Croatia facilitates access to labour market

At the end of March Croatia changed its law relating to aliens, facilitating the access for foreign workers to the local labour market. Thus foreign ”prokurists” (holders of a special statutory authority) and members of the managing board may operate in Croatia without any labour or business permit for 90 days per annum. However, notification to the police is required prior to starting work. Participants in fairs and exhibitions are allowed to work without labour permit for a maximum of 30 days per annum.

For every single professional group the number of labour and residence permits which are issued annually is subject to quota.  The Croatian government is in charge of setting up the quotas, of the extension of labour permits, and of the permission of new employment relationships and seasonal work. For longer stays and gainful employment in Croatia an application for a temporary residence permit must be filed. The validity of the labour permit has been extended to two years. The employer must submit the application at the competent police office.

It is necessary to observe that in Croatia a foreigner may only perform those activities which he has been granted a labour permit for and he may only work for the employer who he has entered into an employment relationship with on the basis of the labour permit. The labour permit is limited to the duration of the employment and is issued for a maximum period of one year.