Work & Live Croatia

02/06/2026

NOTIFYING THE CROATIAN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THE POLICE IN CASE OF JOB LOSS

The amendments to the Foreigners Act will enter into force in a few days, and they also prescribe the deadlines within which foreign workers must notify the competent institutions in case of job loss.

If a foreign worker loses their job, **the police must be notified within 5 working days**. This can be done by either the foreign worker or the employer.

The deadline is counted from the day the employment contract ends or from the day the conditions on the basis of which the residence and work permit was issued cease to exist.

In addition, the foreign worker must **notify the Croatian Employment Service of their unemployment within 5 days from the end of employment**.

After that, the foreign worker must actively look for a new job, respond to calls from the Croatian Employment Service, and remain available. If the Croatian Employment Service offers them a suitable job, the worker must not refuse it without justified reason.

Also, if the foreign worker wants to claim unemployment benefits, they must submit the request **within 30 days from the day their employment ends**, provided that they meet the prescribed conditions.

P.S. A list of all Croatian Employment Service locations is available in our Work & Live Croatia app.

Download the app on Google Play:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.worklivecroatia.app&hl=hr

01/06/2026

WHY IS IT GOOD TO COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE IN THE WORK & LIVE CROATIA APP?

The number of users of our app is growing very quickly — thank you!

Here is one important piece of information for app users.

The app was first designed as an information app for foreign workers, offering a wide range of useful information related to work, healthcare, institutions, family, language learning, accommodation, transport, driving licences, documents and emergency calls.

In addition, the app allows users to learn Croatian, take quizzes and read news from our portal. It also shows the addresses of important institutions such as HZZ, HZMO, HZZO and MUP offices.

These parts of the app can be used in 17 languages as a guest, meaning without registration.

However, the app also has another important function: connecting employers, associations providing free legal aid, various services such as certified court interpreters, translators, driving schools and similar providers, as well as cities and institutions, with app users.

The app also enables chat with the above-mentioned profiles — employers, associations, institutions and services — in a way that everyone can write in their own language, while the app automatically translates messages for each user into their language.

For example, it is much better to send us messages through the app than through Facebook, because everyone can write in their own language. :)

All these profiles can send job ads or important notifications to app users, for example information about an event for foreign workers in a certain city.

But there is one catch. :)

To avoid overwhelming users with too many notifications, job ads and similar messages, the app uses matching.

This means that the person or organisation sending a job ad or notification chooses who should receive it — for example, only foreign workers from a certain country, only those living in a specific city, and so on.

If the user profile is not at least partially completed, the app will not be able to recognise the user properly, and the user may not receive, for example, a job ad or an important notification.

That is why we suggest that you complete your profile, at least the most important fields — such as your country of origin, the type of job you are interested in, and the city where you live.

In the next month, we will have reliable partners inside the app, and this will become a very useful function.

Of course, you can always read information about many important topics related to life in Croatia as a guest. :)

You can download the app from Google Play using the following link:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.worklivecroatia.app&hl=hr

31/05/2026

AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGNERS ACT – WHERE IS A FOREIGN WORKER ALLOWED TO WORK?

According to the amendments to the Foreigners Act, which will enter into force in a few days, important changes are being introduced regarding the area in which a foreign worker is allowed to work in Croatia.

A residence and work permit will not automatically mean that a worker can work anywhere in Croatia. The worker will have to work in accordance with the conditions under which the permit was issued, and in the case of shortage occupations and labour market tests, the area of the police administration for which work is allowed will be especially important.

For example, if an occupation is considered a shortage occupation in the area of one police administration, but not in the area of another police administration, the employer will not be able to automatically send the worker to work in another area if the conditions for that area have not been met.

A similar rule applies to the labour market test. If a labour market test for a certain occupation was carried out for the area of one police administration, the worker will be allowed to work only in the area for which that test was carried out and where the Croatian Employment Service determined that there were no available workers on the domestic labour market.

