In the article published on our website - Publications: Establishment of a limited liability company in the Republic of Croatia (published on: 02.04.2023) we wrote about the procedure for establishing a limited liability company in the Republic of Croatia and stated that it is the most common form of company in Republic of Croatia. Such a company can be founded by one or more natural or legal persons who contribute to the share capital, which amounts to at least EUR 2,500.00, with the said amount of share capital referring exclusively to Croatian citizens and citizens of the European Economic Area, while for citizens of third countries, special rules apply.

Namely, a residence and work permit can be issued to a citizen of a third country who is key personnel, proving that:

- the value of the company's share capital, i.e. the assets of a limited partnership or public company exceeds the amount of EUR 26,544.56

- in a trading company, branch or representative office of a foreign trading company, at least three Croatian citizens are employed on an indefinite and full-time basis in jobs other than procurator, board member or supervisory board member, and whose gross salary is at least the amount of the average gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia in last year according to the officially published data of the state administration body responsible for statistics

- his gross salary is at least 1.5 times the average gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia in the past year according to the officially published data of the state administration body responsible for statistics.

If several third-country nationals perform key tasks for the same employer, a residence and work permit may be issued if:

- the value of the company's share capital, i.e. the assets of a limited partnership or public company exceeds the amount of EUR 26,544.56

- for every employed citizen of a third country, at least three Croatian citizens are employed on an indefinite and full-time basis in jobs other than procurator, board member or supervisory board member, whose gross salary is at least the amount of the average gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia in the past year, according to the official published data of the state administration body responsible for statistics

- their gross salary is at least 1.5 times the average gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia in the past year according to the officially published data of the state administration body responsible for statistics.

A citizen of a third country who is employed in his own company or trade in which he is the sole owner may be issued a residence and work permit if:

- invested EUR 26,544.56 in the establishment of a trading company or trade

- at least three Croatian citizens are employed on an indefinite and full-time basis, and whose gross salary is at least the amount of the average gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia in the past year, according to the officially published data of the state administration body responsible for statistics

- his monthly gross salary is at least 1.5 of the average monthly gross salary paid in the Republic of Croatia according to the last officially published data of the state administration body responsible for statistics, while a citizen of a third country who is employed in his own trade must prove that the amount earned from self-employment income is at least 1.5 of the average monthly net paid salary in the Republic of Croatia according to the last officially published data of the state administration body responsible for statistics.

A citizen of a third country who is registered as a person authorized to represent a trading company, branch or representative office or registered as the founder of a trading company or in which he has an ownership share of at least 51% or in a trade in which he has an ownership share of at least 51%, is obliged to regulate the residence permit and work in accordance with the above-mentioned provisions, and he cannot be issued a residence and work permit for the same trading company, branch or representative office based on the positive opinion of the Croatian Employment Service.