Zagreb
ZAGREB, 15 May 2026 (Hina) – Croatia’s parliament has adopted amendments to the Foreigners Act aimed at responding to the growing import of foreign labour, increasing pressure on the labour market and wider security challenges linked to migration.
The new legislation combines a more flexible approach to employing foreign workers with stricter oversight of migration processes and employers, reflecting broader European efforts to reshape migration policy.
The government says the amendments are designed to modernise the system for employing foreign workers, reduce administrative barriers and prevent abuses that emerged following the sharp rise in the number of third-country nationals working in Croatia.
Under the new framework, foreign workers will have greater mobility, including easier changes of employer and additional employment opportunities, while employers will face stricter criteria and enhanced monitoring mechanisms.
The amendments also align Croatian legislation with European Union directives introducing a single permit procedure for residence and work, as well as provisions contained in the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
Presenting the changes, Croatian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Davor Božinović said the reforms would improve the employment system for foreign workers and ensure Croatia’s economy had access to the skilled labour it requires for continued growth.
He said the changes send a message that Croatia intends to manage migration and the labour market through a continuous process of monitoring and adjustment, adding that the country remains open to legal work but “will not be open to disorder”.
The reforms are based on the 2024 EU directive establishing a unified framework for residence and employment permits for third-country nationals across the bloc. The directive aims to simplify administrative procedures and strengthen labour protections.
A single permit combining residence and work rights will streamline application, renewal and amendment procedures, while foreign workers will receive minimum rights equal to domestic workers, including access to legal protection and safeguards against discrimination.
The legislation also supports greater worker mobility within EU member states and requires transparent access to legal mechanisms for resolving disputes. EU institutions are expected to monitor implementation and review effectiveness by 2029.
The European Parliament played a key role in shaping the revised directive, supporting measures intended to strengthen protections for foreign workers while accelerating permit procedures.
Speaking about the importance of the directive, Spanish MEP Javier Moreno Sánchez said regular migration remains one of the best tools for combating illegal migration and human trafficking, while helping European companies find workers they need and reducing the risk of labour exploitation.
Croatian Member of the European Parliament Karlo Ressler described the amendments as an important step towards a more modern and responsible migration policy aligned with wider European changes.
He noted that Croatia’s economic growth has created labour shortages in sectors such as construction, tourism and industry, increasing the need for stronger oversight of working conditions, accommodation standards and abuse prevention.
Among the most significant changes, foreign nationals living and working in Croatia will be required to pass a Croatian language and Latin script test at A1 level within one year as a condition for extending residence and work permits.
Foreign workers will also be allowed to change employers after six months without needing a new residence and work permit. The permitted unemployment period during the validity of a permit has been extended to three months, or six months for workers who have held permits for more than two years.
Professional drivers of freight vehicles and buses from third countries may receive long-term visas valid for up to one year, although visas may be revoked if misused.
The law also introduces restrictions preventing workers employed under permits for shortage occupations from working in regions where those occupations are not officially classified as lacking labour demand.
Seasonal work permits, previously issued for up to one year, may now remain valid for three years for the same worker and employer arrangement. Seasonal workers will be able to work for up to 90 days per calendar year or up to nine months annually, depending on the type of employment.
The deadline for processing permit applications has been extended to 90 days.
Responsibility for notifying police authorities about the termination of employment contracts will shift from workers to employers through Croatia’s e-Građani digital system.
Foreign workers must still notify the Croatian Employment Service within five days of losing employment and may lose their permits if they refuse alternative work offered through the agency.
Temporary residence permits for foreign students will also be extended for up to three years.
The changes come as the European Union continues to face complex migration pressures more than a decade after the 2015 migrant crisis. Member states have increasingly focused on strengthening external border controls, reforming asylum systems and adopting more selective legal migration policies.
Croatia occupies a particularly sensitive position as both an external Schengen border and a country facing chronic labour shortages.
The amendments reflect broader efforts to balance economic needs with security priorities as Croatia’s economy becomes increasingly dependent on workers from third countries while migration remains a politically sensitive issue across Europe.
Officials say the reforms represent not only a technical update to legislation, but also part of a wider transformation of migration policy within the European Union as member states redefine their approach to foreign labour and migration management.