In a bid to retain and attract more foreign workers, Croatia is planning to extend the validity of work permits for non-citizens from the current one year to three years. The change is part of a broader strategy to make employment transitions smoother for foreign workers.
Croatia’s Minister of Labour, Marin Piletić, highlighted that this extension would facilitate easier job transitions for foreign workers, both within the same company and between different employers. The initiative aims to simplify the process for foreigners seeking to change positions or switch employers without unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles.
According to the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute, around 143,000 foreigners currently work in Croatia, with many coming from non-EU countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania.
The EURES report also indicated that approximately 30 job sectors in Croatia are experiencing worker shortages. Foreign nationals who qualify in these shortage occupations are more likely to obtain work visas, enhancing their chances of employment in Croatia.