Croatian residence and work permit: the documents you need

Most delays in a Croatian residence and work permit (dozvola za boravak i rad) are not caused by the police – they are caused by a missing stamp, an old certificate or a document without a translation. This checklist covers what the worker and the employer need for a first permit under the rules in force on 8 November 2026: the Aliens Act as amended by NN 55/2026 and the Ordinance on residence as amended by NN 43/2026.

A new ordinance must be adopted by early December 2026 and may change this list. Always check the current list on the Ministry of the Interior page for third-country nationals before you start.

Which documents does the worker need?

The worker provides personal documents from the home country. For a first permit based on employment, the file contains:

• Form 2a – the application for a residence and work permit (version from April 2026).
• Passport – valid at least three months longer than the permit you are applying for.
• Photo – in colour, 3 × 3.5 cm, on a light plain background, without head covering except for religious or medical reasons. Photos in the common 35 × 45 mm format are not the right size.
• Proof of means of subsistence.
• Criminal record certificate – issued by your home country or by the country where you lived for more than one year. A seasonal worker does not need a new one if less than nine months have passed since the previous seasonal permit.
• Employment contract – or another appropriate contract with the Croatian employer.
• Proof of qualifications – a diploma, school certificate, work booklet, master craftsman exam or certificate of professional training. For regulated professions you need a decision recognising your qualification.
• Form 18a – “Certificate of health status and vaccination status”, for nationals of countries whose citizens need a visa for Croatia, with the first application. A doctor in your home country fills it in, and it may not be older than 90 days.
• Form 17a – a statement that you have adequate accommodation. It does not need to be certified by a notary. Documents proving the accommodation are submitted later, when you register your address.

Proof of health insurance is not attached when the application is based on an employment contract with a Croatian employer (Ministry of the Interior). Many older guides still list it.

How must foreign documents be prepared?

Every foreign document has to pass three checks: age, legalisation and translation.

1. Age. Documents are submitted as originals or certified copies and may not be older than six months.
2. Legalisation. Foreign documents must be legalised – by apostille or by diplomatic legalisation, depending on the country that issued them.
3. Translation. Documents are translated into Croatian by a court interpreter. If there is no court interpreter for Croatian in your country, a certified English translation is accepted.

What does the employer need to provide?

The employer provides the job and, for many workers, a guarantee. On the employer’s side:

• The signed employment contract – the same document the worker submits.
• Labour market test or HZZ opinion – where it is needed, the employer files the application through the online platform of the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ).
• Promissory note (zadužnica) – for each worker from a visa country hired with an HZZ opinion. It must be solemnised by a notary and delivered within five days of the confirmation being issued. It is not required for seasonal workers.
• Accommodation that meets the standards – if the employer provides or arranges the worker’s accommodation: at least 14 m² for the first person and 6 m² for each additional person, no more than eight people in a flat, a separate bathroom, and rent of no more than 30% of the net salary, never deducted automatically from the salary.

Employers who would rather not handle this themselves can hand the whole process to us – see hiring foreign workers.

Where is the application filed and how much does it cost?

The application goes to the police administration or station responsible for the worker’s place of residence or work, or for the employer’s registered office. Either the worker or the employer can file it. When a labour market test or HZZ opinion is needed, the employer files through the HZZ platform; other applications are filed in person or by email (gov.hr). The e-Građani system is used only to deliver the decision to the employer, not to file the application.

The official fees, paid with a general payment slip (Ministry of the Interior):

An employer who pays the permit fee may not ask the worker to pay it back.

What happens after the application?

The police decide within 90 days of a complete application, with a possible extension of 30 days. The extension does not apply to seasonal permits. The deadline runs from the day a complete application is filed, which is why the checklist above matters.

After approval:

1. The worker applies for a D visa at the Croatian embassy or consulate, with travel health insurance for 30 days. The D visa allows a stay of up to 30 days.
2. On arrival, the worker reports to the police within 30 days of the start of the visa and registers an address – this is when accommodation documents are submitted.
3. The worker applies for the biometric permit card within eight days of approval. It is issued within 30 days, or five working days with the faster procedure.

For the whole route from job offer to arrival, read how to get a job in Croatia.

What changes when the permit is extended?

For an extension the file is shorter, but two additions apply. The application must be filed no later than 30 days before the permit expires (15 days for seasonal workers). Workers from visa countries who have lived in Croatia for less than three years attach a health check no older than 90 days. From around June 2027, proof of passing the Croatian language exam at level A1.1 will also be required, with exemptions for speakers of South Slavic languages, people educated in Croatia and seasonal workers.

If you file on time, you may stay and keep working until the decision becomes final.

Most common mistakes

• A photo in the wrong size. The Croatian format is 3 × 3.5 cm.
• Documents older than six months on the day of filing – plan the order in which you collect them.
• A document translated but not legalised – both steps are required.
• Form 18a older than 90 days because the visit to the doctor was too early.
• Two employers filing for the same worker. While one application is being decided, later applications from other employers are rejected.

If you are a worker looking for a job in Croatia, send your CV through the contact form and choose “I am looking for a job”. Under Croatian law, employment agencies may not charge job seekers any fee.