New rules in force from 4 June

Croatia has significantly tightened the rules for third-country nationals working on the basis of a residence and work permit. The amendments to the Foreigners Act, published in Narodne novine 55/2026, have been in force since 4 June 2026 and precisely define what a worker must do if their employment ends before the permit expires. Losing a job no longer necessarily means the immediate loss of the right to stay, but any omission can jeopardize their status.

Only 5 days to register

The worker must register in person with the Croatian Employment Service within 5 days of the termination of employment, according to their place of residence. Registration requires a valid biometric document and a certificate containing information about the worker, employer, job position, and validity of the permit, according to HZZ. If the worker misses the deadline, the Service informs the competent police administration, after which proceedings to revoke the residence and work permit may be initiated.

How long may a worker be without a job?

A worker with a permit issued for less than 2 years may be unemployed for a total of up to 3 months during its validity. If the permit was issued for more than 2 years, the permitted period of unemployment is up to 6 months. The period may be used all at once or on several occasions. For workers who prove they were exposed to particularly exploitative conditions, for example non-payment of wages or serious violations of labor rights, the period is extended by an additional 3 months.

Refusing a job may jeopardize the permit

During unemployment, the worker must actively seek work, accept offered employment, respond to calls from the Service, and be available to the adviser. If they refuse an offered job, fail to report, or do not participate in seeking employment, the Service informs the police, and the Ministry of the Interior may revoke their permit. The permit also ceases to be valid when the worker exceeds the total permitted period of unemployment.

Deadlines must no longer be ignored

The new rules give workers a certain amount of time to find another employer, but at the same time introduce significantly stricter control of their status. The most important thing is to report the termination of work within 5 days and cooperate regularly with the Service. A worker who follows the procedure does not have to lose their permit immediately after losing their job, while delay, unavailability, refusal of employment, or work outside the approved conditions may lead to its revocation.

Source: Act on Amendments to the Foreigners Act, Narodne novine 55/2026 and HZZ