In other words, the employer will not always be able to freely move a worker from one part of Croatia to another if the permit, shortage occupation or labour market test is not linked to that area.

In simple terms: if work is allowed for a specific area of a police administration, the worker will not be allowed to work outside that area unless the conditions for another area have been met under the issued permit, shortage occupation rules or labour market test.

31/05/2026

WHAT MUST A DOCUMENT ON ACCOMMODATION FOR FOREIGN WORKERS CONTAIN?

According to the Ordinance on Amendments to the Ordinance on the Stay of Third-Country Nationals in the Republic of Croatia, the conditions for accommodation of foreign workers are now more precisely defined, as well as the documentation proving that a worker has secured adequate accommodation.

When accommodation is provided by the employer or when the employer mediates in providing accommodation, the worker must be given a rental agreement or another equivalent document clearly stating the accommodation conditions.

What must be stated?

The document must clearly state who provides the accommodation, to whom the accommodation is provided, the address of the accommodation, the period for which the accommodation is provided, and under what conditions.

If rent is paid, the amount of rent must be clearly stated. According to the Ordinance, when accommodation is provided by the employer or when the employer mediates in providing accommodation, the rent must not exceed 30% of the worker’s net salary and must not be automatically deducted from the salary.

The document must also include information on the size of the accommodation. This is important because it is used to check whether the accommodation meets the conditions of adequate accommodation. For foreign workers, the rule is: at least 14 m² for the first person and an additional 6 m² for each additional person.

The number of persons already living in the accommodation must also be stated. This is important in order to check whether the accommodation is overcrowded and whether it meets the prescribed conditions.

According to the Ordinance, a maximum of 8 third-country nationals may be accommodated in an apartment. If the accommodation is located in a building with one or two residential units, for example in a family house, a maximum of 10 third-country nationals may be accommodated per every 150 m² of space.

Accommodation must be adequate. This means that it must have appropriate conditions for living and sleeping, a sanitary facility, an area for food preparation, water, electricity, heating, daylight, the possibility of ventilation, and functional installations.

If the accommodation is free of charge for the worker, the amount of rent does not have to be stated, but the employer must still provide the worker with a document clearly stating the accommodation conditions.

For the registration of temporary residence, the rental agreement must be certified by a notary public or the Tax Administration. If the property is owned by the employer, for example by a hotel, hotel chain, company or another employer, a classic rental agreement is not necessarily required. In that case, a statement by the employer as the owner of the property may be submitted, clearly stating that the accommodation meets the conditions prescribed by the Ordinance. Such a statement must be certified by a notary public.

Important note: if the worker is already in Croatia and submits an application for the issuance or extension of a residence and work permit, proof of adequate accommodation is submitted with the application when accommodation is provided by the employer or when the employer mediates in providing accommodation.

As proof, a rental agreement certified by a notary public or the Tax Administration is submitted, or a statement by the employer as the owner of the property.

If the worker is coming to Croatia for the first time on the basis of a residence and work permit, Form 17a is submitted with the application, while the rental agreement or the statement by the employer as the owner of the property is submitted later, when registering temporary residence.

In case of a change of accommodation or address, it is also important to have appropriate documentation proving where the worker actually lives and whether the accommodation meets the prescribed conditions.

Failure to provide appropriate proof of adequate accommodation, or the inability to prove that the worker has secured adequate accommodation, may result in the refusal of the application for the issuance or extension of a residence and work permit.

In simple terms, the accommodation document must show: who accommodates the worker, where the worker is accommodated, for how long, the amount of rent if rent is paid, the size of the accommodation, and how many persons already live at that address.

Source: Ordinance on Amendments to the Ordinance on the Stay of Third-Country Nationals in the Republic of Croatia, Official Gazette, NN 43/2026.

30/05/2026

How to spend your free time in and around Zagreb?

If you live in Zagreb or nearby and are not sure where to go during the weekend or on your day off, we bring you a short guide to some of the best destinations for one-day and short trips around Zagreb.

