LEGAL DEFINITION OF A DIGITAL NOMAD
The primary legal act governing the legal status of foreigners (persons who do not hold Croatian citizenship) is the Foreigners Act (hereinafter: FA) and the Regulation on the Residence and Work of Highly Qualified Third-Country Nationals in the Republic of Croatia, which is fully aligned with Council Directive 2009/50/EC of 25 May 2009 on the conditions of entry and residence of third-country nationals for the purposes of highly qualified employment (OJ L 155, 18 June 2009).
In FA’s glossary, which defines the legal terms "highly qualified worker" and "EU Blue Card" (Article 3, par. 1, subpar. 17 and 18 of the Foreigners Act), these terms are defined as follows:
- A highly qualified worker is a third-country national employed in the Republic of Croatia in accordance with special regulations governing labor relations in Croatia. They are paid for this work and possess the necessary, appropriate, and specific expertise acquired through the completion of study programs at a higher education institution.
- The EU Blue Card is a residence and work permit that authorizes the highly qualified holder for temporary residence and work in the Republic of Croatia. The biometric residence permit will include the note "EU Blue Card."
- A third-country national is a person who is not a citizen of a member state of the European Economic Area.
APPLICATION PROCESS
An application for the issuance of an EU Blue Card can be submitted by the third-country national personally or by their employer based in the Republic of Croatia where the third-country national will work. The application is submitted at a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia abroad, or at a police administration or police station in the Republic of Croatia, depending on the place of residence of the third-country national or the registered office or place of work of the employer of the third-country national.
A third-country national may be granted a residence and work permit provided they meet the requirements specified in Article 54 of the FA. The application for the issuance of a residence and work permit must be accompanied by:
- proof of health insurance,
- a copy of a valid travel document (which will be certified by an official after inspecting the original),
- an employment contract or another appropriate contract related to a highly qualified worker with a duration of at least one year,
- proof of higher education or completed undergraduate and graduate university studies, integrated undergraduate and graduate university studies, or specialized graduate professional studies, and an excerpt from the court register for a company, branch office, representative office, or institution, which must not be older than 6 months.
The employment contract or another appropriate contract attached to the application must specify the gross annual salary, which must not be less than 1.5 times the average gross annual salary paid in the industry in which the third-country national is employed. The official data on the average gross annual salary is published by the competent statistical authority.
In Croatia, the recognition of foreign professional qualifications for regulated professions is overseen by the Ministry of Science and Education since July 1, 2013. The process is governed by the Law on Regulated Professions and the Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications, as well as the General Administrative Procedure Act. Individuals seeking access to regulated professions in Croatia must apply for recognition of their foreign qualifications. This includes: (a) Citizens of countries that are part of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who obtained their qualifications in EEA or Swiss countries, (b) Citizens of EEA countries and Switzerland, as well as third-country nationals, who obtained qualifications outside the EEA or Switzerland and (c) Third-country nationals who obtained their qualifications in EEA countries or Switzerland. The Ministry handles the application process to ensure foreign qualifications meet Croatian standards for regulated professions. The process for recognizing foreign professional qualifications in Croatia must be simplified, and efforts are being made in this direction. Currently, the procedure can take anywhere from six to twelve months, or even longer, which can be discouraging for highly qualified migrant workers in high demand. In terms of best practices, it is important to note that in the construction and metal industries, employer associations have petitioned the government to allow indefinite contracts for certain profiles of migrant workers who are in high demand. In the construction sector (…) in the metal industry, the initiative was successful. The Ministry of the Interior allowed employers to offer indefinite contracts to migrant workers who had a work permit for at least one year, provided the employer expressed their desire and expectation to retain the worker beyond the expiration of the work permit.
The process for recognizing foreign professional qualifications in Croatia must be simplified, and efforts are being made in this direction. Currently, the procedure can take anywhere from six to twelve months, or even longer, which can be discouraging for highly qualified migrant workers in high demand. In terms of best practices, it is important to note that in the construction and metal industries, employer associations have petitioned the government to allow indefinite contracts for certain profiles of migrant workers who are in high demand. In the construction sector (…) in the metal industry, the initiative was successful. The Ministry of the Interior allowed employers to offer indefinite contracts to migrant workers who had a work permit for at least one year, provided the employer expressed their desire and expectation to retain the worker beyond the expiration of the work permit.
