Croatia mandates language tests and 10% local hire for permit renewals

Croatia’s Foreigners Act now requires many third-country nationals to pass a Croatian language exam at the A1.1 level after one year in the country to renew work and residence permits. The test is standardized and paid for by the employer. Exemptions cover people who finished primary, secondary or higher education in Croatia and some South Slavic speakers.

The same rules tighten employer checks. Companies need €100,000 in legal-entity inflows or €40,000 for sole traders over the past 12 months, no blocked bank account for more than 30 days and at least 10% of staff as Croatian, EU, EEA or Swiss workers on full-time contracts. The rulebook took effect in late April.

Who feels the change

The rules mainly affect foreign workers already on the ground in Croatia, where more than 105,000 foreign workers are registered, most in tourism, hospitality and construction. Students get a longer runway too, with temporary residence permits extended from one year to three years.

Seasonal workers got a longer window as well. Permits can now run for up to three years, with work allowed for 90 days per calendar year or up to nine consecutive months across that period. Employers must also provide suitable housing that meets minimum space rules and rent can’t top 30% of net pay if the employer arranges it.

What applicants and employers need to do

Foreign workers must show health records and vaccination proof with a first application and medical exams must go through public health institutes. If a job ends, employers must report it through e-Građani, while workers have five days to notify the Croatian Employment Service.

Fees include €74.32 for a stay and work permit, €31.85 for a biometric residence card and €39.82 for a work registration certificate. Permit decisions now have a 90-day deadline and workers who refuse an offered job can lose their permit. For more on the paperwork side, see our visa updates coverage.

Read our full Croatia guide for the complete picture.