Croatia cuts foreign work permits as violence against migrants spikes

Interior Minister Davor Božinović told parliament that 36,000 fewer residence‑work permits were issued for 2025 compared with 2024, with the first four months seeing about 3,500 fewer permits than the same period last year. He said the trend reflects a reduced need for foreign labour and a push to activate the domestic workforce. Currently roughly 113,000 foreign nationals hold valid permits in Croatia, with a 24% increase in longer‑term stays. New amendments to the Foreigners Act require permit‑holders to pass an A1‑level Croatian language exam within a year and allow them to change employers after six months without a new permit.

Opposition MP Polović highlighted a surge in violent attacks on foreign workers, noting that criminal offences against them rose from 112 in 2023 to 750 in the past year. She blamed long‑standing tolerance of hate and called the increase an alarm for society. The debate underscored political divisions over immigration policy, integration measures, and the safety of migrant workers in Croatia.