Croatia issues over 53,000 work permits in three months

Croatia’s new Law on Foreigners, introduced in March, was meant to bring more structure and predictability to the employment of foreign workers.

But while the system is now more streamlined, some employers are facing unexpected challenges.

Speaking on the HRT radio show U mreži Prvog, key officials and industry representatives shared updates and concerns about the law’s impact so far.

Over 53,000 Work Permits Issued in Three Months

Anita Mandić, Head of the Foreigners’ Service at the Ministry of the Interior (MUP), revealed that 53,662 residence and work permits were issued in the first three months of the year – a 3% increase compared to last year.

Most permits were for new employment, while 32% were for extensions, and 4% for seasonal work.

The construction sector led the way with 17,300 permits, followed by tourism and hospitality (16,000), industry (7,200), transport (4,400), and trade (2,800).

As for the workers’ countries of origin, most came from Nepal (around 12,000), the Philippines (9,950), Bosnia and Herzegovina (9,400), Serbia (5,850), and India (5,550).

Mandić noted that as the tourist season ramps up, applications from Serbia and North Macedonia are also increasing.

Three-Year Permits and Better Planning

State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour, Ivan Vidiš, said the new law has achieved its primary goals – a more organised system and clearer rules for hiring foreign workers.

He highlighted that work permits now last for three years, which allows for better planning and less staff turnover.

“We want workers to know when and under what conditions they are coming to Croatia,” Vidiš said. He also stressed the importance of cracking down on illegal employment, noting that around 90 employers have already been placed on a blacklist for violations.

At the same time, he pointed out that the government is still strongly supporting domestic employment.

With new incentives, Croatian workers can now be hired at little or no cost to employers. The goal is to activate more unemployed citizens – especially during the summer season.

However, not all feedback has been positive. Joso Smolić, Vice-President of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts, raised concerns about new financial requirements introduced by the law.

Employers must now show a monthly income of €10,000 for companies or €15,000 in the past six months for tradespeople. This has caused problems, particularly for those in seasonal industries like tourism.

“Many businesses don’t have steady income during the winter months, even though they work and pay contributions,” Smolić explained. “The new rules caught a lot of employers off guard.”

He called for greater flexibility in the application of the law, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. “The changes are good and necessary,” he said, “but they need to be better adapted to real-world situations.”