Croatia Grants Historic High of Work Permits to Nepali Nationals

Key Insights

1. Employment in Croatia rose by 11,000 during the first quarter of 2025.

2. Nepali nationals are emerging as a leading source of foreign labor, as workers from neighboring countries become less available.

3. The construction, tourism, and catering sectors are the main industries employing foreign workers.

Nepali Workers Gaining Ground as Croatia’s Top Foreign Labor Source

Over 20% of all employment-related permits issued by the Croatian government in early 2025 went to Nepali citizens, positioning Nepal as a potential leading source of foreign labor. This shift may soon see Nepalis surpass Bosnians as the largest group of foreign workers in the country.

According to figures from the Interior Ministry, the number of work permits granted to nationals from neighboring countries is declining. In the first quarter of 2025, 620 fewer permits were issued to Bosnian citizens compared to the same period last year. Similarly, Serbian workers received about 100 fewer permits, while North Macedonian nationals saw an increase of around 200 permits.

In total, Bosnian citizens received 9,389 permits and Serbian nationals were granted approximately 5,945 permits during the first three months of 2025.

Rising Asian Workforce in Croatia

Asian countries are playing a growing role in Croatia’s labor market. Filipinos received approximately 6,000 work permits in the first quarter of 2025, marking an increase of 1,800 compared to 2024. Indian workers also saw a boost, with 5,555 permits issued—500 more than the previous year.

The most significant growth, however, was observed among Egyptian workers. The number of permits granted to Egyptians rose by over 50%, reaching roughly 2,000. Meanwhile, the number of Bangladeshi workers declined as fewer permits were issued.

March Sees 11,000 Increase in Employment

Employment figures in Croatia continued to grow in March 2025, with over 11,000 new workers added—many of whom are foreign nationals supporting critical sectors.

According to the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute, the number of registered insured individuals rose by 11,000 in March, following a 4,000 increase in February, highlighting a consistent upward trend.

Currently, the Institute reports around 1.72 million insured workers in total, with tourism and hospitality leading in employment gains.

Top Sectors for Foreign Workers

Construction, tourism, and catering remain the primary industries employing foreign workers in Croatia. In the past year, the construction sector saw the highest absolute increase in employment, with 17,343 permits issued. This was followed by 15,870 permits in tourism and hospitality, and 2,779 in the trade sector.