Croatia Blue Card

Single stay and work permit for highly qualified workers with an employment contract of at least six months with a Croatian employer. ^{1 2 3}

What you must show and pay

• A fee of EUR 74.32 (≈ $83) · Stay and work permit administrative fee (biometric card EUR 31.85 (≈ $36) regular or EUR 59.73 (≈ $67) accelerated, plus EUR 9.29 (≈ $10)). ¹

Requirements

• The applicant is a third-country national (non EU/EEA/Swiss). ^{1 3}
• The applicant holds a higher-education qualification, or high-level professional skills certified by the competent commission, related to the job. ^{1 3}
• For a regulated profession, a decision recognising the foreign professional qualification. ^{1 3}
• The contract's gross annual pay is at least 1.5 times the official average gross pay of the previous year. ³
• The pay threshold is 80% of that level for people who finished higher education within the last three years. ³
• Administrative fee for the permit: EUR 74.32 (≈ $83). ¹
• Biometric card: EUR 31.85 (≈ $36) regular or EUR 59.73 (≈ $67) accelerated, plus EUR 9.29 (≈ $10). ¹
• An employment contract for highly qualified work of at least six months with an employer registered in Croatia, which also counts as health-insurance proof. ³
• A valid travel document and, on a first application, proof of no criminal conviction. ³
• The worker applies at a Croatian mission or at the police, or the employer applies at the police; the decision is due within 60 days. ^{1 3}
• The card is valid 48 months, or the contract length plus three months if shorter. ³
• A holder who changes employer notifies the police within five working days and files the new contract. ³
• Long-term residence can follow after 5 uninterrupted years as a Blue Card holder in Croatia. ¹

Stay

• The EU Blue Card is issued for 48 months, or the contract length plus three months if shorter (Art. 128). Renewal is requested at least 60 days before expiry. Long-term residence is possible after 5 uninterrupted years as a Blue Card holder.
• First stay: up to 48 months, decided case by case.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Third-country nationals (non EU/EEA/Swiss). Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.

Work

Work only in the job named in the permit, with the permit employer or after notifying the police of a new employer within five working days; additional self-employment is allowed alongside.

Family

Family members can apply for temporary stay for family reunification matching the Blue Card validity, and may work without a permit.

Fine print

The Ministry of the Interior's English page still describes a contract of at least one year and a renewal request 30 days before expiry; the consolidated Aliens Act (in force 4 June 2026) sets a contract of at least six months and 60 days, which this record follows.

Checked 2026-10-12

Official sources

1. Stay and work of highly-qualified third-country nationals (EU Blue Card) · Ministry of the Interior of Croatia · checked 2026-10-10
2. Work of third-country nationals · Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia · checked 2026-10-10
3. Aliens Act, consolidated text with euro amounts (NN 133/20, 114/22, 151/22, 40/25, 55/26), Article 113 · Zakon.hr (consolidated Narodne novine texts) · checked 2026-10-11