---
title: "Croatia Graduate job search requirements 2026: €869+/mo needed"
url: https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/graduate-job-search-art76/
lang: en
updated: 2026-10-12
---

Croatia · Work

# Croatia Graduate job search

**Income needed:** €869+ a month ≈ $970

Temporary stay after studies to look for work or start a business (Art. 76 Aliens Act)

Checked against official sources on 12 Oct 2026 [Change log](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/)

- **Income needed:** €869+ a month ≈ $970 (Income of at least EUR 869.4 a month (≈ $970) · Monthly means of at least 60% of the previous year's average monthly net pay for temporary stay in other purposes (Regulation Art. 2(4), NN 3/2026); EUR 869.40 on the 2025 average of EUR 1,449. A fee of EUR 46.45 (≈ $52) · Administrative fee for temporary stay when the application is filed at a police administration or station (EUR 55.74 at a mission). A fee of EUR 31.85 (≈ $36) · Production of the biometric residence permit (EUR 59.73 for the accelerated procedure); EUR 9.29 more is paid for its issuance.)
- **First stay:** 1 yr (Temporary stay for up to one year, not extendable (Art. 76(3)).)
- **Who can apply:** Most passports (Third-country nationals (non EU/EEA/Swiss).)
- **Family:** Family can join (Family members can apply for temporary stay for family reunification (Art. 76(4)).)

## Key facts

Graduate job search is a work route for Croatia. Applicants need income of €869+ a month ≈ $970. You can stay 1 yr. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.

- **Money needed:** €869+ a month ≈ $970
- **Government fees:** €46.45 ≈ $52 · €31.85 ≈ $36
- **First stay:** 1 yr

## Cost, time and long term

To apply: 2 government fees listed below; income to show €869+/mo ≈ $970. No lawyer or agent fee is included.

**Government fees: €46.45 ≈ $52 · €31.85 ≈ $36**

- EUR 46.45 (≈ $52) Administrative fee for temporary stay when the application is filed at a police administration or station (EUR 55.74 (≈ $62) at a mission).
- EUR 31.85 (≈ $36) Production of the biometric residence permit (EUR 59.73 (≈ $67) for the accelerated procedure); EUR 9.29 (≈ $10) more is paid for its issuance.

**Shown, not spent: €869+/mo ≈ $970**

- EUR 869.4 a month (≈ $970) Monthly means of at least 60% of the previous year's average monthly net pay for temporary stay in other purposes (Regulation Art. 2(4), NN 3/2026); EUR 869.40 (≈ $970) on the 2025 average of EUR 1,449 (≈ $1,620).

**Renewal: 1 year max, no extension**

The temporary stay lasts up to one year and cannot be extended.

[Ministry of the Interior of Croatia](https://mup.gov.hr/aliens-281621/stay-and-work/temporary-stay-of-third-country-nationals/281661)

## Why this route may not fit

Check this before you apply.

- Can't be renewed: 1 year in total at most
- Needs earlier residence or an existing status in Croatia
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports

### What you'll need

#### Who can apply

- The applicant is a researcher, or a third-country national with a higher-education qualification gained in Croatia.
- The applicant has finished the research activities or the studies in Croatia.

#### What you must show

- Monthly means of at least 60% of the average monthly net pay, EUR 869.40 (≈ $970) on the 2025 average.

#### Documents

- Proof of finished research activities or of the higher-education qualification obtained in Croatia.
- A valid travel document and health insurance.

#### Steps

1. Apply at least 60 days before your current temporary stay as a student or researcher expires; this job-search stay itself cannot be extended.

#### After you arrive

- The stay is granted for up to one year and cannot be extended.

## What happens at day 183

How Croatia decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.

- **Stay on this route:** **Up to 1 year in total**
- **Tax residence:** - **At least 183 days in one or two calendar years** Owning an apartment or having one at disposal for at least 183 days in one or two calendar years establishes permanent residence for tax; actual stay is not required.
- **Foreign-source income:** Worldwide income of tax residents; Croatian-source income of non-residents.

[All tax rules for Croatia](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/tax/) Tax records checked 12 Oct 2026

**Full official text**

Temporary stay of up to one year, not extendable, for researchers and people who gained a higher-education qualification in Croatia, to look for work or to found a company or register a trade. (sources 1, 2, 3, 4)

#### What you must show and pay

- Income of at least EUR 869.4 a month (≈ $970) · Monthly means of at least 60% of the previous year's average monthly net pay for temporary stay in other purposes (Regulation Art. 2(4), NN 3/2026); EUR 869.40 (≈ $970) on the 2025 average of EUR 1,449 (≈ $1,620). (sources 3, 4)
- A fee of EUR 46.45 (≈ $52) · Administrative fee for temporary stay when the application is filed at a police administration or station (EUR 55.74 (≈ $62) at a mission). (source 1)
- A fee of EUR 31.85 (≈ $36) · Production of the biometric residence permit (EUR 59.73 (≈ $67) for the accelerated procedure); EUR 9.29 (≈ $10) more is paid for its issuance. (source 1)

#### Requirements

- The applicant is a researcher, or a third-country national with a higher-education qualification gained in Croatia. (source 2)
- The applicant has finished the research activities or the studies in Croatia. (source 2)
- Monthly means of at least 60% of the average monthly net pay, EUR 869.40 (≈ $970) on the 2025 average. (sources 3, 4)
- Proof of finished research activities or of the higher-education qualification obtained in Croatia. (source 2)
- A valid travel document and health insurance. (sources 1, 2)
- Apply at least 60 days before your current temporary stay as a student or researcher expires; this job-search stay itself cannot be extended. (source 2)
- The stay is granted for up to one year and cannot be extended. (source 2)

#### Stay

- Temporary stay for up to one year, not extendable (Art. 76(3)).
- First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
- Not renewable according to our source.