On our portal, you can find suggestions for places worth visiting, whether you want a walk in nature, a family trip, to learn more about Croatian culture, or simply a short break from everyday life.

The text is available in multiple languages. You can change the language in the upper right corner of the portal.

Vodič kratkih izleta oko Zagreba za strane radnike i nove stanovnike: Samobor, Sljeme, Medvednica, Hrvatsko zagorje, Trakošćan i Žumberak.

29/05/2026

HAPPY STATEHOOD DAY!

For foreign workers living in Croatia, public holidays are not only dates marked in the calendar or days when some institutions and businesses may be closed. They are also an opportunity to better understand the country, its history and the society in which they live and work.
Today, Croatia celebrates Statehood Day. Why does Croatia celebrate Statehood Day on 30 May?
From 1945 to 1991, Croatia was a federal republic within socialist Yugoslavia. Alongside Croatia, Yugoslavia consisted of Slovenia, Serbia – which included two autonomous provinces, Vojvodina and Kosovo – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Macedonia, today known as North Macedonia.
After 45 years of life in a one-party system, the first free multi-party elections in Croatia were held in 1990. They took place in two rounds: the first round on 22 and 23 April 1990, and the second round on 6 and 7 May 1990. The winner of the first elections was the Croatian Democratic Union, led by Dr Franjo Tuđman. After that, on 30 May 1990, the new Croatian Parliament was constituted, and Franjo Tuđman became President of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Croatia.
Croatia formally declared independence on 25 June 1991, when the Croatian Parliament adopted the Constitutional Decision on the Sovereignty and Independence of the Republic of Croatia. The most important immediate basis for this decision was the will of the citizens expressed in the referendum held on 19 May 1991. The referendum was organised in circumstances of a deep political crisis, unsuccessful negotiations on the future of Yugoslavia and an increasingly difficult security situation in Croatia.
From the summer of 1990, a rebellion by part of the Serbian population in Croatia began. On Easter 1991, that is, on 31 March 1991, the first major armed conflict took place at Plitvice, where the first Croatian police officer, Josip Jović, was killed. In the referendum, 93.24% of voters who took part voted in favour of Croatian sovereignty and independence.
Croatia adopted the decision on independence on 25 June 1991, but under pressure from the European Community, the implementation of that decision was temporarily postponed by a three-month moratorium. As the armed conflicts continued, after the moratorium expired, on 8 October 1991 the Croatian Parliament adopted the decision to sever all state and legal ties with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
During that period, Croatia was in a difficult war against the paramilitary formations of rebel Croatian Serbs, with the support of Serbia, Montenegro and the Yugoslav People’s Army, which was then under the dominant influence of the Serbian political leadership. After Serbian forces destroyed and occupied the city of Vukovar on 18 November 1991 and committed mass crimes, international support for the recognition of Croatia further increased. The European Community recognised Croatia as an independent and sovereign state on 15 January 1992. On the same day, or very soon afterwards, many other European and world countries also recognised Croatia. Croatia was admitted to the United Nations on 22 May 1992.
In military terms, the war in Croatia lasted until the final liberation operations in 1995, the most important of which was Operation Storm, which began on 5 August 1995 and ended on 7 August 1995 with the victory of the Croatian Army. Croatian Podunavlje, including Vukovar, was not returned through an armed operation, but through peaceful reintegration, which ended on 15 January 1998.
Therefore, Croatia celebrates Statehood Day on 30 May because on that day the first Croatian Parliament elected in free multi-party elections after the Second World War was constituted, following the period of the one-party communist system. More precisely, this was the moment when a democratically elected government was established, which later led the process of Croatia’s independence.

HAPPY STATEHOOD DAY!

29/05/2026

Birthday greeting to the Vice President of the Philippines

Following a request from some members of the Filipino community in Croatia, Work & Live Croatia is sharing a birthday greeting to the Vice President of the Philippines, Inday Sara Duterte

We use this opportunity to express our respect and appreciation for the Filipino community living and working in Croatia.

