The Aliens Act is the primary legislative framework governing the conditions of entry, stay, employment, and legal status of third-country nationals in the Republic of Croatia and represents one of the key statutes in the field of migration law. It regulates short-term and temporary stay, permanent residence, the issuance of residence and work permits, the EU Blue Card, family reunification, long-term residence status, conditions for the employment of foreigners, rights and obligations during stay, as well as expulsion procedures and entry bans. At the same time, the Act defines employer obligations and sets requirements relating to accommodation, health insurance, means of subsistence, and the absence of a criminal record of foreign nationals, thereby forming the primary legal framework for international labour mobility in Croatia. In recent years, the Act has been amended on several occasions in order to align with the acquis of the European Union and the needs of the domestic labour market, with amendments primarily aimed at liberalising the employment of foreign workers in sectors facing chronic labour shortages, simplifying procedures for highly qualified workers through the EU Blue Card scheme, introducing special categories such as digital nomads, further digitalising administrative procedures, and simultaneously strengthening supervisory and security mechanisms related to illegal work and residence.
At the 145th session of the Government of the Republic of Croatia held on 5 February 2026, the proposal of the Ministry of the Interior concerning amendments to the currently applicable Aliens Act was discussed, with particular emphasis on maintaining a balance between economic needs, the protection of the legal order, and the rights of workers. Among the notable novelties is the introduction of mandatory learning of the Croatian language for foreign workers as a condition for extending residence and work permits, specifically the obligation to pass an A1.1 level language examination after one year of stay. At the same time, the amendments facilitate the change of occupation with the same employer, enable a change of employer after six months of employment without the need to issue a new permit, and further clarify restrictions relating to shortage occupations and the territorial applicability of permits. The deadline for deciding on residence and work permit applications has been extended to 90 days, the permitted period of unemployment during the validity of a permit has been increased to three months, or six months where the permit has been held for more than two years, and in the area of seasonal work the possibility is introduced to issue permits with a validity of up to three years for the same worker and employer. The deadline for registering residence for third-country nationals is extended from three to fifteen days, an additional requirement is introduced that employers must not have a blocked bank account for more than thirty days, and proof of financial inflow is required over a longer reference period. Employer reporting obligations in the event of termination of employment are increased, stricter rules are introduced for employers placed on official non-compliance registers (so-called blacklists), and at the same time the ratio of domestic workers employed by an employer is increased as a precondition for obtaining a positive opinion for the employment of foreign nationals. Furthermore, the Act is being harmonised with European migration packages and directives introducing a single application procedure for residence and work permits and common asylum system rules, including the possibility of in-depth border screening and independent monitoring mechanisms for the protection of fundamental rights.
The adoption of the proposed amendments will also enable the regulation of the stay of third-country nationals in line with Directive (EU) 2024/1233, notably through the issuance of a single residence and work permit within one unified administrative act. The prescribed 90-day deadline for resolving permit applications — which includes the labour market test — will allow police administrations and police stations to properly assess whether employers operate lawfully in Croatia, employ domestic workers, and contribute to economic development, thereby reducing the risk of abuse of the permit issuance system. The amendments are expected to significantly reduce administrative burdens for all stakeholders by allowing easier changes of occupation with the same employer and facilitating a change of employer in line with Directive 2024/1233, with the exception that where a third-country national entered Croatia on the basis of a permit obtained by a specific employer, a change of employer will be permitted after six months. In such cases, there will be no need to issue a new permit or conduct a full administrative procedure, as the change will be possible within the validity of the existing permit without additional administrative burden.
The proposal also addresses practical challenges identified in the application of the current permit-based employment model by introducing prohibitions preventing third-country nationals from working, employers from engaging the services of third-country nationals holding permits for shortage occupations in police administrations where the occupation is not officially recognised as a shortage occupation. Similarly, where a permit is issued on the basis of a labour market test conducted for a specific territory, employment in administrations where such a test has not been conducted will be restricted, while employers will be given the opportunity to subsequently request labour market tests for additional territories of interest. Employers will also be allowed to obtain seasonal residence and work permits with a validity of up to three years, within which third-country nationals may work up to 90 days or up to nine months per year for the same employer and in the same or a related occupation, thereby further reducing administrative burdens in seasonal employment procedures.
For third-country national students, the amendments provide the possibility of regulating temporary stay for study purposes for a validity period of up to three years, which simplifies administrative procedures for students enrolled in full study programmes and reduces the administrative workload related to extension requests, while maintaining oversight through the obligation to submit annual confirmation of enrolment to the competent police authority. The introduction of language requirements — specifically knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script — in extension procedures or in permits issued on the basis of the Croatian Employment Service’s opinion for third-country nationals who have resided in Croatia for at least one year is intended to encourage integration into Croatian society, improve linguistic competence, and enhance their positioning and competitiveness on the labour market. Amendments to misdemeanour provisions are also proposed in order to align them with the new substantive rules, clearly signal the legal values being protected, and provide a deterrent effect against unlawful conduct. Overall, the implementation of the proposed legislative changes is expected to ensure administrative relief for employers and police authorities, more efficient procedures, improved protection of third-country national workers, and the retention of the existing foreign workforce, all while maintaining necessary security safeguards.
The importance of the Aliens Act derives from its multiple functions: for individuals, it represents the legal foundation for lawful residence, employment, and long-term life planning in Croatia; for employers, it is a key instrument for hiring foreign labour in conditions of demographic and market pressure; for investors and international companies, it enables the structured establishment of branches, subsidiaries, and the employment of international teams; while for the state, it serves as a mechanism for migration management, labour-market protection, and alignment with European standards. In practice, the proper understanding and application of this Act often makes the difference between the swift realization of business and personal plans and prolonged administrative obstacles, which is why the Aliens Act is not merely an administrative regulation, but a strategic normative framework that directly influences the economic development, labour mobility, and demographic structure of the Republic of Croatia.
Authors: Jelena Nađ and Anja Juršetić Šepčević, partners at JURŠETIĆ & ALEKSOVSKI Law firm