If you have been granted asylum or subsidiary protection status, you can work in Croatia without the need for a residence and work permit or a work registration certificate.
This means you have the right to look for a job and start working once employed by an employer.
Can I work as an applicant for international protection (asylum seeker)?
If you are an asylum seeker, you gain the right to work three months after submitting your application for international protection—provided that the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) has not made a decision on your status within that period. In such cases, you need a certificate of the right to work, which can be requested at the Reception Centre for Asylum Seekers (Sarajevska 41, Zagreb). The competent authority deciding on your request is the Service for International Protection.
How to find a job in Croatia?
If you are looking for a job, you can search for job advertisements on trusted websites or register with the Croatian Employment Service (HZZ). HZZ is is a public institution that plays a key role in regulating the labour market offer and demand in Croatia by helping job seekers connect with employers through various measures and activities. You can also seek assistance from organizations that provide employment support, such as the Croatian Red Cross or the Jesuit Refugee Service.
Registration at the HZZ is free of charge and should be done at the HZZ office in your place of residence.
To register, you must personally visit the HZZ office and bring with you the card issued by the Ministry of the Interior proving your status in the Republic of Croatia, OIB and any documents you have about your education, e.g. a university diploma or a certificate of completed education, if you have any. If you are an asylum seeker, bring the MUP-issued certificate granting you the right to work.
If you have specific skills or expertise that allow you to work independently, you may also consider starting a self-employment business. You can ask HZZ for more information about this option.
What happens when you find a job?
Once you secure a job, you and your employer will agree on the terms of employment. The most important step is to sign an employment contract, which clearly defines the relationship between you and the employer, i.e. your rights and duties as an employee and the rights and duties of your employer.
An employment contract can be fixed-term or permanent, and either full-time or part-time.
If you are unsure whether you fully understand the contract, consult a lawyer . If you cannot afford legal assistance, you can contact free legal aid providers.
Am I entitled to a salary?
Absolutely! Every person who works for an employer is entitled to a fair and agreed-upon salary. If you work in difficult conditions, overtime, at night, on Sundays, or public holidays, you have the right to increased pay.
How is salary negotiated in Croatia?
Salaries are expressed in gross or net amounts. Net salary is the amount deposited into your bank account (your take-home pay), whereas gross salary is the total cost to the employer, including taxes and social contributions (health and pension insurance). Employment contracts usually state salaries in gross amounts, so ask your employer for the exact net salary.
What is the minimum wage?
In Croatia, all employees are entitled to a minimum wage. This is the lowest monthly gross salary paid for full-time work. In 2025, the minimum gross salary is €970, while the minimum net salary is approximately €750.
This means that if you are employed full-time, the employer cannot pay you less than €750 as your minimum net salary.
If you work overtime, at night, on Sundays, holidays or any other legally designated non-working day, the additional compensation you receive for these hours is separate from the minimum wage and must be paid to you on top of it.
The salary must be paid by the fifteenth day of the current month for the previous month, unless otherwise stipulated in the collective agreement or employment contract (for example, if your employer and you have agreed in the employment contract that the salary is to be paid on the twentieth day of the month).
Working hours
Working hours refer to the time you are required to be at work. Full-time work is usually equally distributed and amounts to eight hours a day (40 hours a week), while in some industries, it can be unevenly distributed. If working hours are unevenly distributed, the Labour Act offers several options for regulating them. In such cases, we recommend consulting an organization that provides free legal aid to help you understand your employment contract, as well as your rights and obligations.
If you work at least 6 hours per day, you are entitled to a 30-minute break, which counts as part of your working hours.
Also, you are entitled to weekly rest.
If you work less than full-time, it is considered part-time work.
Right to annual leave
Every employed person in Croatia is entitled to at least four weeks (20 working days) of paid annual leave per calendar year. If you are newly employed or have had a work gap of more than eight days between jobs, you will earn your full annual leave right only after six months of continuous work. Before this, you have the right to a proportional leave—1/12 of the annual leave for each month worked.
What if my employer does not pay my salary?
Sometimes, employers fail to pay salaries even though they are legally required to do so. Employers must provide every worker with a pay slip (salary statement). If you do not receive one, request it—even if your salary was not paid.
There are several ways in which you can exercise your right to a salary in this case.
If your salary is unpaid, you have 15 days to submit a worker’s rights protection request to your employer. If your employer does not pay within 15 days of receiving your request, you can take legal action within additional 15 days.
For more details on filing a worker's rights protection request or seeking legal help, contact organizations that provide free legal aid. You can also reach out to them if you suspect your employer is violating your rights.
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