Organization : Ministry of Economy (Invest Croatia)
Facility : Residence and Work Permit
Country : Croatia
Website : https://investcroatia.gov.hr/en/stay-and-work-permit/
What is Residence and Work Permit in Croatia?
A residence and work permit (single permit) is an official document that enables third-country nationals to legally reside and work in Croatia. As a rule, an application for the issuance of a residence and work permit is submitted by the employer to the competent police administration or police station according to the place of intended residence or work of the third-country national, or according to the employer’s registered office.
Related / Similar Facility : Invest Croatia Work Registration Certificate
The permit is issued by the Ministry of the Interior through the competent police administration or police station, within a statutory deadline of up to 90 days from the submission of a complete application. The permit is issued for the period for which the employment contract has been concluded, but for a maximum period of three years (or two years if issued without a labour market test and an opinion of the Croatian Employment Service).
For seasonal workers, the permit is issued for the period covered by the seasonal employment contract, but for a maximum period of 90 days or up to nine months, or up to three years under certain conditions.
How To Apply For Residence and Work Permit in Croatia?
Employers wishing to employ third-country nationals must first contact the Croatian Employment Service to conduct a labour market test (finding labour in the domestic labour market) before applying for a residence and work permit to the Ministry of the Interior through the competent police department or police stations.
In case of not finding a domestic workforce, the Croatian Employment Service will notify the employer on the result of the labour market test. The employer may submit a request for a residence and work permit to the Ministry of the Interior, through the police department or police station, within 90 days of receiving the notification on the result of the labour market test.
Employers are not required to request a labour market test before submitting a request for a residence and work permit if:
** It is an extension of the residence and work permit for the same employer and the same third-country national, for the same occupation,
** Employment is foreseen in deficit occupations enumerated in the Decision of the Management Board of the Croatian Employment Service,
** Third-country nationals are employed in agriculture, forestry, catering and tourism for up to 90 days during a calendar year.
In case of not finding domestic labor, the Croatian Employment Service will provide the employer with a notification on the labor market results, no later than 15 days from the date of the employer’s request, and the employer may, within 90 days of receiving the notification, submit a request for a residence and work permit to a third country national through the police administration or police station.
The Croatian Employment Service shall submit a positive opinion to the competent police administration or police station if all statutory requirements are met, including that:
** the employer carries out an economic activity in a field registered in the Republic of Croatia;
** the employer has settled its obligations arising from public charges for which official records are maintained by the ministry responsible for finance;
** during the previous year, the employer has continuously employed at least one same employee, who is a Croatian national or a national of an EEA Member State or the Swiss Confederation, under an open-ended employment contract and on a full-time basis in the territory of the Republic of Croatia;
** the employer has not been finally convicted of criminal offences against labour relations and social security or against general safety;
** the employer has not been subject to a final misdemeanour sanction for the most serious misdemeanours against labour relations or a misdemeanour sanction relating to social security or occupational safety;
the employer has generated turnover in the previous six months as follows:
a) an employer – legal person: in the minimum amount of EUR 10,000 per month;
b) an employer – natural person: in the minimum amount of EUR 15,000 during the observed period;
The employer is not included on the list of employers for which the existence of undeclared work has been established pursuant to the special legislation governing the prevention of undeclared work.
Renewal of Croatia Residence and Work Permit
The application for renewal of a residence and work permit shall be submitted no later than 30 days before the expiration of the residence and work permit in the police department or police station (which decides on the extension), according to the place of residence of the third-country national. The police department or police station is obliged to decide on the request for extension of the residence and work permit before the expiry of the valid residence and work permit.