Croatia sees 70% drop in foreign work permits amid tighter controls

A drop in work permit applications

According to the latest figures from the Ministry of the Interior, Croatia is currently home to around 136,000 foreign workers.

A recent study by the Institute for Migration reveals that a significant majority—90%—send money home to support their families.  Notably, one in five plans to remain in Croatia until retirement, and over half are considering bringing their families to live with them.

However, recent changes to Croatia’s Aliens Act—which came into effect two months ago—have complicated the process for both workers and employers.

Almost 7,000 fewer permits were issued compared to the same period last year.

Stricter regulations and increased inspections have led to a noticeable decline in the number of work permits issued, RTL Danas reports.

One of the most significant impacts has been on temporary employment agencies, which have seen a dramatic 70% drop in submitted applications.

Employers are now saying that the problem is no longer finding workers—but legally hiring them.

Ivana Šimek from the Croatian Employment Service explained the changes and addressed concerns surrounding the reported 18,000 rejected work permit applications.

“You said ‘rejections’—perhaps we should say that the Croatian Employment Service issues a negative opinion. Employers must now meet all the criteria set by the Aliens Act.”

She noted that to qualify for hiring foreign workers, employers must have at least one Croatian national employed full-time for the past 12 months, be engaged in active economic activity, and must not appear on the so-called ‘blacklist’ of employers found to be engaging in undeclared work.

Šimek acknowledged that many employers were unprepared for the new bureaucracy and stricter requirements.

“The law allows for work permits of up to three years, seasonal permits of up to nine months, and has eased the process of changing employers. But it also demands that certain conditions are met—and it seems employers weren’t fully ready for what the law entails,” she concluded.

When it comes to permits, the majority are issued in the construction industry, followed by tourism and hospitality, manufacturing, transportation, and retail.

Regarding workers’ origins, the largest groups hailed from Nepal, the Philippines, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and India.

The imbalance between legal and illegal migration in Croatia has been a growing problem. Illegal border crossings are reportedly decreasing though — from 65,000 two years ago to fewer today.