CroatiaHighly qualified work

EU Blue Card in Croatia

The programme is aimed at attracting highly qualified specialists from third countries to work in Croatia. Applicants must have higher education and an employment contract for a highly qualified position with a company registered in Croatia. The residence and work permit is issued exclusively for work with the named employer in the named position. Family members are able to obtain temporary stay for the same period. After a certain period of continuously holding the card, a foreign national may obtain long-term resident status.

Source: mup.gov.hr — Stay and work of highly-qualified third-country nationals

Who can obtain an EU Blue Card

The programme is intended for highly qualified specialists from third countries. These are the main requirements for obtaining a residence and work permit.

Main requirements for all applicants

Higher education with a diploma, certificate or other proof of formal qualification issued by an educational institution
An employment contract for a highly qualified position for at least one year
The employer must be registered in Croatia
Agreement to work only for this employer in this position

Additionally for regulated professions

A document showing that you meet the requirements of the regulated profession under special Croatian legislation
Proof of higher education in line with the requirements of the profession
A licence or certificate of professional qualification, where required
Consent to having your qualification checked by the Croatian authorities

When the programme is not a fit

You do not have higher education

Consider other visa programmes for unqualified workers

You are looking for work after arriving in Croatia

First find an employer and obtain an employment contract, then apply for the Blue Card

Your employment contract is for less than one year

Ask the employer to extend the contract to at least one year

You want to work for several employers at the same time

The Blue Card is tied to one employer; a change requires a new permit

What it costs

Residence and work permit	74,32 EUR
Biometric card (standard processing)	31,85 EUR
Biometric card (accelerated processing)Instead of standard processing	59,73 EUR
Additional fee on issuance of the biometric card	+9,29 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Additional fee on issuance of the biometric card” adds 9,29 EUR; the “Biometric card (accelerated processing)” branch replaces the “Biometric card (standard processing)” line — 134,05 EUR.	106.17–115,46 EUR

Documents to gather

The following documents need to be provided to apply for an EU Blue Card

Application on form 4a (provided by the diplomatic mission, the consulate or the police administration)
An employment contract for a highly qualified position for at least one year with a company registered in Croatia
A higher education diploma or other proof of formal qualification from the country of origin
For regulated professions: a document showing that you meet the requirements of the profession under special Croatian legislation
A valid passport or travel document

How the process runs

Obtaining an EU Blue Card involves the following stages

1
Preparing the documents
Collect all the required documents: the employment contract, the higher education diploma, form 4a and the other documents required under the instructions of the diplomatic mission or consulate
2
Filing the application
File the application at a Croatian diplomatic mission or consulate abroad, or at the police administration or police station for your place of stay
3
Processing of the application
The Croatian Ministry of the Interior reviews your application. The exact review time depends on how complete the documents are and can be clarified with the Croatian diplomatic mission or consulate
4
Issuance of the permit
If the decision is positive, you are issued a residence and work permit with an EU Blue Card biometric card

Timelines and rights

Work

You work only in the post and for the employer named on the card. For the first 2 years a change of job requires a new application — filed within 8 days. After 2 years it is enough to notify the Ministry of the Interior and attach the new contract. Renewal is requested no later than 30 days before the end of the term.

Who you can bring with you

Family members of a foreign national who has obtained a Blue Card may apply for temporary stay

Spouses and partners

May obtain a temporary residence permit for a period matching the validity of the holder's EU Blue Card

Children and other dependants

Receive a temporary residence permit for the same period as the main applicant

Family members in the longer term

May apply for long-term residence together with the main applicant once the required period of stay has been accumulated

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Family members receive temporary stay for a period matching the validity of the EU Blue Card

An application to renew the residence and work permit is filed no later than 30 days before the current permit expires. On renewal you need to provide a new employment contract and the other required documents. The fees on renewal stay at the same level. If you change employer within the first two years after obtaining the permit, a new application must be filed within 8 days. After two years of continuously holding the card, a change of employer requires only notifying the relevant authorities and providing the new employment contract.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After a continuous five-year period of holding an EU Blue Card, long-term resident status may be obtained

Route to citizenship

A Croatian passport is granted through naturalisation: from the age of 18, after 8 years of continuous registered residence and holding stalni boravak status. You take Croatian at level B1 and a test of 15 questions on culture and social organisation — 10 correct answers are required. Release from the previous citizenship is required.

Frequently asked questions about EU Blue Card

Can I change employer while the EU Blue Card is valid?

It depends on how long you have held the card. In the first two years after obtaining the permit, a change of employer requires a new application to be filed within eight days. After two years of continuously holding the card you may change employer, having first notified the relevant authorities and provided the new employment contract.

Which documents are required to apply for an EU Blue Card?

You need to provide an application on form 4a, an employment contract for a highly qualified position for at least one year, a higher education diploma, a valid passport and (for regulated professions) a document showing that you meet the requirements of the profession in Croatia.

Can my family members stay with me in Croatia once I have an EU Blue Card?

Yes, your family members, including a spouse, partner and children, may apply for a temporary residence permit for a period matching the validity of your EU Blue Card. They may also apply for long-term resident status once the required period of stay has been accumulated.

What information is required for regulated professions?

For regulated professions you need to provide a document confirming that you meet the requirements of the profession under special Croatian legislation. This may include licences, certificates of professional qualification and other documents required for your profession in the country of origin.

Other ways to move to Croatia

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Croatia.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.