The Croatian government has announced plans to extend the validity period of the EU Blue Card for highly skilled foreign workers.
According to Croatian authorities, changes to the Aliens Act are being prepared, and once approved, the EU Blue Card will be valid for four years, doubling the current two-year validity period. This change aims to make Croatia a more attractive destination for highly qualified professionals by allowing them to stay longer in the country.
Prime Minister Andrej Plenković commented that the extension of the EU Blue Card’s validity will help address Croatia’s workforce shortages and provide better opportunities for foreign workers.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Davor Božinović, also expressed that the main goal of this change is to attract highly qualified workers to Croatia.
Expanding EU Blue Card Eligibility to Include IT Professionals Without Qualifications
In addition to extending the validity of the EU Blue Card, Croatia plans to expand the eligibility criteria for the card. As part of the planned changes, foreigners without formal educational qualifications but with relevant skills in the IT sector will be able to apply for the EU Blue Card.
However, these applicants will need to demonstrate work experience in the field. Their applications will be assessed by a dedicated committee tasked with evaluating such cases.
Residence and Work Permits Issued in 2024
From the beginning of 2024 until September 30, Croatia issued a total of 158,837 residence and work permits to foreign nationals. The largest number of permits were granted to nationals from Bosnia and Herzegovina (30,424), Nepal (25,392), and Serbia (23,862). Most of the permits were issued for work in sectors such as construction, tourism, hospitality, trade, and transportation.
Requirements for Croatia’s EU Blue Card
To qualify for Croatia’s EU Blue Card, third-country nationals must hold a valid one-year employment contract for a highly qualified job. Additionally, applicants must meet Croatia’s minimum salary requirement, which is set at 1.5 times the national average annual salary, equivalent to €24,845.64.
Applicants must also provide documents confirming that national legal requirements are met for regulated professions, along with proof of educational qualifications for unregulated professions. Other requirements include proof of sufficient financial resources to support oneself and a copy of the applicant’s travel document.
The processing time for Croatia’s EU Blue Card is between 30 and 60 days, and the initial application fee is €74.32.
Several EU countries issue EU Blue Cards for highly skilled foreign workers, with some offering simplified application processes.
