CroatiaSeasonal work

Seasonal work in Croatia

The permit allows third-country nationals to work in Croatia in agriculture, forestry and the hospitality and tourism sector on the basis of an employment contract. The employer provides adequate accommodation meeting the established standards and may not withhold more than a third of the net salary for housing services. The permit is valid for no more than six months a year, with one extension possible. Where employment exceeds ninety days, the employer goes through a labour market check with the Croatian Employment Service.

Source: mup.gov.hr — Seasonal workers

Who the permit suits

The permit is intended for foreign nationals who have concluded employment contracts with Croatian employers in particular sectors of the economy.

Conditions for the worker

A third-country national (not an EU/EEA citizen)
A valid foreign passport
A concluded employment contract with a Croatian employer
No entry bans for the EEA and Croatia

Conditions for the employer

Activity in agriculture, forestry or tourism
Provision of adequate accommodation of at least 14 m² per worker
Accommodation meeting hygiene and safety standards
Ability to go through a labour market test where required

Accommodation requirements

At least 14 m² for one worker
At least 20 m² for two workers
Separate rooms for men and women
No more than six people in one room

When the programme is not a fit

Work in sectors not covered by the permit (manufacturing, services other than tourism)

Look for an employer in agriculture, forestry or the tourism sector

No employment contract at the time of application

Conclude an employment contract before applying for the permit

A criminal record for criminal offences

Check whether the conviction can be quashed or spent before applying

A wish to stay in Croatia permanently while on seasonal work

Look into other types of permits for long-term or permanent residence

Documents to gather

The documents are filed by the employer with the competent police administration or police station.

The worker's valid foreign passport
The original or a certified copy of the employment contract
Proof of adequate accommodation (a lease, a title certificate or a letter from the employer)
A certificate of no criminal record from the country of citizenship
A certificate of no criminal record from the country of previous residence (if the worker lived there for more than a year)
Documents on the housing conditions (floor plans, confirmation of the area, information on the facilities)

How the process runs

The procedure starts with preparing the documents and ends with the permit being issued at the police administration.

1
Preparing the documents
2-4 weeks
The employer and the worker collect the required documents: passport, employment contract, proof of accommodation, a certificate of no criminal record from the country of citizenship and, where necessary, from the countries of previous residence.
2
Filing the application with the police administration
1 day
The employer files the application and the complete set of documents with the competent police administration or police station. The application must include a signed confirmation that the housing conditions meet the established standards.
3
Labour market check (where required)
Depends on the sector and the duration
If the work is planned for more than ninety days, the employer goes through a check with the Croatian Employment Service to confirm that no suitable candidates are available among citizens of Croatia and the EEA countries.
4
Issuance of the permit
1-3 weeks after filing
The police administration issues the seasonal work permit once all required documents are in place and the labour market check has been approved (where applicable). The permit is issued for up to six months within a calendar year.

Timelines and rights

Work

Work only in the listed sectors, for the employer named in the permit. The employer is obliged to provide accommodation meeting the standard of at least 14 m² per worker

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Work is allowed for 6 months a year. The permit may be extended once within the six-month period; the application is filed no earlier than 15 days before the end of the term.

The permit may be extended once within a six-month period, with the same or another employer. The extension application is filed with the police administration or police station no later than fifteen days before the current permit expires. All document requirements (accommodation, employment contract, certificates of no criminal record) remain the same.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Time spent on a seasonal permit does not count towards the 5 years needed for dugotrajno boravište. Qualifying residence is not accumulated on seasonal work.

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 Seasonal work

Can the worker apply themselves, or only the employer?

The application is filed exclusively by the employer with the police administration or police station. The worker cannot apply on their own, but must provide the required documents to the employer.

What is the maximum amount the employer may withhold for accommodation?

The employer may withhold no more than thirty per cent of the net salary for the accommodation provided. The deduction must be made with the worker's written consent, not automatically.

Is a labour market test needed for all seasonal workers?

A labour market test is not required for workers hired for up to ninety days. If the work is planned for more than ninety days, the employer must go through a check with the Croatian Employment Service to confirm that no suitable worker can be found among citizens of Croatia and the EEA countries.

Which certificates of no criminal record are required?

The worker must provide a certificate of no criminal record from their country of citizenship, as well as from any country where they lived continuously for more than one year immediately before coming to Croatia.

Can the permit be extended with a different employer?

Yes, a seasonal work permit may be extended once within the six-month period, either with the same employer or with a new one. File the extension application no later than fifteen days before the current permit expires.

Is there a fee for obtaining a seasonal work permit?

Official information on the cost of a seasonal work permit is not published on the website of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior. It is advisable to contact the competent police administration or a Croatian consulate to clarify the payments and fees.

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.