New regulation on foreign workers published in the Official Gazette

The new Regulation amending and supplementing the Regulation on the residence of third-country nationals in the Republic of Croatia has been published in the Official Gazette (NN 43/2026) on 22 April 2026.

The Regulation introduces stricter rules on accommodation, mandatory health examinations and clearer employment conditions aimed at preventing the exploitation of foreign workers. It sets out a series of precise technical and administrative obligations that directly affect working and living conditions, and enters into force eight days after publication, on 30 April 2026.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, 105,231 foreign workers with valid residence and work permits are currently registered in Croatia. The highest number of permits has been issued for sectors such as hospitality and tourism, as well as construction.

Recent amendments to the Aliens Act have simplified changes of occupation with the same employer, while seasonal work permits are no longer required to be renewed annually but are now issued for a period of three years.

Foreign workers may now work within a three-year period for up to 90 days without approval from the Employment Service or up to nine consecutive months. This has led to an increase in extensions of work permits and seasonal work permits, alongside a growing trend of domestic workforce employment.

The main provisions of the new Regulation focus on defining employers’ obligations towards foreign workers, with the following objectives:

• ensuring adequate accommodation conditions

• preventing exploitation by certain employers or intermediaries

• avoiding segregation of foreign workers

• ensuring better integration

“Aspects that were not sufficiently regulated under the Aliens Act and the previous regulation on seasonal workers are now clearly defined, particularly regarding adequate accommodation, where most intervention was needed, as well as health care, public health and epidemiological control,” said State Secretary Irena Petrijevčanin.

Third-country nationals, together with other documentation, must submit a certificate of health status and vaccination record, as well as proof of a medical examination conducted by county public health institutes or the Croatian Institute of Public Health, even if their stay is shorter than three years.

A key novelty is that employers must now submit a declaration and proof of adequate accommodation with each application for a residence and work permit. Lease agreements or declarations by property owners must include information on the number of persons already accommodated in the premises. Certified lease contracts must also state the rental amount and details of the property size.

The Regulation also defines minimum accommodation standards, including a dedicated sleeping and living area, sanitary facilities, kitchen access, and functional utilities. The minimum space requirement is 14 square metres per worker, with an additional six square metres for each additional person. Houses may accommodate up to ten workers per 150 square metres, while apartments may accommodate up to eight workers per 56 square metres.

If accommodation is provided or arranged by the employer, rent must not exceed 30% of the worker’s net salary and cannot be automatically deducted from wages. Employers are also required to provide workers with a lease contract or equivalent document clearly stating rental conditions and amounts.

The Regulation introduces two official forms: Form 17a (declaration of adequate accommodation) and Form 18a (certificate of health status and vaccination record), prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Croatian Institute of Public Health.

Each provision stems from practical experience that highlighted the need for clearer regulation in order to ensure protection and adequate living conditions for foreign workers, concluded the State Secretary.

Source and photo: Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia