Croatia Work Permit Requirements for Foreign Workers

The culture-blind Croatia, with its Adriatic coastline and a growing digital economy, has consistently been facing a shortage of skilled and seasonal workers, but since 2025, the country has already abandoned the inflexible Quota System in favor of a strict skills-based approach, which makes the process of Third-Country Nationals (non-EU/EFTA) entry much more transparent, yet extremely conditional.

In order to obtain Temporary Residence and a job in Zagreb, Split or Dubrovski, this professional guide breaks down the Single Permit Croatia (Dozvola za boravak i rad) and presents you with the exact steps to follow in the process of meeting the vital Labor Market Test conditions in order to move permanently in 2025.

 Responsibilities The Single Permit Croatia Stay and Work Combinations

Croatia simplified its system to give a Single Permit Croatia, which allows the right to reside (temporary stay) and the right to work. The permit is usually one year old and can be renewed.3

The Foundation The Employer Sponsorship and the Contract

This whole process starts with an Employment Contract signed by a Croatian employer. This is referred to as Employer Sponsorship in which your employer has to initiate the application on behalf of you.

Prior to making your application to the Single Permit, your employer must first demonstrate to the MUP (Ministarstvo Unutarnjih Poslova) (Ministry of Interior), as well as to the HZZ (Hrvatski zavod za zapošljavanje) (Croatian Employment Service), why you are required.

The New Gatekeeper The Mandatory Labor Market Test

The pivotal tool of regulating the entry of foreign workers in the year 2025 is the Labor Market Test, where your employer would provide a job request to the HZZ which would have an allotted period (usually 15 days) to review whether there is an appropriate candidate among Croatians or EU/ EFTA Citizens.

Essential 2025 Labor Market Test Regulations

• Priority Rule: The employer should actually demonstrate that there is not any domestic or EU/ EFTA applicant who could take over the position.
• Realistic Job Requirements: Employers cannot come up with too specific or unrealistic requirements (e.g. obscure foreign languages) in order to filter out locals.
• Market-Rate Salary: The provided salary should correspond to the Local Wage Standards of the position, which will provide decent conditions to all employees.
• Foreign/Local Worker Ratio: There has been the introduction of new limits and usually 1 local to a definite number of foreign workers (e.g., 1:12 on Shortage Occupations).

Exempted on Labor Market Test

However, all jobs do not need the test and fortunately. Such exemptions provide a much expeditious route to Third-Country Nationals:

• Shortage Occupations: Positions in the official list of High-Demand Jobs Croatia (e.g. in the Construction Industry and Tourism and Hospitality)
• Very Qualified: EU Blue Card Applications Croatia.
• Key Personnel: Directors or key managers in Croatian companies.
• Extension of Permits: An extension of the same job and the same employer.14

Stepwise Application Manual

Upon a successful completion of the Labor Market Test (upon exemption) the employer proceeds to the formal application:

• SB Submission: The Single Permit Croatia (Form 2a) is submitted online (through the HZZ platform) by the employer or by the third-country national through the Croatian Embassy / Consulate to the home country.
• Documents are required: Prepare all the supporting documents, such as, but not limited to, signed Employment Contract, Proof of Qualification (and recognition as may be necessary), criminal background check, Medical Certificate / Health Examination, and Proof of financial means.
• Entry Visa: After the Single Permit is granted, the applicant is granted a Long-Stay Visa D in order to enter Croatia.
• Local Registration: Once there, you are required to acquire Temporary Residence at the local Police Department (MUP) so that you may be provided the final Biometric Residence Permit.

The average Processing Time is between 4-12 weeks and is very much dependent on the MUP office, as well as the amount of applications in large centers of employment such as Zagreb or Split.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Croatia has a great combination of career development especially in the IT Sector and Tourism along with a great level of life. The success of the Third-Country National that you are depends on being a Highly Qualified Worker; and working hand in hand with your employer to overcome the Labor Market Test. You will not wait until 2025 to schedule your Adriatic adventure! With Target High-Demand Jobs Croatia, you can schedule it now!

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Disclosure

This occupational data is presented to inform and educate. The MUP (Ministarstvo Unutarnjih Poslova) and the HZZ (Croatian Employment Service) have specific requirements, forms and fees (such as Minimum Salary Croatia to EU Blue Card). It is recommended that the readers should check all the existing information provided on the official websites of the government prior to making a decision and/or applying.