knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script. This may be obtained by taking tests conducted by educational institutions providing adult education in Croatia. This test is mandatory only if he applicant did not fill the above-mentioned questionnaire on his or her own. This test need not be taken by a retired applicant who is aged over 65 years.
6. Proof of good character

WORK IN CROATIA

Croatia is a small country with a rich history. Charming historical towns, beautiful mountains, dramatic landscapes, blue Adriatic Sea, amazing waterfalls and wonderful national parks have made Croatia recognizable for its natural beauty. The pleasant and high quality of life and low rates of crime ensure that Croatia is a perfect place to live and work in.

The ICT sector is one of the fastest growing sectors in Croatia. Over the past years there is a significant increase in the number of start-up businesses and the export of software and IT services. One of the main characteristics of the sector is a continuous search for skilled and well-educated labour force. Engineers, developers and ICT employees in Croatia are in general well paid for meeting the demanding requirements of the projects they are involved in.

Popular Types of Jobs in Croatia by Industry

• Admin
• Advertising & Marketing
• Business
• Childcare & Entertainment
• Computer
• Construction
• Cruise Ships
• Finance
• HR/Recruitment
• Hospitality
• Holiday Resorts & Campsites
• Hotel Industry
• Photography & videography
• Restaurant/Food Service
• Retail
• Summer/Seasonal
• TEFL/ESL
• Tourism/Travel
• Training
• Transportation

As of now we require Workers in the following occupations:

• Cooks
• Mason
• Metal Fabricator
• Steel Fixer
• Long Haul Truck Drivers
• Waitress
• Welders

Labour shortages at national level in following sectors and professions:

• Construction, manufacturing and  processing industries: bricklayer, carpenter, welder, installer of building elements, construction machinery operator, stonemason, crane handler, pipeline fitter, painter, roofer, plumber, electrical installer, heating and air conditioning installer, waterproofer, fitter of metal structures, ceramic tile depositor, isolator, locksmith, electromonter, maintenance electrician
• Transport:  the driver of the truck, the driver of the truck with the trailer, the car mechanic
• Hospitality sector: national chef, butcher, baker, pastry chef
• Healthcare and social services: doctors of medicine, nurses, experienced medical technicians;
• Administration and IT services: programmer, UI designer, system administrator.

Hot jobs:

Top 10 of the most required occupations in Croatia

1.    Waiters    (ISCO 5131)
2.    Cleaners and helpers in offices, hotels and other establishments    (ISCO 9112)
3.    Cooks    (ISCO 5120)
4.    Travel consultants and clerks    (ISCO 4221)
5.    Print finishing and binding workers    (ISCO 7323)
6.    Travel guides    (ISCO 5113)
7.    Fitness and recreation instructors and program leaders    (ISCO 3423)
8.    Toolmakers and related workers    (ISCO 7222)
9.    Receptionists (general)    (ISCO 4226)
10.  Telephone switchboard operators    (ISCO 4223)

At the national level, occupations with a high unemployment rate are the following:

• photographer
• economist, business secretary, administrative clerk
• graphic technician
• environmental technician
• fashion technician
• hotel and tourism technician

Summer & Holiday Jobs in Croatia

So you want to do more than just your average holiday? Apply to work a summer season in Croatia. Companies usually hire staff from between April to October but there are also positions available throughout the year. 

Recruitment for the summer season usually starts early, companies want to get staff in place well before summer starts and so it is essential to apply early to give yourself the best chance of getting a position. In your spare time you can explore the beautiful islands of Croatia – this will be a dream experience.

Short overview of the labour market:

• Croatia is a medium-sized European country, geographically located at the crossing from Central to Southeast Europe.
• According to the 2021 census, Croatia had 3,888,529 inhabitants.
• Based on the labour force survey, it is estimated that in the third quarter of 2021 the number of working age inhabitants (aged 15 and over) was 3,508,000 and the number of employees was 1,705,000.
• The unemployment rate in the first quarter of 2022 was 7.5%.
• In 2021, there was a strong economic recovery following the pandemic crisis and Croatia was among the EU countries with the strongest GDP growth at the end of 2021. Real GDP growth is estimated to have been around 4.1 % in 2022.
• The average net salary paid in 2021 was HRK 7,129 (EUR 938), while in March 2022 it increased to HRK 7,607 (EUR 1,009.84).
• The needs of the labour market in Croatia are analyzed by the Croatian Employment Service. The labour market is characterised by a shortage of workers in some professions, partly due to emigration to other Member States of the European Union.
• Croatia is divided into four NUTS regions: Pannonian Croatia, Adriatic Croatia, The City of Zagreb and Northern Croatia.

Salary for Working in Croatia

What you get paid really depends on the company, position and your experience. Sometimes salaries are negotiable and dependent on experience. Some holiday companies offer competitive salaries of around £1000 per month which includes accommodation, some meals and also commission. When working for local companies you will usually be paid in the local currency – Kuna. For international companies this can vary.

CROATIA WORK PERMIT

Immigration UA has many partners, employment agencies, which help Croatian employers and foreign employees to find each other. On the one hand, they are doing a great job searching for reliable, proven companies that need employees. Select only those employers who offer a decent salary, and provide official registration based on a Croatia work permit visa. On the other hand, the Croatia work permit agency is looking for motivated candidates who meet the criteria of the employer and are set up for long-term official employment in Croatia.

In turn, we also carefully select a trusted Croatia work permit agency that has a good reputation, employs candidates only for official work. We only publish offers from recruitment agencies that have been pre-tested. You can be sure that these vacancies are fully consistent with the description that the representatives of the agency will issue all the necessary documents for obtaining a working residence permit and official employment of the candidate to the employer.

Types of Work Visas in Croatia

Your employees planning to work in Croatia will need a work permit and a residency permit. Since Croatia is part of the EU, most European citizens can live and work in the country without a visa. If your employees are outside of the EU, they’ll need to obtain a work permit through their local Republic of Croatia diplomatic mission.

Most Croatia work and residence permits are limited to 12 months. However, Croatia allows applicants to extend their work permit at least 60 days before it expires if they need to continue to work in the country. Croatia is also a part of the EU Blue Card network, which can help third-country nationals, as the Blue Card is valid for two years.

While the work and residence permit combination is the most common way for employees to obtain a work visa in Croatia, some may be eligible for a work registration certificate. These certificates are typically for consultants, performers, journalists, and members of a religious order.

Requirements to Obtain Croatia Work Visas

Previously Croatia used a quota system for work and residence permits, which meant applicants could only get a work permit if the country was below its quota. The quota system was abolished as of January 1, 2021. Under the new Foreigners Act, which regulates the entry, stay and work of non-EU nationals in Croatia, employers must first contact the country’s employment service (HZZ) for a labor market assessment to determine in there are any unemployed Croatian nationals suitable for the position. If the study does not find any qualified individuals, the employer can then proceed with applying for a work and residence permit for a foreign national.

All applicants need certain documents, including:

• A copy of their passport
• A passport-size photo
• Proof of their ability to support themselves while in Croatia
• Evidence of health insurance
• An employment contract
• Proof of academic qualifications and skills
• Evidence of their company’s registration

Employees looking to get an EU Blue Card must be from a country outside the EU and have completed a bachelor’s degree or have five years of senior professional experience. Applicants also need a binding job offer or an active work contract. Member states will often fast track the Blue Card application process, making it faster than the traditional work and resident permit process.

DOCUMENTS CHECKLIST CROATIA WORK PERMIT VISA