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Work and residence permit in Croatia

The single residence and work permit is issued to third-country nationals hired by a Croatian employer. The permit gives the right to live temporarily and work in the country for the named employer at the same time. Most positions require a labour market test carried out by the Croatian Employment Service. When renewing with the same employer the procedure is simplified. For short-term work there are separate registration certificates.

Source: mup.gov.hr — Work of third-country nationals

Who may apply

The application may be filed by the employer or by the foreign national at the police administration for the place of work or for the employer's registered address.

An employer hiring from abroad

You have a specialist position the local market does not fill
You are ready to go through the labour market test with the Croatian Employment Service
You are ready to provide a job offer and an employment contract

A foreign national looking for work in Croatia

You have a job offer from a Croatian employer
You have a passport valid throughout the processing of the application
You agree to work only for this particular employer

Renewing the permit

You continue to work for the same employer
The employer meets its tax and insurance obligations
You file the application no later than a month before expiry

When the programme is not a fit

You want to work for several employers at the same time

Obtain a separate permit for each employer

You are planning short-term work for a few days

Apply for a 30-day work registration certificate

You want to find work on your own without a job offer

First find an employer willing to offer you a job and file the application

You are an EU citizen or hold a special status

Check whether you are exempt from the work permit requirement

What it costs

Residence and work permitthe main fee for the single permit	74,32 EUR
Biometric card, standard procedureproduction of the biometric card	31,85 EUR
Issuance of the biometric cardan additional fee for issuing the card	9,29 EUR
Biometric card, accelerated procedureinstead of the standard procedure	59,73 EUR
Work registration certificatefor short-term work instead of the full permit	39,82 EUR
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. the “Biometric card, accelerated procedure” branch replaces the “Biometric card, standard procedure” line — 143,34 EUR; the “Work registration certificate” branch replaces the “Residence and work permit” line — 80,96 EUR. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	115,46 EUR

Paid separately

Costs of drawing up the employment contract — the responsibility of the employer and the employee
Costs of the labour market test — carried out by the Croatian Employment Service, fees not stated

Documents to gather

You need to prepare the main documents for the police administration.

A passport or another valid third-country document
An employment contract in Croatian or English
A health insurance certificate, if required
Proof of payment of the state fee

How the process runs

Obtaining the permit takes several stages, from the employer's initiative to collecting the card at the police administration.

1
The employer initiates the labour market test
15 days
The employer files a request with the Croatian Employment Service for a labour market test. The Service replies within 15 days. This stage is skipped on renewal or for shortage occupations.
2
Filing the application with the police administration
depends on the location
The employer or the foreign national files the complete application with the competent police administration for the place of work or for the employer's registered address. An employment contract, a passport and proof of payment of the fees are required.
3
The Ministry of the Interior reviews the application
up to 90 days
The Ministry of the Interior reviews the application in accordance with the legislation. Under the law the Ministry has up to 90 days from receiving a complete application to take a decision.
4
Receiving the permit and the biometric card
on the day of the Ministry's decision
After a positive decision by the Ministry the foreign national receives a notification. You then need to appear at the police administration to collect the biometric card with the permit embossed on it.
5
Renewing the permit before expiry
under the general time limits
Thirty days before the permit expires the employee may apply for a renewal without a repeat labour market test, provided they continue to work for the same employer.

Timelines and rights

Work

The single permit gives the right to reside temporarily and work in Croatia for the named employer at the same time. Most positions require a labour market test and an opinion of the Croatian Employment Service; for shortage occupations from the Employment Service list only the opinion is required, without the labour market test. When renewing with the same employer neither the test nor the opinion is required. For short-term work there are work registration certificates for 90 and for 30 days. State fees: EUR 74.32 for the residence and work permit, EUR 39.82 for the work registration certificate

Who you can bring with you

A residence and work permit for the main applicant may allow family members to join them in certain circumstances.

Spouse

May file a separate application for a residence permit if an employer agrees to hire them or if there are other grounds for residence

Children under 21

May be included in the main applicant's family reunification application; documentary proof of dependency is required

Dependent parents

May apply for residence if the main applicant supports them financially; proof is required

Trips, renewal and the grace period

For dugotrajno boravište, 5 years of continuous lawful residence are counted. Over these 5 years absences of up to 10 months in total and no longer than 6 months in a row are allowed.

The permit is issued for the term set by the employment contract, but for no more than three years. To renew it, the application is filed no later than 30 days before expiry. When renewing with the same employer, the labour market test and the opinion of the Croatian Employment Service are not required, which simplifies the process. Confirmation that the employer continues to meet its tax and insurance obligations is required.

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

After 5 years of continuous residence you apply for dugotrajno boravište — EU long-term residence. In addition you are asked for means of subsistence, health insurance and an examination in the Croatian language and Latin script. On receiving the decision you pay EUR 83.62.

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. After the age of 60 language and culture are not tested.

Frequently asked questions about Work and residence permit

Can I work for another employer if I hold the permit?

No, the permit is valid only for the particular employer named in the document. If you want to work for another employer, the permit expires automatically and a new application has to be filed.

How long can I stay outside Croatia while holding a residence and work permit?

If you are outside Croatia for more than 90 days in a row within a year, or exceed 180 days within two years, your permit may be revoked. You need to remain in the country to keep the status.

Which occupations do not require a labour market test?

Shortage occupations defined by the Croatian Employment Service do not require a labour market test. For these occupations only the opinion of the Croatian Employment Service is required. In addition, when renewing with the same employer neither the test nor the opinion is required.

For how long is the residence and work permit issued?

The permit is issued for the term set by the employment contract between the employee and the employer, but it cannot be issued for a term longer than three years. If needed, the permit can be renewed for the same or a shorter period.

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.