Croatia is a European country located between Central and Southeast Europe and is known as one of the most visited Mediterranean tourist destinations. If you watched Game of Thrones, the shooting location of King’s Landing is situated in Dubrovnik, Croatia. It welcomes millions of tourists annually due to its rich cultural and historical heritage.
Knowing this, there are a lot of job opportunities in Croatia. After the effects of global financial crises subsided, Croatia is once again thriving with its growing economy. This makes the country an appealing candidate when looking for a place to work. However, just like any other country, you might need a Croatia work visa to work.
Croatia is a part of the European Union, thus, Croatian visa protocols are almost similar to that of the other member countries of the EU. Due to this agreement, nationals of EU countries are allowed to travel to Croatia without any visa restrictions. Furthermore, as Croatia intends to join the Schengen agreement eventually, a lot of the same visa requirements will be applied to Croatia as well.
Do you need to have a working visa in Croatia?
It depends. In some cases, your nationality and the role you are applying for, a permit might not be that important as long as you are traveling for short-term purposes (up to 90 days). Workers from European Union countries are still subjected to the transitional arrangements in Croatia as early as 2017.
Meaning, most European citizens will not necessarily need a visa to work in Croatia, there are still some exceptions. Currently, it affects citizens from the Netherlands, Austria, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. If you are from the mentioned countries, visa applications protocols are still shifting so it is best to check on your Croatian embassy. As for citizens from third-world countries, you likely need to have a Croatian work visa to legally work in this country. For more details, check this website.
What are the requirements to apply for a work visa in Croatia?
To apply for a work visa in Croatia, there are some things that you will need to prepare like an Accomplished Letter of Guarantee Form which is signed by the Croatian legal person inviting you to Croatia, a Letter of Invitation from the company inviting you to Croatia, stating what is the purpose and duration of your visit; a Letter from your employer affirming your position in the company, your Cover letter, and your Proof of financial funds, declaring if you sponsored your trip or the employer.
Check Also: Programs in Europe for International Students
Steps on Applying for a Work Visa in Croatia
1. Complete the application form
Although you still need to apply for a work visa in Croatia, it is not as strict as in other countries. The application can be accomplished either by the employee or the employer. Still, the applicant must provide some paper works to support it. For more information regarding the guidelines, check the Croatian government website.
Another option is the EU Blue Card network, which Croatia is part of. This tool is especially useful for third-world-country expatriates and can last up to two years upon issuance compared to the Croatian work and residence permits that are only valid for 12 months.
Conveniently, the application can be done online by accessing the Croatia Online Visa Application form. As you complete the first set of questions, you will receive a PIN and serial number. This will be used if you need to continue the application if you cannot finish it in one sitting. Then, you have to print the application form.
2. Gather the required documents
If you plan to work in Croatia, the type of visa you have to pursue is a business visa. As for the required documents, you have to submit the following: Accomplished Letter of Guarantee Form which is signed by the Croatian legal person inviting you to Croatia; Letter of Invitation from the company inviting you to Croatia, stating what is the purpose and duration of your visit; Letter from your employer affirming your position in the company; Cover letter; Proof of financial funds, declaring if you sponsored your trip or the employer.
Additionally, if you plan to stay longer than 90 days, you have to apply for a Croatian Residence Permit. Upon receipt of your work
3. Book an appointment
After gathering all the documents, the applicant must make an appointment to submit the Croatia work visa application form along with the important documents at the nearest Croatian embassy, a visa application center, or a trusted travel agency. To determine particularly where you can submit your application and documents, inquire about the requirements on the Croatian Embassy’s website in every country. However, not every country has a Croatian embassy, if this is the case, you may go to the nearest country’s Croatian consulate website.
4. Pay the fees
When applying for a Croatian work visa, one must pay the Croatia visa fee as mandated by the embassy or consulate you are applying for. Take note that you will pay higher fees if you apply through a visa application center or accredited travel agency due to the service fee involved.
Follow the payment instructions as detailed by the travel agency or office where you will submit your application.
5. Wait for Processing
The authorities will start to process your application once you have submitted the necessary documents. This may take up to four weeks to process. It also depends on other factors, such as the specific embassy you applied to, the time of the year, or whether you submitted all the important documents or not. It may be delayed if you have any missing or incorrect documents. Also, some consulates may work less efficiently than others or it may be that they are processing a large number of applications at that time.
We hope that this article on getting a work visa in Croatia was helpful! If you are interested in studying in Europe, make sure to check out Available Programs in Europe for International Students.
