In the Republic of Croatia, foreigners may work on the basis of a residence and work permit or a work registration certificate in order to work.
Exceptionally, foreigners without the residence and work permit/certificate of registered work may work if they have been granted the following:
- permanent stay;
- asylum;
- subsidiary or temporary protection;
- temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification with a Croatian national, a foreigner on permanent stay, an asylee and a foreigner who was granted subsidiary or temporary protection;
- temporary stay on humanitarian grounds;
- autonomous stay;
- the status of a full-time pupil or student when they work through authorised agents, without contracting employment;
- temporary stay for the purpose of scientific research.
Where and how to apply | An application for a residence and work permit may be submitted either by a foreigner or an employer. The application is submitted to a jurisdictional police administration/station, depending on the place of residence/intended residence of a foreigner. If the application for the residence and work permit is submitted for the first time by a foreigner who is obliged to possess a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia, the foreigner has to submit the relevant application at the diplomatic mission/consular office of the Republic of Croatia. |
Documents required | If a foreigner submits an application for a residence and work permit based on the annual quotas for the employment of foreigners, the following documents must be submitted along with the application:
In the event a foreigner submits an application for a residence and work permit exceeding the annual quota, the following must also be submitted along with the above mentioned documents:
An exception is granted in the following cases:
In the event a foreigner submits an application for a residence and work permit exceeding the annual quota in line with Article 76, paragraph 1, item 3 of the Foreigners Act (foreigners holding key positions in companies, branch offices and representations), the following documents must also be submitted along with the application:
In the event a foreigner submits an application for a residence and work permit exceeding the annual quota in line with Article 76, paragraph 1, item 5 of the Foreigners Act (self-employed foreigners in their own companies or in a company in which they own more than 51% of shares or in their own proprietor trades), the following documents must also be submitted along with the application:
In the event a foreigner submits an application for a residence and work permit exceeding the annual quota in line with Article 76, paragraph 1, item 6 of the Foreigners Act (workers who provide services on behalf of a foreign employer not entitled to the right of establishment in an EEA Member State), the following documents must also be submitted along with the application:
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Duration of validity of permits | A residence and work permit is issued for the time period required to execute the job or for the term of the concluded employment contract or some other relevant contract, for the period of up to one year at most. Exceptionally, the residence and work permit under Article 76, paragraph 1, item 4 of the Foreigners Act (foreigners transferred within the companies’ internal staff transfers, as defined by the Protocol on the Accession of the Republic of Croatia to the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organisation; self-employed foreigners in their own company or in a company in which they own more than 51% of shares, or in their own proprietor trades), is issued with the validity period of up to 2 years, unless applied for a shorter validity period of the residence and work permit. |
Further requirements | An application for granting prolonged temporary stay for the purpose of employment (residence and work permit) is submitted at a jurisdictional police administration/station according to the place of temporary residence or the registered office of the employer at least 60 days prior to the expiry of the valid temporary residence and work permit. |
Appeals | An appeal may be filed against a decision on issuing a residence and work permit within 15 days since the day it has been served. A Review Commission decides on the appeal in proceedings conducted in line with the provisions of the Foreigners Act. An appeal is not permissible against a decision on rejecting the residence and work permit on the grounds of the annual quota being reached, or in the event the annual quota for prolongation, new employment or seasonal employment has not been established. It is however possible to initiate an administrative dispute. |
Further information | A residence and work permit within the annual quota for employing foreign nationals is based on the Decision on setting the annual quota for the employment of foreign nationals for the calendar year 2014 (Official Gazette Number 151/13). |
Change of employment | Should foreigners change their employment/workplace, they must submit a new application for a residence and work permit for their intended workplace. |
Change of status | Should foreigners be granted permanent stay status, they may work in the Republic of Croatia without a residence and work permit. |
Long-term residence | A permanent stay may be granted to a foreigner if he/she:
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