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 promoting employment abroad is the EURES network. The Croatian Employment Service (CES) partnered in implementing Your first EURES Job 4.0 from 2015 to 2017. From 2013 to 2017, the CES participated 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.
EU Erasmus Programme for Young Entrepreneurs offers mobility programmes for young entrepreneurs in Croatia. The Croatian Chamber of Economy is listed as a contact point with three active projects to date.
Legal framework
After joining the European Union (EU), Croatian citizens are no longer required to obtain work permits for employment within the EU. However, based on the principle of reciprocity, the Republic of Croatia has implemented employment restrictions for countries that imposed restrictions on Croatian citizens during the transitional period (until 1 July 2018). These countries include Austria, Malta, Netherlands, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Regarding incoming mobility, no tax incentives for employed foreigners were offered in Croatia.
Employment of third-country nationals was only possible through an annual quota for the employment until the end of 2020. Third-country nationals could work in the Republic of Croatia only for jobs for which they have been granted a residence and work permit, and only with an employer with whom they have a working relationship and/or a concluded employment contract.
As of January 1 2021, the new Aliens Act came into effect in the Republic of Croatia. Under this law, the Government of the Republic of Croatia no longer decides on establishing the annual quota for the employment of foreigners. Employers are obliged to request the CES to conduct a labour market test before applying for a residence and work permit for foreigners.
The CES web page provides basic information on the employment of foreigners, regulated by the Ministry of the Interior.