1. Managers
Employees who perform senior managerial functions within the company or host entity.
They can potentially be responsible for Management, Supervision, Strategic Decisions, Staff Management and Business Operations.
🇭🇷 Croatia
Intra-Corporate Transfer – Croatia
Residence & Work for Managers, Specialists and Trainee Employees
← Back to Croatia
Croatia provides a dedicated immigration pathway for qualifying third-country nationals who are temporarily transferred within an international company or group of companies.
The official framework is the Intra-Corporate Transferee Permit (ICT). It allows qualifying employees of a company established outside the European Union to be temporarily transferred to a related entity in Croatia.
The pathway is specifically designed for Managers, Specialists and Trainee Employees.
CETO Global Immigration Consulting & Partners assists international companies and transferred employees in assessing ICT eligibility and coordinating the Croatian residence and work process together with qualified Croatian legal and immigration professionals.
What Is an Intra-Corporate Transfer?
An intra-corporate transfer is a temporary transfer of an employee from a company established outside the EU to a related company, branch or entity in Croatia.
The foreign sending company and the Croatian host entity must belong to the same Company, Enterprise, or Group of Companies.
ICT is not an ordinary recruitment route. A Croatian company cannot simply recruit an unrelated foreign worker and classify the person as an ICT employee. A genuine corporate relationship must exist.
Who Can Qualify?
2. Specialists
Employees with specialised knowledge essential to the company's activities, processes, technology, services or management.
3. Trainee Employees
Qualifying employees transferred for structured professional development or training.
They must generally possess a Higher-Education Diploma.
Prior Employment Requirement
The employee must already have worked for the company or group before the transfer. The company generally cannot hire the person today and transfer them to Croatia tomorrow under the ICT route.
- Managers: At least 9 months of prior employment
- Specialists: At least 9 months of prior employment
- Trainee Employees: At least 6 months of prior employment
Corporate Relationship
Evidence must demonstrate that the foreign sending company and Croatian host entity belong to the same company or group.
- Commercial Register Extracts
- Shareholding Documentation
- Parent-Subsidiary Documentation
- Branch Documentation
- Group Structure
- Other Corporate Evidence
Transfer Documentation
The employee must have an employment contract with the company established outside the EU. A central document is the Transfer Certificate, which establishes the essential conditions of the temporary transfer.
- Duration of Transfer
- Croatian Host Entity
- Position and Status (Manager / Specialist / Trainee)
- Salary and Employment Conditions
- Place of Work
- Possibility of Returning to the Foreign Company After the Transfer
Temporary Character & Return
ICT is designed for temporary corporate mobility. The transferred employee must remain connected with the international corporate group.
The documentation must demonstrate that the employee can return to the company, branch or representative office outside the EU after completion of the transfer.
Working Conditions
The employment and transfer documentation must ensure that applicable Croatian minimum employment standards are respected.
- Working Time and Rest Periods
- Annual Leave and Overtime Pay
- Health & Safety
- Non-Discrimination
- Protection of Pregnant Workers
- Protection of Minors
Qualifications
Managers and Specialists must provide evidence that they possess the required Qualifications, Professional Experience and Skills for the proposed Croatian role.
A Trainee Employee must provide a Higher-Education Diploma. Additional training documentation can also be required.
Documentation
Depending on the case, required documentation can include:
- Valid Passport
- Employment Contract & Transfer Certificate
- Proof of Corporate Relationship
- Proof of Prior Employment
- Professional Qualification Documentation
- Higher-Education Diploma for Trainees
- Proof of Sufficient Means
- Health Insurance
- Criminal Record Certificate
- Accommodation Documentation
Criminal Record
For the first permit, the applicant generally needs evidence that they have not been finally convicted of relevant criminal offences in their country of origin or any country where they lived for more than 1 year immediately before arrival.
Application Procedure
- 01
Submission
The application can be submitted by the third-country national or the Croatian host/employer to the competent Police Administration or Police Station.
- 02
Diplomatic Mission
Visa-required nationals applying for the first time generally submit through a Croatian Diplomatic Mission or Consular Office.
- 03
Long-Stay Visa (Type D)
After approval, applicants who require a visa generally need a Long-Stay Visa – Type D before travelling.
- 04
After Arrival
After entering Croatia, the applicant must register their address (within 3 days) and provide biometric data for their residence card (within 30 days of visa issuance).
Processing & Fees
The currently published indicative processing time is 30–60 days. This is an indicative period, not a guaranteed approval date.
Administrative Fee: €74.32 (plus biometric card fees)
Government fees can change and should always be verified before filing.
Maximum ICT Duration
Strict maximum periods apply and the ICT permit cannot simply be extended indefinitely.
Important: After reaching the maximum duration, the employee must leave Croatia (unless they qualify for another residence basis) and generally remain outside for 6 months before applying for a new ICT permit.
Managers
Maximum 3 Years
Specialists
Maximum 3 Years
Trainee Employees
Maximum 1 Year
Work Rights & Change of Status
The ICT holder may work in Croatia only for the approved host entity within the approved intra-corporate transfer. Working for an unrelated Croatian company requires a different immigration basis.
An important advantage is that, during an extension procedure, the applicant can potentially request a change of status to another type of Croatian residence permit (e.g., Regular Employment or EU Blue Card) if they satisfy the conditions.
Family Reunification
Qualifying family members can obtain Croatian Temporary Residence for Family Reunification. Where the family application is submitted at the same time as the ICT application, authorities can process them together.
Family members of ICT holders can work in Croatia without a separate Stay and Work Permit.
Their residence status must still be valid and satisfy the applicable family reunification rules.
EU ICT Mobility
Croatia participates in the EU intra-corporate mobility framework, allowing ICT holders from other EEA Member States to work temporarily in Croatia.
- Short-Term Mobility: Work for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a separate Croatian permit (registration required).
- Long-Term Mobility: For assignments exceeding 90 days, a Stay and Work Permit for Long-Term ICT Mobility is required.
- Work while pending: Applicants holding a valid ICT permit from another EEA Member State can potentially continue working while their Croatian long-term mobility application is processed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the ICT pathway designed for?
It is specifically designed for Managers, Specialists, and Trainee Employees transferred from a company outside the EU to a related entity in Croatia.
What are the prior employment requirements?
Managers and Specialists must have worked for the company for at least 9 months. Trainees require at least 6 months of prior employment.
How long can I stay on an ICT permit?
Managers and Specialists can stay for a maximum of 3 years. Trainee Employees are limited to 1 year.
Can my family work in Croatia?
Yes, qualifying family members of ICT holders have the right to work in Croatia without a separate stay and work permit.
Can I move to work in other EU countries?
Yes, the EU ICT mobility framework allows for short-term and long-term mobility to other participating EEA Member States, subject to specific rules.
Can I change my permit type in Croatia?
Yes, an ICT holder can potentially transition to regular employment or an EU Blue Card if they satisfy the specific requirements for those permits.
Transfer Your Key People to Croatia
Corporate Mobility for International Business
Croatia's ICT framework allows multinational companies to temporarily transfer qualifying Managers, Specialists and Trainee Employees from operations outside the EU to related Croatian entities.
CETO can coordinate the corporate, employment and immigration process together with qualified Croatian legal and immigration professionals.