Croatia Work Visa for Indians

To apply for any Croatia job visa for Indian citizens, there are some basic requirements to take care of to ensure eligibility.

• You must have an Indian passport that is valid for at least three months from the date your chosen work visa expires.

• You must have overseas travel insurance to cover any urgent medical expenses, valid for your stay in Croatia.

• You must have an original employment letter from a Croatian employer.

• You must have your travel tickets to and from Croatia and proof of accommodation (for a short-term visa).

• You must have at least 2 recent clear photographs of yourself.

• You must have the work permit letter with your application form.

• You must have a Police Clearance Certificate copy.

• You must have proper proof of education and qualifications matching the applicable job role and responsibilities in Croatia.

• You must have sufficient funds in your bank account to support your initial stay in Croatia.

The employer is responsible for obtaining a work permit on behalf of the employee (applicant) in order to invite an Indian to work in Croatia for a Croatian employer.

Here is all you need to know about the requirements for Croatian employers.

The first thing they need to do is advertise the applicable vacancy for a set period to ensure no suitable Croatian nationals are available to fulfil this role with the required qualifications and skill set.

• Once done, they need to report it to the nearest Police Administration in Croatia or the Croatian Employment Service and apply for a work permit.

• Employers must visit the nearest Police Administration in Croatia to request an application form for a work permit. Alternatively, you can download the application form online.

• After filling out the application form, they need to collate a list of necessary applicant and company documents to apply for a work permit.

The documents include -

• An employment contract

• Job roles and responsibilities document

• Employee qualifications

• Company registration certificate

• Tax statements of the employer

• Letter justifying the decision to hire an Indian citizen for the applicable job role

• Advertisement proof of the job role prior to the hiring decision

• Identity proof of the employee

• Police Clearance Certificate of the employee

• Based on the application form and the submitted documents, a work permit application will be approved or rejected.

• The work permit issuance can take a few weeks to months, based on the application. So, the employer must plan and apply well in advance.

Type C Visa - Business Visa

A type C visa is a short-stay visa that allows Indians to stay in Croatia for a period of a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days. For a short-term Croatia work visa for Indian citizens, applicants can apply for a business or official visit visa.

An important thing to note for this work visa category is that no applicant is permitted to work in Croatia under this visa. They can only enter Croatia for work-related meetings, conferences, or other similar activities.

Therefore, the requirements for this visa include -

• Invitation letter

• Accommodation proof

• Travel tickets (to and from Croatia)

• Document stating the purpose of the visit

• Proof of funds

Type D Visa - Work Permit

• Indians who wish to work in paid employment in Croatia for a period of a maximum of 6 to 12 months must apply for a type D work visa.

• This particular work visa requires a mandatory work permit from the Croatian Employment Service before submitting a type D application form. The application form must be submitted within 2 months of receiving the work permit. With this visa, the applicant also receives temporary stay permission in Croatia based on the employment tenure.

• The applicant must submit the work permit and employment letter from the Croatian employer with their application form for visa approval. In addition to these two documents, the other common work visa application documents must be submitted.

• The responsibility of the work permit application is the sole responsibility of the Croatian employer. The applicant cannot apply for a work permit on their own from India.

EU Blue Card -Stay + Work Permit

If you wish to stay in Croatia for a duration of up to 2 years for paid employment as a highly qualified employee, you can apply for a stay and work permit visa called an EU Blue Card. To apply for this, you must first apply for a type D work permit visa and then, upon reaching Croatia, apply for an EU Blue Card at the nearest police station or administration.

• This stay and work permit is issued as a residence permit to the applicant basis the following criteria -

• The applicant has an official contract or letter of employment for taking on the roles and responsibilities of a highly skilled position with a Croatian company, business, association, or institution.

• The applicant must have proof of valid and required qualifications and work experience.

• The application must have a minimum salary threshold.

• The applicant must have completed a diploma or certificate course relevant to the job position in Croatia.

• The applicant must work with the same employer throughout the duration of their stay and work permit. If a change in employer is required, the information must be updated to the police station or administration within a maximum of 8 days.

• After continuous residency in Croatia with a valid EU Blue Card for up to 5 years, the applicant is eligible to apply for a long-term residence permit. However, certain conditions are applicable.

Digital Nomad Visa - Remote Workers

• Indian nationals wanting to apply for a temporary stay in Croatia as remote workers must submit a Digital Nomad visa application.

• A Digital Nomad visa is available for all Indian citizens who wish to work via communication technology (remotely) for their own company or an employer outside the Republic of Croatia.

• There are certain eligibility criteria for this work visa category that an applicant must comply with for visa approval.

• Official employment letter from a country of employment other than Croatia.

• Company registration certificate (for remote workers working for their own company).

• Proof of no criminal history in the home country.

• Address proof or accommodation details in Croatia.

• Bank statements to prove the minimum salary for working remotely and living in Croatia.

• Statement of the applicant ensuring no participation in any paid or unpaid employment in Croatia throughout their visit.

