Croatia stay and work permit for seasonal work
Croatia's seasonal work permit covers agriculture, forestry, hospitality and tourism for at most six months a year, after which the worker must leave. Seasonal employment of up to 90 days is exceptionally exempt from the labour market test and the Employment Service's opinion. The route writes accommodation into the legal conditions: at least 14 m² per worker, a maximum of six people per premises, a toilet physically separated from sleeping and living space, and — where the employer arranges it — a cost not exceeding 30 per cent of net salary.
Core requirements
The stay and work permit for seasonal work covers agriculture, forestry, the hospitality industry and tourism for a maximum of six months a year, with a labour market test (except for high-demand professions) and the opinion of the local service or office of the Croatian Employment Service. It comes in two lengths: up to 90 days, or up to six months.
Exceptionally, a permit may be issued without a labour market test and without the opinion of the local service or office of the Croatian Employment Service where a seasonal worker in agriculture, forestry, hospitality or tourism is employed for up to 90 days.
The applicant must have a valid foreign travel document throughout the validity of the stay and work permit.
A valid contract of employment is required, and it must comply with Croatian regulations and any collective agreement binding on the employer.
Appropriate accommodation ensuring an appropriate living standard for the whole stay must be provided: a fixed structure with a toilet physically separated from the sleeping and living premises; running water, heating (except premises used only in summer months) and electricity; and the other health and hygiene living conditions set by special regulations.
A maximum of six workers may stay in premises intended for sleeping, living and food preparation. The minimum space is 14 m² for one seasonal worker (including sleeping quarters, food preparation premises and sanitary facilities), rising to 20 m² for two, 26 m² for three, 32 m² for four, 38 m² for five and 44 m² for six. Equipment and appliances must not be worn-out or damaged and must be functional; room height must allow free and safe movement; male and female sleeping quarters must be physically separated unless the occupants are family members who are seasonal workers; and food preparation premises must be positioned to allow individual food preparation.
Where accommodation is arranged by or through the employer, its cost must be proportionate to the seasonal worker's salary, must not exceed 30 per cent of net salary, and must not be automatically deducted from it; the employer must provide a rental contract or equivalent document clearly stating the rental conditions. Where accommodation is provided free of charge, the worker must be given a document clearly stating the accommodation conditions. When applying, the applicant must also sign a statement confirming the accommodation meets these standards.
The seasonal worker and the employer must notify the police administration or police station of any change of accommodation within eight days of the change.
The applicant must not be considered a threat to public policy, national security or public health, must not have been banned from entry and stay in the EEA or Croatia, and must not be the subject of a SIS alert for the purpose of refusing entry.
Proof is required that the applicant has not been convicted by a final ruling of any criminal offence in their home country, or in a country where they resided for more than one year immediately before arriving in Croatia.
Seasonal workers may work in Croatia on this permit for up to six months a year, after which they must leave. They may extend the permit once in a six-month period in a year, with the same or another employer; the extension application is submitted at a police administration or police station no longer than 15 days before the current permit expires.
Seasonal workers have rights equivalent to Croatian citizens as regards terms of employment including the minimum working age and working conditions including salary, termination, working hours, breaks, leave, holidays and non-working days, workplace health and safety and the protection of employment rights under general labour legislation; participation in strikes and industrial action, freedom to organise in and join trade unions or other professional organisations and the rights and benefits they confer, including collective bargaining; late payments owed by the employer for outstanding remuneration; the branches of social security defined in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004; access to goods and services supplied to the public other than housing; counselling services on seasonal work from the competent public employment service; education and vocational training; recognition of diplomas, certificates and other professional qualifications; and tax benefits insofar as the worker is deemed tax resident in Croatia.
Seasonal workers moving to a third country, and survivors residing in a third country who derive rights from them, receive pensions based on the worker's previous employment and pensions acquired under the legislation set out in Article 3 of Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 under the same conditions as Croatian nationals moving to a third country. These rights are exercised in accordance with Croatian legislation and any collective agreement binding the employer, and the competent police administration or police station gives seasonal workers a paper setting out their rights and obligations during their stay and work in Croatia.
Official sources
- Seasonal workersMinistry of the Interior (MUP), Croatia · Reviewed 2026-09-06
How immigration works in Croatia — the process in order, the current figures with their dates, and what commonly blocks an application.
General educational information only, not personalized immigration or legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm them with the responsible government authority before acting. Next scheduled review: 2026-12-06.