🇭🇷 Croatia
Stay & Work Permit
Live & Work Legally in Croatia
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Croatia provides a combined immigration pathway for qualifying third-country nationals who want to live and work in the country.
The principal employment-based permit is known as the Stay and Work Permit. It allows a qualifying third-country national to reside in Croatia and work for an approved employer, performing approved employment for the validity of the permit.
CETO Global Immigration Consulting & Partners assists international employees and Croatian employers in assessing eligibility, preparing documentation and coordinating the Croatian employment immigration process together with qualified local legal and immigration professionals.
What is the Stay & Work Permit?
The Stay and Work Permit is a single permit combining residence and employment authorisation.
It allows a third-country national to legally live and work in Croatia under the conditions stated in the permit.
Who Can Qualify?
The pathway can potentially be relevant for a wide range of professionals and workers:
Technical Workers
International Professionals
Construction Workers
Hospitality Workers
Manufacturing Workers
Logistics Employees
Healthcare Professionals
IT Professionals
Other Qualifying Employees
Croatian Employer
A qualifying employment relationship with a Croatian employer is normally required.
The employer plays an important role in the procedure and can submit the Stay and Work Permit application in qualifying cases.
Three Main Employment Procedures
Croatian employment immigration generally falls into three principal categories depending on the nature of the position and the applicant's profile.
1. Labour Market Test + HZZ Opinion
For Many Ordinary Employment Cases
For many ordinary employment cases, the employer must first request a Labour Market Test from the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ).
The purpose is to determine whether suitable workers are available on the Croatian labour market. Only after the applicable requirements are satisfied and a positive opinion is issued can the procedure proceed.
2. No Labour Market Test – HZZ Opinion Required
High-Demand Professions
Croatia maintains a list of high-demand professions. For qualifying occupations on this list, no Labour Market Test is required.
However, an opinion of the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) is still generally required. The list of high-demand professions can change, and should be verified before accepting a case.
3. No Labour Market Test & No HZZ Opinion
Exempt Categories
Certain categories are exempt from both the Labour Market Test and the HZZ Opinion. These are specific legal exemptions and cannot be chosen arbitrarily by an employer.
- Key Personnel
- Self-Employed Company Owners
- EU Blue Card Holders
- Intra-Corporate Transferees
- Service Providers
- Volunteers
- Trainees
- Crew Members
- Other Statutorily Defined Categories
Employment Conditions
The position must comply with Croatian employment law. The applicant must generally provide an employment contract or another qualifying contract demonstrating the employment relationship.
Authorities can assess matters including the job position, salary, working hours, employment conditions, qualifications, and employer compliance.
Professional Qualifications
Where required for the proposed position, the applicant must provide evidence of education, professional qualifications, skills, work experience, or vocational training.
Regulated Professions
Where the job is a regulated profession, the applicant must provide evidence of recognition of professional qualifications from the competent Croatian authority.
General Immigration Conditions
The applicant must generally satisfy standard immigration conditions including:
- Valid Travel Document
- Sufficient Means of Support
- Health Insurance
- No Applicable Entry Ban
- No Relevant SIS Alert
- No Threat to Public Order
- No Threat to National Security
- No Threat to Public Health
Criminal Record
For a first permit, the applicant generally needs proof that they have not been finally convicted of relevant criminal offences in their country of origin or a country where they lived for more than 1 year immediately before coming to Croatia.
The document generally needs to be properly legalised.
Application & Arrival Process
- 01
Application Submission
The application is generally submitted through a Croatian diplomatic mission abroad. Applicants who do not require a visa can potentially apply at a police station (PU/PP) while in Croatia. The employer can also submit the application at the police station according to the place of stay or work.
- 02
Online Application (Employer)
For cases requiring HZZ procedures, the employer can submit the permit application online through the applicable Croatian system.
- 03
Stay & Work Permit Approval
Upon successful review by the Ministry of Interior and HZZ (where applicable), the permit is approved.
- 04
Long-Stay Visa (Type D)
If the applicant requires a visa to enter Croatia, they must apply for a Visa D after the permit is approved but before travelling.
- 05
Address Registration
After arrival, the foreign national must register their stay and address within 3 days.
- 06
Biometrics & Residence Card
The applicant must provide biometric data (generally within 30 days of visa issuance) to obtain the biometric residence permit.
Permit Validity & Rights
The Stay and Work Permit is generally issued for the period required to perform the job or the duration of the employment contract, up to the applicable statutory maximum. Duration can depend on the exact employment category.
The holder may work only in the approved job and for the approved employer under the conditions of the issued permit.
The Stay and Work Permit does not grant unrestricted access to any job in Croatia.
Changing Employment
A foreign national who wants to change employer or workplace generally needs to submit a new Stay and Work Permit application.
The employee should not begin work for the new employer until the immigration requirements have been correctly satisfied.
If the employment contract ends, the employer and foreign national must notify the police authority within 15 days, as loss of employment can directly affect the legal basis of residence.
Extension & Renewal
A Stay and Work Permit can potentially be extended where employment continues, the employer remains eligible, and immigration requirements continue to be satisfied.
Where the same third-country national continues working for the same employer, the extension can fall within an exemption from the ordinary Labour Market Test and HZZ Opinion requirements.
During the extension procedure, a foreign national can potentially request a change of status to a different permit type (e.g., self-employment or family reunification) where statutory conditions are met.
Family Reunification
Qualifying family members can potentially obtain temporary residence for family reunification.
1-Year Waiting Period
For certain Stay and Work Permit holders whose permit was issued on the basis of an HZZ opinion, family reunification can be subject to a 1-year waiting period.
Long-Term Residence
Employment residence can potentially contribute toward future Croatian Long-Term Residence where the applicable residence periods and other conditions are satisfied.
Certain work-related residence periods (seasonal work, service providers, posted workers, volunteers, trainees, ICT, etc.) do NOT count toward the standard Long-Term Residence calculation.
Stay & Work Permit vs. EU Blue Card
Stay & Work Permit
Designed for qualifying employment more generally across a broad range of sectors and skill levels.
EU Blue Card
Designed specifically for highly qualified professionals. It has higher salary and qualification requirements but can provide specific advantages for mobility and long-term residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can submit the application?
The application can be submitted by the foreign national through a diplomatic mission, or by the employer through the competent police administration/station.
What is the HZZ opinion?
The Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) provides an opinion on the proposed employment, assessing labour market conditions and employer eligibility.
Can I change my employer?
Yes, but it generally requires a new Stay and Work Permit application. You should not start work for the new employer until the permit is approved.
Is there a waiting period for family reunification?
For permits issued based on an HZZ opinion, a 1-year waiting period may apply before family members can apply for reunification.
Does my time in Croatia count toward long-term residence?
Generally yes, but time spent on certain permits (like seasonal work or ICT) may be excluded. It is important to review the specific category.
Start Your Career in Croatia
Professional Support for Your Employment Permit
Whether you are a skilled worker, a technical specialist, or an international professional, the Stay and Work Permit is your primary gateway to the Croatian labour market.
CETO Global Immigration Consulting & Partners provides comprehensive coordination for both employees and employers to ensure a smooth and compliant immigration process.