3.7 Cross-border mobility in employment, entrepreneurship and vocational opportunities
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Programmes and schemes for cross-border mobility
The main mechanism for encouraging the employment abroad is the EURES network, whereat the Croatian Employment Service (CES) was a partner in implementing Your first EURES Job 4.0 from 2015 to 2017. From 2013 to 2017 the CES took part in the project The Job of my Life – MobiPro EU, funded by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Mobility programmes for young entrepreneurs are available through the EU Erasmus Programme for Young Entrepreneurs in Croatia. The Croatian Chamber of Economy is listed as a contact point that has had active projects (3 projects) so far. More information for the Croatian Programme can be found at the web page.
Legal framework
After Croatian joining the European Union, citizens of the European Union can freely get employed without obtaining work permits. However, according to the principle of reciprocity, the Republic of Croatia has introduced measures of employment restrictions for all countries which have introduced restrictions for Croatian citizens in transitional period (until 1 July 2018), which included Austria; Malta; Netherlands; Slovenia and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
With regard to incoming mobility, there were no tax incentives for employed foreigners in Croatia.
Employment of third-country nationals was possible only through annual quota for the employment till end of 2020. If a person was a third-country national, s/he can only work in the Republic of Croatia for those jobs for which he or she has been granted a residence and work permit, and only to an employer with whom he or she has a working relationship and/or concluded employment contract.
As of January 1, 2021, the new Aliens Act entered into force in the Republic of Croatia. According to the new Aliens Act, the Government of the Republic of Croatia no longer makes a decision on determining the annual quota for the employment of foreigners. Employers are obliged to request the Croatian Employment Service to conduct a labour market test before applying for a residence and work permit for foreigners.
The web page of the Croatian Employment Service provides basic information on the employment of foreigners, regulated by the Ministry of Interior.