Key Changes Introduced by the Amendments to the Foreigners Act

The latest amendments to the Foreigners Act entered into force on June 4^th, 2026.

What are the key changes?

• In case only third-country nationals are appointed as directors of a company based in Croatia, and neither holds a valid work permit nor falls within a category of persons authorised to work without one, one of the directors must obtain a work permit for key personnel, in Croatia. The work permit application must be submitted within 30 days from the registration/change in the court register.
• Croatian Language and Latin Script Proficiency Examination
  • A mandatory Croatian language and Latin script proficiency examination at level A1.1 has been introduced for individuals who have been granted a work permit based on a positive opinion of the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) or who are engaged in the reconstruction of earthquake-damaged buildings, provided that they have resided in Croatia for more than one year.
  • The employer bears the costs of the examination, and proof of passing the examination will be required for the extension of the work permit.
  • This obligation does not apply to individuals who have completed primary, secondary, or higher education in Croatia, who speak a language belonging to the South Slavic language subgroup, or to seasonal workers.
  • This requirement enters into force on June 4^th, 2027.
• New Requirements for a Positive Opinion of the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ)
  • In addition to having settled all public charges and tax liabilities, the employer must have submitted all reports required under applicable tax regulations.
  • During the previous 12 months (instead of the current 6-month period), the employer must have recorded transaction account inflow (all payments received into the employer's transaction account) in the minimum amount of EUR 100,000 for legal entities and EUR 40,000 for natural persons.
  • The employer's bank account must not have been blocked for more than 30 consecutive days during the previous six months.
  • The required ratio of domestic employees has been increased to 20% for occupations subject to a labour market test and 10% for deficit occupations. Croatian emigrants are now included in the calculation of domestic workers.
• Restricted Territorial Scope of Work for individuals holding work permits for deficit occupations, or on the basis of a labour market test, only within the territorial jurisdiction of the police administration in which the occupation has been identified as deficit or for which the labour market test was conducted.
• Simplified Change of Employer and Occupation
  • A change of occupation with the same employer is now permitted for both deficit and non-deficit occupations (previously only for deficit occupations).
  • A change of employer is now permitted for work permits issued on the basis of an HZZ opinion for all occupations (previously only within the same occupation), as well as for permits issued without a labour market test and without an HZZ opinion.
  • The six-month restriction on changing employers now applies only to individuals entering Croatia on the basis of a newly issued work permit. For other categories of workers, this limitation has been removed.
• Additional Grounds for Rejection and Revocation of Work Permits
  • A work permit application may be rejected if:
    • the employer is not actively carrying out the registered business activity in Croatia that is related to the occupation for which the application has been submitted;
    • the employer fails, within 8 days, to pay into the State Budget an amount equal to one average monthly gross salary in Croatia in case the statutory conditions for enforcement of a promissory note have been met;
    • the employee fails to provide proof of having passed the Croatian language and Latin script proficiency examination;
    • the sole person authorised to represent the company is a third-country national who does not hold a work permit and does not fall within a category of persons entitled to work without one.
  • Work permits may be revoked if work is performed outside the authorised territorial scope, employee fails to notify HZZ of unemployment within 5 days, does not seek or refuses employment or fails to respond to HZZ summons.
  • Work permits may no longer be revoked at the employer's request, but only upon the express request of the employee.
• Temporary residence for the purpose of family reunification may be granted to a family member of an individual holding work permit based on a positive HZZ opinion only if the permit holder has maintained continuous temporary residence in Croatia for at least two years (instead of one year as previously required).
• Extended Deadline for Deciding on Work and Residence Permit Applications based on a positive HZZ opinion up to 90 days, with a possibility of a further 30-day extension.