Foreign work permits in Croatia reach 106,000 by end of July; new hires nearly halved
106,000 permits were issued in Croatia from January to end-July, with new-hire permits almost halved and renewals and seasonal permits rising.
Around 106,000 residence-and-work permits for foreign nationals were issued in Croatia from January through the end of July this year, a decline of 7.5 percent compared with the same period last year.
The Croatian Employment Service reports that the number of permits issued for new hirings has fallen by almost half, while renewals of existing permits and seasonal authorisations have risen. According to the service's director, Ante Lončar, about 155,000 foreign workers are currently employed in Croatia.
So far this year the authorities have issued 41,716 permits, roughly half the total issued in the comparable period last year, the director said.
The largest group of foreign workers comes from Bosnia and Herzegovina (around 19,500). They are followed by citizens of Serbia (more than 17,800), the Philippines (about 15,700) and then Nepal, North Macedonia and India.
Which sectors hire the most foreign workers
By sector, the biggest share of permits—more than 43,500—were granted for work in tourism and hospitality. Other significant categories are construction and industry, with transport, communications and trade also employing sizable numbers.
- Tourism and hospitality: over 43,500 permits.
- Construction: around 27,000 permits.
- Industry: around 12,000 permits.
- Transport and communications: more than 6,500 permits.
- Trade: a little more than 6,300 permits.
Photo: press material from the event
