Croatia grapples with prolonged bureaucratic delays for work permits and pensions

In Dubrovnik, employers in the tourism sector report that work permits for foreign workers are taking at least two months to be issued, despite all documentation being submitted promptly. Applicants from February are still in processing, leaving businesses facing staffing shortages as the peak season begins.

Across the country, many pension claimants are waiting months for final decisions after retirement. While the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute provides advance payments, these are lower than the eventual pension and often delayed due to incomplete documentation and extended verification, leaving retirees without full income for extended periods.