#### 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.

#### Family

Family members can apply for temporary stay for family reunification (Art. 76(4)).

Checked 2026-10-12

## Official sources

1. [Temporary stay of third-country nationals](https://mup.gov.hr/aliens-281621/stay-and-work/temporary-stay-of-third-country-nationals/281661) · Ministry of the Interior of Croatia · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Aliens Act, consolidated text with euro amounts (NN 133/20, 114/22, 151/22, 40/25, 55/26), Article 113](https://www.zakon.hr/z/142/Zakon-o-strancima) · Zakon.hr (consolidated Narodne novine texts) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Regulation amending the means-of-subsistence regulation (NN 3/2026, 9 January 2026)](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2026_01_3_10.html) · Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-01-09
4. [Average monthly net and gross earnings in 2025: net EUR 1,449, gross EUR 2,016](https://podaci.dzs.hr/media/cbebbohp/rad-2025-1-1_12-prosje%C4%8Dne-mjese%C4%8Dne-neto-i-bruto-pla%C4%87e-zaposlenih-u-2025.pdf) · Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-01-01

## Graduate job search and its alternatives

| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Graduate job search | Needs income of €869+ a month ≈ $970 | 1 yr | – |
| [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/blue-card/) | – | 4 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Work permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/work-permit/) | – | 3 yr, renewable | Limited |
| [Researcher permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/researcher-art74/) | Needs income of €826+ a month ≈ $920 | 1 yr, renewable | Yes |
| [Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/portugal/eu-blue-card/) Portugal | Needs income from €1,726 a month ≈ $1,930 | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |

## Questions people ask

### How much money do I need for the Graduate job search?

Income of at least EUR 869.4 a month (≈ $970). Monthly means of at least 60% of the previous year's average monthly net pay for temporary stay in other purposes (Regulation Art. A fee of EUR 46.45 (≈ $52). Administrative fee for temporary stay when the application is filed at a police administration or station (EUR 55.74 (≈ $62) at a mission). A fee of EUR 31.85 (≈ $36). Production of the biometric residence permit (EUR 59.73 (≈ $67) for the accelerated procedure); EUR 9.29 (≈ $10) more is paid for its issuance.

### How long can I stay on the Graduate job search?

Temporary stay for up to one year, not extendable (Art.

### Can I bring my family on the Graduate job search?

Family members can apply for temporary stay for family reunification (Art.

### Who can apply for the Graduate job search?

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.

## More in Croatia

[Digital nomad stay](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/digital-nomad/) [Own-company owner permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/own-company-51pct/) [Student stay](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/study/) [Croatian citizenship for emigrant descendants](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/croatia/citizenship-emigrant-descendants/)

## Work visas elsewhere

[🇪🇸 EU Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/spain/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇪 IT sector permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/georgia/it-residence-permit/) [🇮🇹 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/italy/eu-blue-card/) [🇬🇷 Large-company director permit](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/greece/company-executive-b3/) [🇩🇪 Blue Card](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/germany/eu-blue-card/) [🇫🇷 Talent · Company officer](https://settleanywhere.com/countries/france/talent-corporate-officer/)

≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.

## How this was checked

**Checked on 2026-10-12 against 4 official sources.** Status: verified against the official sources.

Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.

1. [Temporary stay of third-country nationals](https://mup.gov.hr/aliens-281621/stay-and-work/temporary-stay-of-third-country-nationals/281661) · Ministry of the Interior of Croatia · checked 2026-10-11
2. [Aliens Act, consolidated text with euro amounts (NN 133/20, 114/22, 151/22, 40/25, 55/26), Article 113](https://www.zakon.hr/z/142/Zakon-o-strancima) · Zakon.hr (consolidated Narodne novine texts) · checked 2026-10-11
3. [Regulation amending the means-of-subsistence regulation (NN 3/2026, 9 January 2026)](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2026_01_3_10.html) · Narodne novine (Official Gazette of Croatia) · checked 2026-10-11
4. [Average monthly net and gross earnings in 2025: net EUR 1,449, gross EUR 2,016](https://podaci.dzs.hr/media/cbebbohp/rad-2025-1-1_12-prosje%C4%8Dne-mjese%C4%8Dne-neto-i-bruto-pla%C4%87e-zaposlenih-u-2025.pdf) · Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS) · checked 2026-10-11

Tracked since 2026-10-11. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the [changes page](https://settleanywhere.com/changes/), and the [methodology page](https://settleanywhere.com/methodology/) explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email [contact@stayglobe.app](mailto:contact@stayglobe.app?subject=Correction) with a link to the official source.