• To apply, an online and offline application process is available. However, upon approval of a Digital Nomad visa, the applicant must apply for the regular Type D visa based on the stay duration to enter Croatia.

• Valid overseas travel insurance with medical coverage

• Valid passport with at least 2 black pages and 3 months of validity from the date of visa or permit expiry

• 2 passport-size photographs as per the photograph standards of the Croatian Government (not older than 3 months)

• Copy of the work permit

• Proof of funds for living and working in Croatia (3 months bank statements, payslips, or income tax returns)

• Proof of necessary qualifications

• Official employment letter or letter of Invitation from a Croatian employer or business

• Travel tickets

• Proof of accommodation (hotel bookings for Type C visa)

• Police Clearance Certificate

Additional Croatia Work Visa Requirements for Indian Citizens

For EU Blue Card

• Proof of all the necessary skills listed in the job description by the Croatian applicant

• Proof of earning above the minimum threshold gross income in Croatia. As of 2023, the minimum gross income threshold is €24,845.64

• For Digital Nomad Visa**

• Proof of purpose of visit (official letter from an international company or employer outside Croatia stating that you work via communication technology)

• Proof of regular income from the ongoing communication technology employment

• Proof of monthly account balance of a minimum of €34,440

• Proof of no criminal activity in India

Useful Links-

• Croatia Work Permit Checklist

To understand the Croatia work visa process for Indian applicants, there is an important thing to remember.

• Although the necessary visa application forms are available on the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Republic of Croatia website, you must submit them online using the process mentioned below.

• The first step is to choose the right Croatia work visa for Indian citizens. To do so, go to the VFS Global visa types for Croatia webpage.

• Once you have finalised the visa type, collect the relevant documents for the chosen work visa category.

• For the next step, visit the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Republic of Croatia website.

• From the homepage, select the “ENTER new application” option to proceed.

• An application form will open on the screen. Carefully fill out the six-page application form, providing all the information requested accurately to match the documents.

• Once done, submit the application and download the same for the final signature.

• The next step is to book your appointment using the VFS Global Appointment page to get your biometrics recorded.

• Next, go to the chosen VFS centres to submit the downloaded and signed application form along with the necessary documents before paying the applicable visa fee.

• For Type D long-term visas, applicants need to book an appointment at the Embassy or Consulate of Croatia to submit their application form and documents. The application fees are also collected during your appointment.

• Now, you need to keep a check on the visa application status and upon approval, you are all set to go to Croatia.

[Note: The information for visa fees is taken at 4:16 pm on 12 April 2024. This is subject to change, so always check the official website for updated fees]

Additional Service Fees by VFS Global

For Type C and D Visas

• Indians can follow the process mentioned below to check for a Type C or D work visa application for Croatia.

• Visit the official website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Republic of Croatia.

• On the homepage, select the “Check Application Status” option.

• You will be redirected to a new webpage. Here, enter your application serial number and PIN before adding the captcha code in the space provided below.

• Once done, click on “Select” to view your application status online.

• Please note that application status updates are commonly sent via email to the registered email address. Follow the updates to stay informed about your work visa status.

For Digital Nomad Visa

• To apply for a Digital Nomad visa as a remote worker, you can do it online.

• For the online process, visit the Digital Nomads Croatia website and click on “New Form Entry” on the homepage. Once you fill out and submit the application form, it will be forwarded to the police administration/station in Croatia for processing.

• Once the Digital Nomad visa form is submitted and approved, you need to apply for a Type D visa online or offline with the necessary documents at the Embassy or Consulate of Croatia in India to enter Croatia. You must have a valid Type D visa to enter Croatia after the issuance of a Digital Nomad visa.

Useful Links -

Form IA

Once you reach Croatia, the first thing to do is to clear Immigration by showing the necessary documents, such as a work permit, visa document, passport, and others as required.

• The next thing you need to do is find an accommodation for the entire tenure of the work and a stay permit. This is necessary as all Indians entering Croatia must register their temporary residence details at the designated police station or administration (based on the location of temporary residence) within 3 days of entering the country.

• You can submit the details by submitting Form 16A at the designated police station or administration with a valid lease contract, deed, or residence owner statement.

• You must also obtain a residence permit biometric card by visiting the designated police station or administration. The fees mentioned above for these formalities must be paid after entering Croatia.

• You need to open a bank account for salary credits and day-to-day payments.

• You must also purchase a local SIM.

• It is important to purchase a local transportation card to travel to and from work and other places in Croatia.

Other than understanding the different processes and documentation requirements for any type of Croatia visa for Indians for employment in the country, you must know that travel insurance is mandatory for all visa applications. With a valid travel insurance policy, you can benefit from a financial safety net to protect your finances from unexpected circumstances and emergencies.

Overseas travel insurance plans from Tata AIG provide financial coverage for a wide range of unforeseen situations like flight delays and cancellations, medical emergencies, loss or damage of baggage or personal belongings, third-party liabilities, and much more.

Additionally, with our foreign travel insurance, you also get the option of an automatic extension for up to 7 days in case of trip delays before leaving India or extensions while in Croatia.