On the occasion of International Migrants Day, held on 18 December, Eurostat published data revealing deep differences in migration policies and immigrant profiles within the European Union.

While in most western member states of the Union a significant share of permits is allocated to family, education, and other reasons not related to work, Croatia records a record-low share of permits for these purposes with the absolute dominance of the labour market.

Eurostat’s 2024 report reveals a huge gap between the Croatian immigration model and the practices of countries we are traditionally compared with, such as Germany, Austria, and Slovenia. While these countries balance economic needs with social integration through family reunification and education, the Croatian system functions almost exclusively as a mechanism for the rapid import of labour.

Statistical data show that Croatia issued the lowest percentage of permits for educational and family purposes in the entire European Union. With a share of only about 3% of permits for family reunification and less than 0.5% for education, Croatia is at the very bottom of the Union in these categories.

In contrast stands the share of over 95% of permits issued exclusively for employment, a figure unmatched in the rest of Europe.

The differences become drastic when Croatia is compared with key partners. Neighbouring Slovenia also relies on foreign labour, but there employment accounts for about 57% of all permits, while the rest goes to family reunification and other purposes.

The differences become even more evident in comparison with Austria and Germany. In Germany, work is listed as the primary reason in only 14% of new residence permits, while family reunification and international protection are the dominant factors shaping society there. In Austria, meanwhile, employment accounts for only 12.67% of total permits.

At the opposite end of the scale from Croatia is Belgium, which in 2024 issued the lowest percentage of permits for work, only 10.52%, placing the emphasis on students and family ties.

These data suggest that Croatia is currently pursuing a very specific and narrowly focused migration policy. While western democracies rely on models that encourage the long-term integration of foreigners through education and family, the Croatian economy at this moment acts like a vacuum seeking exclusively job performers. Such an orientation raises the question of the long-term sustainability of a system that sees foreigners exclusively as labour, while the social and educational aspects of the stay of foreign nationals in Croatia have remained at the level of a statistical error.