The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit designed for highly qualified third-country nationals who wish to live and work in Croatia. This permit allows applicants to bypass the labour market test and does not require approval from the Croatian Employment Service.

Who Qualifies for an EU Blue Card?

To be eligible for an EU Blue Card in Croatia, an applicant must:

• Be a third-country national employed in Croatia under the country’s labour laws.
• Have completed a higher education program and possess specific competencies relevant to their job.

Application Process

A highly qualified third-country national can submit an application at:

• A diplomatic mission or consular post of the Republic of Croatia.
• A police administration office or police station based on their place of residence in Croatia.
• Alternatively, the employer may submit the application at the police administration office where the company’s headquarters or the applicant’s workplace is located.

Requirements for the EU Blue Card Application

To apply for an EU Blue Card, the applicant must provide the following:

• Employment Contract – A valid contract for at least one year for a highly qualified job with a registered Croatian employer (company, branch office, representative office, sole trader, family farm, cooperative, association, or institution).
• Salary Requirements – The offered salary must be at least 1.5 times the average gross annual salary in Croatia, based on official statistics.
• Professional Qualifications: 
  • Regulated Professions – Proof that the applicant meets national legal requirements to work in the profession.
  • Unregulated Professions – A diploma, certificate, or other formal proof of higher education recognized in the applicant’s home country.
• Valid Travel Document – A copy of the applicant’s passport.
• Photograph – A recent colour photo (30x35 mm).
• Proof of Financial Stability – Evidence of adequate means to support oneself.
• Criminal Record Check – A legalized document proving no criminal convictions in the applicant’s home country or any country where they lived for over a year before applying.
• Security Clearance – The applicant must not be subject to an entry ban or an alert in the Schengen Information System (SIS) and must not pose a threat to public policy, national security, or public health.

Additional Considerations

• Once approved, the biometric residence permit is issued within Croatia at the relevant police station or administration office.
• If the applicant requires a visa to enter Croatia after receiving the work permit, they must apply for a long-term visa (Visa D) at a Croatian diplomatic mission or a consulate of another country representing Croatia.
• The applicant may also need to provide their address in Croatia.

By meeting these requirements, highly qualified professionals can obtain the EU Blue Card and legally work in Croatia.