According to data from the Croatian Bureau of Statistics, around 30 thousand people who had previously lived and worked abroad returned to Croatia in the last three years.

This brings the annual average of returning emigrants to around 10 thousand. Most often, these are people who, after returning, open trades and companies, mostly in the construction, hospitality, and various service sectors, using available state measures and support intended for returnees, writes HRT.

Osijek became the new home of a young married couple

Matej Vrdoljak spent more than a decade abroad, from Canada to Ireland, where he met his wife Kate. A little over a year ago, they decided to return and settle in Osijek, fulfilling a long-held dream of opening a family establishment focused on healthy eating. Their return caused great joy in the family, especially for Matej's mother, who emphasized that there is no greater joy for a parent than the moment when a child returns home after so many years away.

Germany too expensive for living

A similar reason for returning was shared by Dragica Kolarević, who returned to her homeland from Germany a year ago. Despite a stable job in administration, she was increasingly burdened by rising living costs and high housing prices. When she compared living conditions, she concluded that it made no sense to leave her family and home for almost the same quality of life abroad. She also started her own trade after returning.

Support and measures for new beginnings

The “I Choose Croatia” program, implemented by the Croatian Employment Service, helps them significantly. More than a thousand returnees have already used this self-employment measure, which offers amounts of up to 27 thousand euros. In addition, the Ministry of Demography also enables tax exemptions for returnees for a period of five years, as well as housing assistance benefits. Particularly important is the proposed law that would make it easier for returnees to access the state housing fund, especially in less developed parts of the country.

Returning to the homeland is becoming an increasingly common choice

Although emigration remains a significant challenge for Croatia, the number of returnees confirms that an increasing number of people assess that life in the homeland nevertheless brings a better balance between family and professional life. The decisive reasons are almost always the same, relating to proximity to family, lower living costs compared to developed European countries, but also the possibility of building a satisfying everyday life in a familiar environment.

Experts emphasize that returnees play a key role in strengthening local communities. They bring new knowledge, work habits, and experience gained abroad, often also bringing an entrepreneurial spirit that enriches the domestic economy. Their investments in crafts and new projects contribute to preserving life in smaller towns and villages.

An important motive for returning is also the emotional connection with the homeland. Numerous emigrants point out that no country can replace the feeling of belonging and closeness that life within one's own cultural circle brings. Although the emigration of young people in search of better pay has become an almost common occurrence, the urge to return is equally strong when a family is formed or when children need a safer and warmer environment.

While salaries abroad seem attractive, high living costs can greatly reduce them. Rents in large European cities reach levels that eat into even the best earnings, and quality of life is often burdened by stress and long working hours. Returnees emphasize that in Croatia they can live more relaxed lives with lower incomes and have more time for family.

Croatia is not an exception. Similar patterns are also recorded in other countries such as Poland and Romania, because many people, after a certain amount of time abroad, recognize the advantages of returning. What they have in common is that they want to use the experience gained abroad, but they want to apply it within the community they come from.

In order for this trend to continue, it is necessary to develop even more attractive incentives and ensure that returnees have access to all the tools for rapid integration into the labor market. At the same time, strong support from local communities through housing, infrastructure, and education projects can make Croatia even more attractive to those who are undecided. All this confirms that returning home is not only a personal decision but also an important potential for the country's future development.