How can a skilled worker move to Croatia for a job?

For a skilled worker, Croatia's main route is the combined stay-and-work permit (dozvola za boravak i rad), which bundles your right to live and work into one approval. The usual flow is: secure a job offer from a Croatian-registered employer; for most roles the employer requests a labour-market test from the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ); once that's cleared (or skipped for an exempt role), the application is processed by MUP. The administrative fee for the permit is 74.32 EUR, with the biometric card charged separately.

A key change to know: in 2021 Croatia abolished its annual labour quota, so there's no longer a cap on foreign hires. Roles on the HZZ's high-demand occupation list skip the labour-market test, as do certain special categories.

If you're highly qualified with a graduate-level qualification and a contract of at least a year, the EU Blue Card is often the stronger choice — it's exempt from the labour-market test and opens a clearer path to long-term residence, with family able to join you for the same period.

Because the high-demand list changes yearly and the test outcome isn't guaranteed, confirm the current rules on the MUP website before relying on them. ACME's free initial consultation can help you and your employer work out which route fits best.