Croatia sees foreign work permit renewals outpace new hires for first time

In June 2026 Croatia recorded for the first time that extensions of foreign work permits exceeded the number of permits for new hires. The Ministry of the Interior reported 28,000 renewal permits were issued compared with 26,000 new employment permits in the first four months of the year. The shift follows a broader trend: foreign workers now number around 113,000 with valid permits, and renewals are up 24 % year‑on‑year.

Employers in tourism, hospitality, construction, manufacturing, transport and retail continue to rely heavily on foreign staff. Recent amendments to the Foreigners Act introduced three‑year seasonal permits for returning workers and eased some administrative requirements, which the Croatian Employers’ Association welcomed. However, concerns remain about calculating allowable foreign worker shares based on opinions rather than actual employee numbers and about geographic restrictions on placements.