New accommodation rules for foreign workers in Croatia proposed

Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior has put forward a new rulebook outlining stricter and more detailed requirements for the accommodation of foreign workers, marking the first comprehensive regulation of living conditions for third-country nationals in the country.

For years, housing rules for foreign workers have been broad and loosely interpreted, leading to cases of overcrowded and inadequate living conditions in houses, flats and improvised spaces.

On Friday, the Ministry formally opened the public online consultation for proposed new rulebook.

The new proposal aims to change that by introducing clearer limits and giving residents of apartment buildings a say in who and how many people may be housed in their building.

One of the key changes is that more than four non-family foreign workers may not be accommodated in a single flat without the written consent of a majority of the building’s residents, 24sata reported.

Regardless of a flat’s size, no more than eight foreign workers may live in it.

The rulebook also sets maximum numbers for standalone houses.

A 150-square-metre home could host up to 10 workers, while a 300-square-metre property could accommodate up to 20.

Additionally, the previous requirement of 14 square metres per seasonal worker, plus six square metres for each further person, will now apply to all third-country nationals, not only seasonal employees.

Standards for living spaces have also been expanded.

In addition to basic utilities such as water, electricity and heating, accommodation must provide adequate natural light, proper ventilation, suitable artificial lighting and essential kitchen equipment such as a fridge, cooker and sink, unless a shared cooking area is available.

The rule that rent may not exceed 30% of a worker’s salary remains in force and is now extended to all foreign workers.

According to the Ministry, the aim is to ensure “adequate living conditions, prevent the ghettoisation of foreign labour and support better integration”.

New health-related requirements are also proposed. Foreign workers would need to present proof of vaccination and a health certificate upon entering Croatia.

This comes alongside the draft Law on Foreigners, currently in public consultation, which would require foreign workers to have basic knowledge of Croatian, specifically A1-level proficiency, in order to reside in the country.

The Ministry is inviting all interested members of the public to submit suggestions and comments through the government’s e-Consultation platform.

The consultation will remain open until 21 December 2025. A link to the proposal can be found HERE.