What are the main immigration pathways to Croatia?

Croatia, an EU member since 2013 that joined Schengen and the eurozone in January 2023, administers immigration for non-EU nationals through the Ministry of the Interior (MUP). The system distinguishes short-term stay (up to 90 days in any 180-day period), temporary stay (up to a year at a time, renewable), and the open-ended statuses of permanent stay and EU long-term residence.

For work, the central route is the combined stay-and-work permit (dozvola za boravak i rad) — and since 2021 there's no annual quota, with a labour-market test by the HZZ for most jobs instead. Croatia is also a notable early adopter of a dedicated digital nomad permit for remote workers tied to non-Croatian companies, and it issues the EU Blue Card for highly qualified workers.

Beyond work, temporary stay is granted for study, scientific research, family reunification, life partnership, humanitarian grounds and other justified purposes. Stacking temporary-stay years is what eventually leads to permanent stay or, more commonly for work-based residents, EU long-term residence after five years.

EU, EEA and Swiss citizens enjoy free movement and don't need any of these permits. Because fees and income thresholds are set in euros and revised periodically, confirm current figures on the MUP website — and ACME's free consultation can help you find the right route.