Legal work in Croatia, as in any other European country, causes some difficulties connected with documentation, but if you carefully read all the nuances of employment, you can undoubtedly find a suitable option for yourself.
Employment in Croatia
To legally work in Croatia, especially for more than 3 months, foreign citizens must apply to the Croatian Consulate in their country to open a work visa and obtain a temporary residence permit. To do this, you must find an employer in advance and obtain a work permit in this country.
Usually, foreigners are issued with a single permit that allows them to work and legally reside in Croatia for a certain period, usually up to one year. The document is issued on the basis of annual quotas, which are published by the local government, or outside the quotas. Some categories of immigrants do not need a work permit in Croatia, for example:
- foreigners permanently residing in the country;
- persons in need of political asylum, protection or who have arrived in the country for other humanitarian reasons;
- moving with the aim of family reunification;
- foreign businessmen;
- foreign students or scientists carrying out research activities on the basis of a special agreement.
Documents for obtaining a work and residence permit in Croatia based on annual quotas:
- a copy of a foreign passport and a color photograph (3.5×4.5 cm);
- medical insurance;
- a copy of the employment contract or other written confirmation of employment in Croatia;
- copies of diplomas of education and qualifications;
- employer information, i.e. company registration certificate;
- payment of the consular fee and proof of sufficient funds to live in Croatia for the first time.
Foreign entrepreneurs, professional athletes, artists, executives, scientists, teachers, and some other foreign specialists can rely on work in Croatia outside the annual quotas, subject to certain conditions. In addition, you take a special permit (certificate) for short-term or seasonal employment for a period of 30 to 90 days, depending on the type of activity.
Continuous residence in this country for at least 5 years will allow you to obtain permanent residence, and later on, Croatian citizenship. Comprehensive information on the requirements for foreigners to work in Croatia, the list of documents, and other aspects of labor migration can be found on the official website of the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Job search in Croatia
High unemployment, uneven regional development, and low investment flows make it difficult to create new jobs, including for foreigners. Nevertheless, in some sectors of the economy, work in Croatia is quite affordable. This is especially true for experienced and qualified immigrants with Croatian and English skills. To find a job, it is worth visiting Croatia as a tourist, chatting with locals and Russian-speaking citizens, many jobs are simply not in the public domain. Otherwise, numerous resources on the Internet will help. Here are the most popular ones:
Browse ads on local newspaper sites, use social media and forums and contact Croatian companies directly.
Salary and vacancies in Croatia
The average salary there in 2020 after taxes is about 865 Euros per month. This level is comparable to countries such as Poland or the Czech Republic. Employees in the capital city of Zagreb and the cities of Rijeka, Dubrovnik, and Split have higher salaries. The official minimum after-tax wage is 4,062.51 local Kuna or 545 Euros per month.
Jobs in Croatia in 2020 are available in the sectors of agriculture, tourism, and some service industries. Foreign workers in such specialties as architects, engineers, IT specialists, teachers, and scientists can find work.
Most popular jobs among foreigners
Croatia’s Adriatic coast, which attracts tourists from all over the world, is also a center for seafaring. Therefore, the employment of seafarers in Croatia is quite realistic. The average salary for seafarers is approximately 4,000 Euros. Crewing companies are looking for job applicants for cargo and passenger ships. To do this, you need to either register on the website for the selection of crewing personnel or contact the appropriate crewing agency, where you will find a vacancy in accordance with your qualifications and experience.
Due to the country’s location on the Adriatic coast, underwater work is in great demand here. Diving work in Croatia is carried out by ship repair companies – this is where you should look for appropriate work. If you are interested in working in the tourism industry, then the easiest way is to get a job as a driving instructor or dive guide at local dive centers.
Another very popular industry is medicine. Working as a doctor in Croatia may also be available for foreigners, but first, you must nostrify a diploma. This will be followed by a long procedure for confirming qualifications through exams and internships. At the same time, fluency in the Croatian language is an important condition. In the field of health care, specialists are constantly needed, in particular, cardiologists.
Therefore, foreigners are advised not only to look for vacancies on the websites, but also to personally go around the clinics and inquire about the availability of vacancies from the management of medical institutions.