Migration and foreign labor trends in Croatia

Croatia is experiencing a demographic shift driven by migration. After a long-term decline starting in 2007, the population rose by 0.2 percent in 2025 to approximately 3,874,993 people. This growth is attributed entirely to migration rather than natural birth rates, which have been negative since the 1990s.

Data from the Ministry of the Interior indicates that approximately 170,000 residence and work permits were issued in 2025, with significant numbers of permit holders arriving from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nepal, Serbia, the Philippines, and India. In the first nine months of 2026, roughly 124,000 permits were issued, including 25,000 for seasonal workers.

In response to these trends, Croatia has introduced new regulations regarding foreign labor. Starting in 2027, foreign workers must demonstrate Croatian language proficiency at the A1.1 level to extend their residence and work permits. Migration experts have criticized this requirement, arguing that such a low level of proficiency does not ensure true societal integration or the ability for workers to navigate legal and administrative systems.