How to get a job in Croatia as a foreign worker

Croatian employers in construction, tourism, manufacturing and logistics hire thousands of workers from abroad every year – the Ministry of the Interior issued more than 106,000 residence and work permits between January and July 2026 alone, according to its official statistics. Getting one of these jobs is a legal process with clear steps. This guide explains them as they stand under the Croatian Aliens Act (Zakon o strancima) in force since 4 June 2026.

Do you need a work permit to work in Croatia?

It depends on your citizenship. Citizens of EU and EEA countries do not need a permit. If they stay longer than three months, they register temporary residence no later than eight days after the three months run out (gov.hr).

Everyone else – a third-country national – needs a residence and work permit (dozvola za boravak i rad). It is a single permit that covers both your stay and your job, and it is issued for a specific employer.

A visa is not enough. The government portal states it plainly: on the basis of a visa, a third-country national cannot work in Croatia (gov.hr).

Some people can work without a separate permit – for example, people who are in Croatia on family reunification, people granted asylum, and holders of long-term or permanent residence. Students may work up to 20 hours a week (gov.hr).

How does the process work, step by step?

The process always starts with a job offer from a Croatian employer. Without an employer there is no permit.

1. The employer offers you a job. You agree on the role and the salary, and you sign an employment contract or another appropriate contract.
2. The labour market check. For many jobs the employer first asks the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) for a labour market test. HZZ replies within 15 days, and the employer then has 90 days to file the permit application. Some occupations are exempt from the test under a decision of the HZZ Governing Board, which can change at any time.
3. The application. When a test or an HZZ opinion is needed, the employer files the application through the HZZ online platform. Other applications are filed by the worker or the employer at the police administration or station, in person or by email (gov.hr). The police administration always decides.
4. The decision. The police must decide within 90 days of a complete application, and this can be extended by 30 days (NN 55/2026).
5. The visa. Once the permit is approved, you apply for a D visa at the Croatian embassy or consulate – no earlier than three months before and no later than three months after the permit starts to be valid. The D visa lets you stay for up to 30 days, and you need travel health insurance for those 30 days.
6. Arrival and the permit card. After you arrive, you report to the police within 30 days of the start of your visa. The permit is issued as a biometric card; you apply for it within eight days of approval, and it is ready within 30 days, or five working days with the faster procedure.

The exact list of papers you will collect in your home country is in our guide to residence and work permit documents.

One practical warning: if one employer has already filed an application for you, a later application from another employer is rejected while the first one is still being decided. Do not agree to several employers filing for you at the same time.

How long does a Croatian work permit last?

The permit lasts as long as your employment contract, up to three years. A seasonal permit can also be issued for up to three years, but you may work on it only for up to 90 days or up to nine months a year.

To extend the permit, the application must be filed no later than 30 days before it expires (15 days for seasonal workers). If you file on time, you may stay and keep working until the decision becomes final (zakon.hr).

The permit is also tied to a place. Work in a shortage occupation is allowed only in the area of the police administration where that occupation is on the list. Work based on a labour market test is allowed only in the area where the test was carried out.

How much will you earn?

Your salary may not be lower than the salary of Croatian workers doing the same or similar work. That rule is in the Aliens Act and applies to every foreign worker.

The gross minimum wage in Croatia is 1,050 euros a month in 2026 (NN 132/2025). A government regulation raises it to 1,130 euros a month from 1 January 2027. “Gross” means before tax and contributions, so the amount paid into your account is lower.

If your employer provides or arranges your accommodation, it must meet minimum standards: at least 14 m² for the first person and 6 m² for each additional person, no more than eight people in a flat, and a separate bathroom. The rent may be at most 30% of your net salary, and it may not be deducted from your salary automatically (NN 43/2026).

Can you change employer?

Yes, but not immediately. Since 4 June 2026 you can change employer within the validity of your permit. If the permit was the basis for your entry into Croatia, the change is possible after six months of work (NN 55/2026).

You can change earlier if your employer does not pay your salary or has committed a criminal offence or a serious labour-law violation.

You do not need a whole new permit. The new employer sends the police a notification within three days of signing the contract with you, and the police decide within 45 days. The notification cannot be filed while your permit is being extended or when fewer than 30 days remain until it expires. These rules do not apply to seasonal workers.

Do you have to pay for a job in Croatia?

No. Under the Croatian Labour Market Act, employment agencies carry out their work for job seekers free of charge and must act impartially (Labour Market Act, Article 4). An agency that breaks this rule faces a fine. This is why no agency in Croatia, including us, may ask a candidate for money.

The same applies to the permit fee: an employer who pays it may not ask you to pay it back.

Fraudulent job offers often ask for money for a job, a visa or “processing”. VFS Global warns that such offers are a scam (VFS Global). If someone asks you to pay to get a job in Croatia, do not pay.

Will you need to learn Croatian?

Not before you arrive, but probably later. The amended Aliens Act introduces a Croatian language exam at level A1.1 after one year of residence, with the cost paid by the employer. The obligation is expected to apply from around June 2027, when proof of the exam will be needed for extending the permit.

Speakers of South Slavic languages, people educated in Croatia and seasonal workers are exempt.

How to apply for jobs through Protalent

We recruit workers for employers in Croatia, mainly in construction, tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, logistics and agriculture. You can read more about how we work with employers on our foreign workers page.

To apply, send your CV through the contact form and choose “I am looking for a job”. Write which job you do, how many years of experience you have and which languages you speak. If an employer’s role matches your profile, the employer starts the permit process and we help with the paperwork – you never pay us for it.