Over 100,000 Foreign Workers Arrive in Croatia in 2025
Aug 21, 2025
Category: Croatia Foreign Workers News
Foreign workers in Croatia have reached record levels in 2025, with more than 100,000 people arriving between January and July.
This inflow highlights both the country’s economic momentum and its growing reliance on overseas labor to keep essential industries running.
Permits issued reach historic levels
The Ministry of the Interior reported that around 115,000 residence and work permits were issued in the first several months of 2025, surpassing the same period last year when 112,389 permits were granted.
Most permits went to workers in tourism and hospitality, followed by construction, industry, transport and communications, and trade. These figures mirror 2024 trends, showing that Croatia’s labor needs remain concentrated in the same sectors.
The majority of workers arrived from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nepal, Serbia, the Philippines, and India. Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to dominate the list, benefiting from geographic proximity and shared cultural ties.
Meanwhile, Nepalese and Filipino workers often take positions in hospitality and caregiving roles, while Indian and Serbian workers fill gaps in construction and heavy industry.
Employers praise streamlined process
Employers said that Croatia has improved the process for hiring foreign workers.
Petar Lovrić, Vice President of the Croatian Employers’ Association Coordination for Agency Work and Employment Mediation, noted that the Ministry of Labour and Employment Service now ensures that only legitimate requests are approved.
“The state has introduced much more order in the issuing of work and residence permits,” Lovrić said. He explained that better oversight has curbed past abuses, such as unethical headhunting practices, and improved trust between businesses and the state.
Demographics and economic growth drive demand
Croatia’s labor shortage is tied to three major forces: the emigration of young people, negative demographic trends, and robust economic growth.
Many young Croatians continue to move abroad for higher wages, while a shrinking birth rate leaves fewer workers entering the labor force.
At the same time, Croatia has seen strong economic performance. According to the Croatian Employers’ Association, the country now has the highest number of registered insured workers in its history.
“Even without emigration we would still need more workers. Foreign employees fill positions in sectors where there is no available domestic workforce. Without them, the economy would not function,” said Irena Weber, Director General of the Croatian Employers’ Association.
Balancing domestic, foreign workforce
While foreign workers are crucial, Weber stressed that domestic employees remain the preferred choice for most employers.
“There is no better worker than a domestic one in terms of language, loyalty, teamwork, skills, and compliance with safety procedures,” she said.
Still, given demographic realities, many experts believe Croatia will continue to depend heavily on migrant labor for years to come.
Rising debate on wages, competitiveness
Weber has also warned about rising wages in Croatia. She noted that Croatia currently leads the EU in wage growth, a trend that risks harming competitiveness.
Instead of aggressive wage increases, she argued for tax relief on labor and more investment in research and development.
She also suggested reducing the number of public sector employees and shifting more workers into the private sector, pointing out that the government wage bill is becoming unsustainable.
Travel rules, shifting entry conditions
For short-term and long-term visitors, the influx of foreign workers into Croatia signals a tightening of the region’s border management and entry systems.
Croatia, as a Schengen member, aligns its visa and migration policies with wider EU frameworks.
This means that tourists and business travelers will soon face additional layers of screening when the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) launches in late 2026.
ETIAS will require non-EU citizens from visa-exempt countries to apply online before traveling, a step meant to increase security and track movements more efficiently.
While aimed at tourists and short-term visitors, the system also reflects Europe’s broader effort to manage rising migration flows.
For long-term migrants hoping to settle, stricter background checks and closer cooperation between EU states could extend processing times.
The steady arrival of workers from outside the EU has already prompted closer monitoring of employment permits and residence applications. For those planning visits, the new system underscores the importance of preparing documentation well in advance.
For migrants, especially from Asia and the Balkans, it reflects a reality in which access to work may be available, but under rules that are now more tightly enforced across borders.
Ripple effects on European immigration strategies
Croatia’s surge in foreign workers also sends a message to other EU countries confronting similar demographic and economic pressures. States with aging populations, from Italy to Germany, watch closely as Croatia adapts to its new reliance on non-EU labor.
The trend reinforces a larger EU debate: how to balance labor market needs with integration policies that protect both local workers and newcomers.
Some governments may respond by adjusting quotas or speeding up recognition of qualifications for non-EU workers.
Others may focus on bilateral agreements with key sending countries, such as Nepal or the Philippines, to ensure a steady supply of employees while safeguarding ethical recruitment standards.
At the same time, the growth of foreign labor in Croatia adds momentum to EU-level discussions on common migration frameworks. Brussels has pushed for more coordination, arguing that fragmented national policies risk creating loopholes or bottlenecks.
Croatia’s experience demonstrates that even smaller economies now rely on large-scale migration, strengthening the case for a shared approach.
The policy outcome may not be immediate, but the message is clear: Europe cannot separate labor mobility from its wider immigration agenda. What begins as a local labor shortage in one state soon reshapes how the entire bloc manages borders, visas, and integration.
Looking ahead for Croatia’s workforce
Over 100,000 foreign workers have arrived in Croatia since January 2025, highlighting how much the country now relies on international labor to sustain tourism, construction, and other key industries. This surge reflects both Croatia’s strong economic growth and the challenges posed by emigration and demographic decline.
While domestic workers remain a priority, it is clear that foreign employees have become essential in keeping the economy running.
As Croatia continues to balance growth with workforce needs, the question is not whether foreign workers will remain part of the picture, but how the country will adapt to integrate them effectively.