For employers
Workers from abroad, on time
How long the process takes, what you need to do and when to start so your workers arrive before the season.
Planning
When do you need your workers?
Pick a month to see the latest time to start. Durations are typical and depend on the country your workers come from.
Start in November at the latest.That way your workers should arrive by the start of May. It usually takes about 6 months, and anywhere from 3 to 9 months depending on the country and the police administration.
- 01 Agreeing on your needs1 to 2 wks1 to 2 wks
- 02 Finding and selecting candidates3 to 8 wks3 to 8 wks
- 03 Labour market test0 to 3 wks0 to 3 wks
- 04 Residence and work permit6 to 13 wks6 to 13 wks
- 05 Visa in the worker’s country2 to 10 wks2 to 10 wks
- 06 Travel and arrival1 to 3 wks1 to 3 wks
Step by step
Who does what, and how long it takes
Agreeing on your needs
Usually 1 to 2 weeks
We go through the jobs with you: how many workers, what experience, pay, working hours and housing. The pay must be at least what local workers earn for the same job, and never below the minimum wage of €1,050 gross (2026).
Finding and selecting candidates
Usually 3 to 8 weeks
We look for candidates in their home countries, check their experience and documents, and set up interviews, usually by video, so you choose who you hire. How long this takes depends on the job and how many workers you need.
Labour market test
Usually 0 to 3 weeks
You ask the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) online for a labour market test: it checks whether suitable unemployed people are registered in Croatia and must answer within 15 days. HZZ also gives a binding opinion on your business. No test is needed for jobs on HZZ’s list, such as construction trades, or for seasonal work of up to 90 days in tourism, hospitality, agriculture or forestry.
Residence and work permit
Usually 6 to 13 weeks
You apply to the police administration where the work will be, or online through HZZ when its opinion is needed. By law the police decide within 90 days of a complete application, test included, or 30 days more in complex cases. The ministry calls 90 days a ceiling, not the norm, but at the 2026 peak employers reported waits of several months. The fee is €74.32.
Visa in the worker’s country
Usually 2 to 10 weeks
Once the permit is approved, the worker applies in person for a long-stay (D) visa at the Croatian embassy or VFS centre, from 3 months before the permit starts. The fee is €93 plus VFS charges. The embassy decides within 15 days, 45 at most, but an appointment can take weeks: VFS quotes up to 20 working days for India and 30 to 45 days for Bangladesh. Workers from Kosovo and North Macedonia need no visa: they travel on their passport and the permit.
Travel and arrival
Usually 1 to 3 weeks
Before the first working day, register the worker for pension insurance (HZMO), and for health insurance (HZZO) within 8 days. Once both are done, they can start work on the permit confirmation. Within 15 days of arriving they register their address with the police, where they also apply for their residence card; our guides for workers take them through it.
Real waiting times depend on the police administration, the embassy and the country your workers come from. Durations and rules checked on 27 September 2026.
Questions employers ask
How long does hiring from abroad take?
Usually about six months from our first call to your workers’ arrival, and anywhere from three to nine months depending on the country, the job and the police administration. The permit and the visa take longest. For a season that starts in May, that means starting in the autumn; the planner above works it out for any month.
What do I have to do as the employer?
Agree the jobs and conditions with us, request the labour market test from HZZ where one is needed, apply for the permit and pay its fee, sign a written employment contract with each worker, provide housing that meets the standards if you offer it, and register the worker for pension insurance before their first day.
We take you through each step and prepare the paperwork with you.
What is the labour market test, and do I need one?
HZZ checks whether suitable unemployed people are registered in Croatia, and the pay you offer must not undercut local pay. It also gives a binding opinion on your business: among other things, no tax debts, at least one Croatian or EU worker on an open-ended full-time contract for the past year, and Croatian or EU full-time staff making up at least 20% of your staff from outside the EU (10% for listed jobs). About a quarter of opinions in 2026 were negative, so it pays to check the conditions first.
No test is needed for jobs on HZZ’s list, for seasonal work of up to 90 days in tourism, hospitality, agriculture or forestry, or when you renew a permit for the same worker.
What does it cost the employer?
The permit fee is €74.32. For each non-seasonal worker who comes on a visa, you lodge a promissory note for €2,016, certified by a notary, within 5 days of approval. It’s cashed if the worker never starts or you dismiss them within 3 months through no fault of their own. You also pay for renewal health checks and, from June 2027, the A1.1 Croatian exam for renewals.
If you paid the permit fee, you can’t ask the worker to pay it back, and no agency may charge a worker anything. We agree the price of our service with you after the first call.
Do I have to provide housing?
If you provide or arrange housing, it must meet the minimum standards: at least 14 m² for one person and 6 m² for each additional person, no more than eight workers per flat, separate bedrooms for men and women, and water, heating and a kitchen. Rent can be at most 30% of net pay, is never deducted automatically, and needs a written lease. Report changes to the police within 15 days.
The fine for inadequate housing is €1,500 to €3,000 per worker.
What pay do I have to offer?
At least what local workers earn for the same job, and never less than the minimum wage of €1,050 gross in 2026. Conditions may not be worse than for Croatian workers. The contract must be in writing, and the Ministry of Labour recommends a bilingual version, in Croatian and a language the worker understands.
Can I hire workers just for the season?
Yes, with a seasonal permit. For up to 90 days it’s issued as a confirmation only, with no residence card, and in tourism, hospitality, agriculture and forestry it needs no labour market test or HZZ opinion. For longer stays of up to 9 months a year the usual test rules apply, and the permit can be extended once within those 9 months. Since June 2026, permits covering several seasons can last up to 3 years.
Seasonal workers can’t change employer, and the permit ends with the job.
What if a worker doesn’t arrive or leaves early?
If the employment ends early, notify the police within 5 working days; the worker has to report to HZZ within 5 days. If a worker who came on a visa never starts, or you dismiss them within 3 months through no fault of their own, the €2,016 promissory note is cashed.
After 6 months workers may move to another employer, or sooner if their pay is late. Ask us what our service covers in these cases.
Let’s talk about your needs
Are you looking for workers for your business or interested in employment opportunities in Croatia? Get in touch with us.