How does EU Blue Card (Highly Qualified Worker) work in Croatia, and who qualifies?

The EU Blue Card is Croatia's route for highly qualified non-EU professionals who hold a graduate-level qualification and have a job offer in the country. It's issued as a stay-and-work permit tied to your contract and opens a path toward long-term residence, with family members able to join you for the same period.

A real advantage is that the Blue Card sits among the categories exempt from the labour-market test, so the HZZ test step is skipped for these roles — one less hurdle compared with the standard stay-and-work permit.

The key requirements are an employment contract of at least one year with a Croatian-registered employer, a higher-education qualification (diploma or equivalent formal proof), proof you're entitled to practise where the profession is regulated, and the general temporary-stay conditions: a valid passport, means of subsistence and health insurance. The administrative fee is 74.32 EUR for the permit, with the biometric residence card at 31.85 EUR (standard).

Because conditions and fees are revised periodically, confirm the current details on the official MUP website before applying. ACME's free consultation can help you check whether your qualification and role fit the Blue Card criteria.