Croatia: language exam proposed for residence permit renewals
On February 5, the Government of Croatia proposed amendments to the “Foreigners Act”, introducing multiple changes, including a mandatory language exam as a requirement for the extension of work and residence permits. Other changes include adjustments to procedures for international and temporary protection, administrative measures to streamline labour permits, and further digitalisation of processes.
The draft law is currently under parliamentary review. The official date of entry into force has not yet been confirmed.
What are the most notable changes?
1) Introduction of a mandatory Croatian language exam
- A language exam will become mandatory for foreign nationals renewing their work and residence permits after one year of residence in Croatia.
- Required level: A1.1.
- The exam will be standardized and conducted at the employer’s expense.
- Exemptions apply to:
- Persons who have completed primary, secondary, or higher education in the Republic of Croatia;
- Persons who speak a language belonging to the South Slavic language subgroup.
2) New employer change procedure
- A change of employer will generally be permitted after six months of employment during the validity of the residence and work permit (earlier changes allowed in cases of labour or criminal law violations).
- The new employer must request a labour market test (where required) and notify the authorities within three days of signing the employment contract.
- The procedure cannot be initiated during permit renewal proceedings or if fewer than 30 days remain before permit expiry.
- Processing time is set at up to 45 days (including the labour market test).
3) Extended processing deadline
- The official processing time for initial residence and work permit applications will be extended to 90 days, with a possible 30-day extension in complex cases (currently 15 days).
4) Regulated unemployment period
- The maximum permitted unemployment period during the validity of a residence and work permit is set at 60 days (previously not set).
5) Extended validity of student residence permits
- Temporary residence for study may be granted for up to three years (currently up to one year), subject to annual confirmation of enrolment by 31 October.
6) Territorial restriction following labour market test
- If a work permit is issued based on a labour market test, the foreign worker may work only in the police administration area where the test was conducted (previously not explicitly regulated).
7) Territorial restriction for shortage occupations
- If a permit is issued for a shortage occupation, the worker may work only in areas where that occupation is officially listed as a shortage (previously not regulated).
8) Extended validity of seasonal permits
- Seasonal permits may be issued for up to three years, allowing up to 90 days of work per year without Croatian Employment Service approval (previously permits were issued separately for each season).
9) Extended address registration deadline
- The deadline for third-country nationals to register their residence upon arrival or change of address is extended from 3 days to 15 days.
10) Digitalisation of procedures
- Communication between authorities and employers will be conducted electronically via the e-Građani system, replacing the predominantly paper-based model.
Impact
The proposed amendments overall shift towards tightening of Croatia’s labour migration framework – which reflects the effort to develop a more EU-aligned and compliance-driven migration management model.
While certain measures simplify administration (multi-year seasonal permits, digitalisation, extended registration deadlines), the overall direction increases regulatory control through language integration requirements, stricter territorial restrictions, clearer unemployment limits, and longer official processing timelines. In view of this Employers will face greater compliance obligations, particularly in relation to workforce planning, regional deployment, and monitoring electronic notifications.