Croatia proposes big changes to foreigners and asylum laws

Zagreb

ZAGREB, 14 November 2025 (Hina) – The Croatian Government has submitted proposed amendments to the Foreigners Act and the Act on International and Temporary Protection for public consultation, aiming to align national legislation with the EU’s Single Permit Directive and the new Pact on Asylum and Migration.

Following Thursday’s cabinet session, Interior Minister Davor Božinović said the revisions address existing ambiguities and strengthen several provisions to ensure smoother and more transparent procedures.

Key changes for foreign workers

The updated Foreigners Act proposes several notable adjustments. Foreign workers would be allowed a longer period of unemployment while their permits remain valid, and changing employers would be made easier after six months with the initial employer.

The deadline for processing residence and work permits would also be extended to 90 days.

In line with new EU border-control rules, detailed checks at the external border could be carried out for up to seven days within special Ministry of the Interior facilities, with full human rights safeguards in place.

A new requirement for foreign residents to take an A1.1-level Croatian language exam after one year of residence is also included.

For students, temporary residence for study purposes would be extended from one year to up to three years.

The proposals also foresee less administrative burden: residence and seasonal work permits could be issued for up to three years, with seasonal workers allowed to work for up to nine months.

Documentation would be deliverable digitally to employers and through the e-Građani system, and previously issued permits would remain valid.

However, extensions may be denied to employers placed on the so-called “blacklist”.

Božinović highlighted the role of the Entry/Exit system, noting that Croatia has been praised at EU level for its implementation.

Aligning asylum procedures with the EU Pact

Amendments to the Act on International and Temporary Protection aim to curb secondary movements, improve the efficiency of the Dublin procedure and ensure a fairer distribution of responsibilities among EU member states at the external border.

Key updates include clearer and stricter rules for providing material reception conditions, such as the existing €20 monthly allowance for asylum seekers, as well as improved identification and protection of vulnerable persons.

Access to healthcare, education and the labour market would be reinforced.

New definitions for restricting movement and detaining asylum seekers are introduced as tools to prevent abuses of the asylum system.

Additional procedural guarantees are proposed for minors and vulnerable groups, with a stronger role for guardians throughout the process.

New reception centres and stronger controls

The legislation would allow the development of a contingency plan for situations in which Croatia faces an exceptionally high number of applicants.

Mandatory integration measures for individuals granted protection, such as Croatian language learning and integration workshops, are included, with the possibility of withdrawing certain social rights if obligations are not met.

Asylum seekers would also be required to attend language and cultural courses during their stay in reception centres.

Police would be authorised to carry out immediate in-depth checks of migrants upon detection, distinguishing those who do not require protection from individuals who may pose security risks or misuse the asylum procedure.

The amendments also foresee new dedicated centres for asylum applicants whose movement would be restricted, and faster transfers under strengthened Dublin rules.

A new EU-wide list of safe countries of origin would help reduce pressure on the system and limit abuses and secondary migration.

Finally, the new law introduces a binding solidarity mechanism between EU member states, whether through relocation, financial contributions or operational and technical assistance such as capacity-building or the deployment of experts.