This demonstrates that employer associations are highly interested in improving the working conditions of migrant workers and sometimes even lead in this regard, surpassing trade unions.
A notable example of best practice occurred in 2019, when the Croatian Construction Union signed a domestic collective agreement with the Chinese corporation China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The Croatian government had previously contracted CRBC to build the Pelješac Bridge, one of the largest bridges in the world. The collective agreement included certain rights that were greater than those guaranteed by the sectoral collective agreement.
(Research conducted in Croatia as part of the project "Negotiating Labor Conditions and Social Rights of Migrant Workers in Central and Eastern European Countries - BARMIG", published by Development and International Relations – IRMO in the book "Foreign Workers in Croatia: Challenges and Opportunities for Economic and Social Development" (2022).
The documents attached to the application for the issuance of a residence and work permit and the approval for temporary and permanent residence must be in the original or certified copy, and foreign documents must be translated into Croatian and certified in accordance with special regulations.
ISSUANCE & VALIDITY OF THE EU BLUE CARD
The competent police administration or police station issues a certificate of the submitted application for the issuance of a residence and work permit to the applicant. The certificate contains the name and surname of the third-country national, date and place of birth, nationality, date of application, name of the competent authority, date of issuance, signature of the official, and seal.
The EU Blue Card is issued for the period of 24 months, in the form of a biometric residence permit – it is an official identification document that contains biometric data such as facial image (photo), fingerprint scans and personal information (name, date of birth, nationality, etc.) Based on the issued EU Blue Card, the worker for whom the permit is issued may only work for the employer and perform the job for which the permit is issued. In case of termination of the employment contract of the worker who has been granted an EU Blue Card with a specific employer, the worker (and the employer) is obliged to notify the competent police station of the termination of the employment contract within 8 days from its termination.
RENEWAL PROCESS
An application for the extension of the EU Blue Card must be submitted no later than 30 days before its expiry date at a police administration or police station according to the place of residence. The holder of the EU Blue Card may stay in Croatia until the decision on the application becomes final.
UPCOMING CHANGES TO THE EU BLUE CARD IN CROATIA
The Croatian government has announced significant changes to the EU Blue Card scheme, aiming to attract more highly skilled workers while adapting to the increasing labor market demands. The proposed amendments to the Foreigners Act have been sent to the Parliament for the first reading in October 2024 with key modifications designed to enhance the program’s effectiveness.
One of the most notable changes is the extension of the EU Blue Card’s validity from 24 to 48 months. This adjustment provides greater stability for both foreign professionals and their employers, making Croatia a more attractive destination for skilled labor. To address the growing demand for IT professionals, the amendments introduce a new eligibility pathway. Individuals without formal higher education qualifications will now be eligible for the EU Blue Card exclusively in the IT sector, provided they can demonstrate relevant skills through work experience. A special commission appointed by the Minister of Labor will assess applicants’ skills to determine their eligibility. The existing salary threshold for EU Blue Card holders remains unchanged. Applicants must have a gross monthly salary of at least 1.5 times the national average to qualify. This requirement ensures that only highly skilled workers enter the Croatian labor market under the Blue Card scheme.
With these changes, Croatia aims to strengthen its position as a desirable destination for top-tier international talent, particularly in the tech sector. As the country continues to experience a rising demand for skilled professionals, these amendments could play a crucial role in shaping Croatia’s economic future.
LEGAL SOURCES
- Law on Foreigners (Official Gazette nr 133/20, 114/22, 151/22)
- Regulation on the Residence and Work of Highly Qualified Third-Country Nationals in the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette nr 120/12., 81/13., 38/15., 133/20., 146/20., 20/22)
- "Foreign Workers in Croatia: Challenges and Opportunities for Economic and Social Development" (2022), published by Development and International Relations – IRMO
Author: Anja Juršetić Šepčević, managing partner
Text prepared and verified on: February 20th 2025