Highlights:

·      The Interior Ministry of Croatia has decided to issue 20,000 work permits per month.

·      This move is aimed at addressing the labor force shortage, especially in the tourism sector.

·      Schengen Visa news reports that coastal cities in Croatia are issuing more work permits.

·      Around 85,000 residence permits have also been issued to facilitate foreign worker immigration.

Increase in Work Permits issued by Croatia

The Croatian Interior Ministry has recently increased the number of work permits issued per month. The country is granting 20,000 work permits monthly to meet the domestic labor market’s demands.

According to reports, maximum work permits are being granted to seasonal workers from the coastal cities of Croatia. The country has already issued 132,000 work permits as of July 2024. Continuing at this pace, Croatia would be issuing an equivalent amount of work visas in two months that were issued in the same period in 2023.

Croatia Residence Permits

Recent reports reveal that the Croatian Interior Ministry issued around 85,000 residence permits between January and July 2024, which is close to the 113,000 residence permits issued in 2023.

According to reports by Poslovni, the number of seasonal workers has significantly increased, as around 15,000 seasonal work permits were issued by the country. The increase in the issuance of residence permits was almost equal across all cities and municipalities in Croatia, with Bjelovar-Bilogora exceeding last year’s numbers.

Istria, Croatia, invited 15,000 foreign workers in 2023

Counties and coastal cities in Croatia reported to welcome more number of foreign workers as they need more skilled workforce especially in the tourist season. Around one-third of the total workforce in Lika-Senj comprises foreign workers.

Zagreb welcomed only 309 seasonal workers out of 27,000 work permit holders. The country is being recognised globally as top tourist destination and the government is trying to address labour shortage issued to deal with the surge in number of tourists.

The EURES Report on labor shortages 2023 revealed that there are huge job vacancies across 30 job sectors in Croatia, which include:

·      Construction work (crane, hoist, plant operators)

·      Drivers (heavy truck and lorry chauffeurs)

·      Electricians (mechanics and repairers)

·      Service industry (waiters, chefs)