Work & Live Croatia remains committed to supporting foreign workers from the Philippines and from all other countries with practical information, guidance, and respect for their communities.

Note: Work & Live Croatia is not a political platform and does not support or oppose any political option. We respect the wishes of our users and communities and remain focused on supporting foreign workers and contributing positively to Croatian society.

29/05/2026

CERTIFICATE OF HEALTH STATUS AND VACCINATION STATUS REQUIRED

According to the amendments to the Ordinance on the Stay of Third-Country Nationals in the Republic of Croatia, additional obligations have been introduced regarding the health status and vaccination status of foreign workers.

When applying for a first temporary stay, third-country nationals from countries subject to the visa regime must submit a certificate of health status and vaccination status. This certificate must not be older than 90 days.

When extending temporary stay, if a foreign worker has been staying in Croatia for less than three years, they must submit proof that they have undergone a health examination. The examination is carried out at county public health institutes according to the person’s place of residence and/or at the Croatian Institute of Public Health.

Special emphasis is placed on public health and epidemiological control. Regarding health status, particular attention is given to whether the person currently has or has previously had tuberculosis.

Regarding vaccination status, particular attention is given to vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles. If a foreign worker does not have a certificate or cannot prove that they have been vaccinated according to the prescribed rules, they may be referred for vaccination.

These changes mean that foreign workers and employers should prepare the necessary health documentation on time, because without the appropriate certificates, the procedure for issuing or extending temporary stay may become more difficult or prolonged.

Source: Official Gazette, NN 43/2026; Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia

28/05/2026

VERY IMPORTANT: AMENDMENTS TO THE FOREIGNERS ACT HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE AND WILL ENTER INTO FORCE ON 4 JUNE 2026

The amendments to the Foreigners Act have been officially published in the Official Gazette, No. 55/2026.

The Croatian Parliament adopted these amendments on 15 May 2026, and the Act was published in the Official Gazette on 27 May 2026.

This means that the Act will enter into force on the eighth day after its publication, i.e. on 4 June 2026.

It is important to emphasize that this is not just one single change. These amendments introduce a broader package of changes related to the residence and work of third-country nationals in Croatia.

Among other things, the amendments relate to:

– the single permit for residence and work
– deadlines for deciding on permit applications
– obligations of employers and agencies
– informing workers about the status and outcome of their applications
– changing employer and occupation
– unemployment during the validity of the permit
– seasonal work
– the labour market test
– delivery of certain acts through the e-Citizens system
– conditions related to knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script
– transitional provisions for procedures that have already started

It is especially important to know that procedures started before the new Act enters into force will be completed under the previous rules.

In other words: if your procedure was already started before 4 June 2026, this does not mean that you have to submit a new application just because the amendments to the Act have been published in the meantime. All procedures started by that date will be completed under the old law.

Also, the provisions related to the obligation to pass an exam in the Croatian language and Latin script for certain third-country nationals do not enter into force immediately, but one year after the Act enters into force.

THIS MEANS THAT THIS PART OF THE ACT WILL START APPLYING ON 4 JUNE 2027.

For foreign workers, employers and agencies, this is a very important change because it is no longer just an announcement or a proposal, but an officially published law.

The link to the publication in the Official Gazette is in the comment.

28/05/2026

Learn Croatian through the Work & Live Croatia app

As part of the new version of our app, you can also learn Croatian at the A1.1 level.

Learn Croatian through the Work & Live Croatia app

As part of the new version of our app, you can also learn Croatian at the A1.1 level.

Language learning is available in 10 languages, for example: Tagalog–Croatian, Nepali–Croatian, Punjabi–Croatian, Uzbek–Croatian, Spanish–Croatian, and others.

You can access the language learning section as a guest or as a registered user of the app.

The app is free to use and is available on Google Play:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.worklivecroatia.app&hl=hr