Croatia Increases Workforce with 20,000 Work Visas Issued Monthly
Highlights: Croatia to Issue 20,000 Work Visas Monthly to Address Labor Shortages
The Croatian Interior Ministry has announced an increase in the issuance of work permits, with 20,000 new visas being granted each month. This initiative aims to address the country's labor shortage, particularly in the tourism sector. SchengenVisa News reports that coastal cities in Croatia are a major focus for these work permits. Additionally, around 85,000 residence permits have been issued to facilitate the entry of foreign workers.
Increase in Work Permits Issued by Croatia
Croatia's Interior Ministry has significantly ramped up its issuance of work permits, now providing 20,000 per month to meet domestic labor market needs. SchengenVisa News highlights that the majority of these permits are being allocated to seasonal workers in coastal regions. By July 2024, Croatia had issued 132,000 work permits, and if this rate continues, the number issued in the next two months will match the total for the same period in 2023.
Croatia Residence Permits
Between January and July 2024, Croatia issued approximately 85,000 residence permits, nearing the 113,000 issued in the whole of 2023. Reports from Poslovni indicate a significant rise in seasonal work permits, with about 15,000 issued. The increase in residence permits has been fairly uniform across cities and municipalities, with Bjelovar-Bilogora surpassing last year’s figures.
The table below has the details of the cities that recorded the biggest difference in the number of residence permits being issued as compared to last year:
|
City |
No. of permits approved |
No. of permits extended |
|
Istria |
14,000 |
3,000 |
|
Dubrovnik County |
7,000 |
1,500 |
|
Zagreb |
16,000 |
10,000 |
Regional Insights
In 2023, Istria attracted 15,000 foreign workers. Coastal cities and counties in Croatia have seen a rise in foreign workers to meet the demand, especially during the tourist season. Foreign workers now make up a significant portion of the workforce in Lika-Senj.
Zagreb, however, only hosted 309 seasonal workers out of 27,000 work permit holders. Croatia’s status as a top tourist destination has prompted the government to address labor shortages resulting from increased tourist numbers.
The EURES Report on labor shortages for 2023 identifies significant job vacancies across 30 sectors in Croatia, including:
- Construction (crane, hoist, and plant operators)
- Driving (heavy truck and lorry chauffeurs)
- Electrical work (mechanics and repairers)
- Service industry (waiters, chefs)