20% / 10%Required local worker ratio: standard / shortage occupations.
Standard permit flow
1
Employer checks the Croatian labor market
Before hiring, the employer asks HZZ to test whether suitable workers are available domestically.
2
HZZ runs the labor market test
If no qualified candidates are available, HZZ issues a notice allowing the employer to move to the permit request.
3
Permit application is filed within 90 days
The request is for a specific third-country national, employer, occupation and approved scope of work.
4
MUP and HZZ review the case
HZZ checks employer conditions for a positive opinion. MUP/police administration checks residence conditions.
Important: shortage occupations usually skip the labor market test, but still require an HZZ opinion unless a separate legal exemption applies.
Documents to prepare
✓Employment contract without discriminatory clauses.
✓Salary not lower than comparable Croatian workers in the same or similar occupation.
✓Proof of education, qualifications, work experience and other employer requirements.
✓For shortage occupations: proof of competence, unless the occupation is a simple occupation on the list.
✓For regulated professions: recognition of the foreign professional qualification.
When the test is not required
Same renewal
Same employer, same occupation and same third-country national.
Short seasonal work
Up to 90 days in agriculture, forestry, hospitality or tourism.
Article 110 cases
Examples include key staff, EU Blue Card and intra-corporate transfer.
Employer requirements for a positive HZZ opinion
Active registered business
The Croatian business activity must be active and connected to the occupation in the permit request.
Taxes and reports settled
Public dues must be paid and required tax reports submitted under Croatian tax rules.
One stable local worker
At least one same Croatian, EEA or Swiss worker employed full-time, indefinitely and continuously for the last year.
No serious violations
No final convictions or major sanctions for labor relations, social security, general safety or workplace safety.
Account inflow threshold
Measured over the last 12 months from the month before the application.
100,000 EURLegal entity
40,000 EURNatural person
Worker ratio check
Local full-time workers must equal at least 20% of third-country workers, or 10% for shortage occupations. Positive HZZ opinions count in the third-country worker number.
Additional employer checks
The employer account must not have been blocked for more than 30 consecutive days in the last 6 months.
The employer must not be on the list of employers with confirmed undeclared work.
A seasonal employer who is a natural person must have had a local worker in the previous season.
New job, less paperwork
With a valid residence and work permit, the worker usually does not go through the full new-permit procedure. The new employer notifies MUP/police, HZZ gives its opinion, and the existing permit remains valid until expiry under legal conditions.
Sources checked on 3 June 2026
Summary based on the provided Croatian text and official sources: MUP and HZZ guidance, Narodne novine NN 55/2026, especially Article 103.d on changing employer, and Ordinance NN 110/2025 for the labor market test notice deadline.
