Employment in Croatia

Working in Croatia presents a good prospect of earning a decent income. But finding a profitable place of work is not always possible, since employers more often give preference to local residents.

The economy today and the prerequisites for labor migration

Croatia today is the youngest member of the European Union (since 2013
of the year) and the North Atlantic Alliance - since 2009
of the year. Croatia's GDP per capita is about 22 thousand dollars, foreign investment in the economy is at the level 19 billion euros annually.

The most developed branch of economic activity is the service sector and the transport network - about 70% in structure, industrial production is 25%, the rest is an agricultural area. With 4.2 million people of the Croatian population, about 1.4 million, about 14% of the population is unemployed in the country.

The economic situation creates the prerequisites for attracting workers from Russia and other post-Soviet countries, but first of all they give work to compatriots. The income received from working in a democratic Croatia does not depend on nationality and is on average 700 - 800 dollarsthat with high living costs is negligible. Competition among labor migrants is low (≈ 2 people per job).

Significant advantages of working in Croatia are recognized:

• The prospect of obtaining citizenship;
• Opportunity to relax on the coast on weekends;
• Comfortable climate;
• Ease of language learning.

The disadvantages of finding a job are:

• Overcoming difficulties with the confirmation of the diploma;
• Difficulty finding a competitive job.

In addition, the country is characterized by a low economic level compared to other EU members.

What specialists will be in demand in 2021

Highly paid professions are invariably in demand:

• Scientists;
• Highly qualified IT specialists;
• Architects;
• Engineers (builders, power engineers, mechanics, technologists).

The most accessible places for Russians in 2021 will be jobs in public catering and hospitality enterprises, in the tourism sector of the economy:

• Drivers;
• Animators;
• Maids;
• Cleaners of the hotel territory;
• Waiters and bartenders;
• Chefs and their assistants.

In agriculture, there are always vacancies for seasonal work - planting crops, harvesting and processing crops.

Wage level

Wages for work in Croatia are issued in kuna (1 HRK = 0.14 euros) and for the most demanded specialists per month it is:

• IT Director - about 12 thousand kuna (or 1.68 thousand euros);
• Director of the enterprise - up to 10 thousand HRK (1.4 thousand euros);
• Lawyer - from 7000 HRK (and above);
• Economist - up to 6 thousand HRK;
• Teacher - up to 5.2 thousand HRK, depending on the experience.

Specialists in the processing industries earn ≈ 5.4 thousand HRK per month.

How to find a job without intermediaries

The task of a labor migrant from Russia to find a job is difficult, but quite feasible. Internet resources, family and friendships, and government recruiting structures will be of great help.

Popular job search sites

The most successful will be searching by monitoring Croatian job sites:

• njuskalo.hr;
• moj-posao.net;
• learn4good.com;
• careerjet.com.

Will help to solve the problem and familiarity with the ads in local newspapers where vacancies are printed.

Agencies and other resources

To search for a job yourself, you can use the following options:

1. Sending resumes to the addresses of recruiting agencies (Antal International, Electus, Selectio).
2. Use of Croatian social networks (Easy Expat, LinkedIn EasyExpat), recommendations of relatives and friends in Croatia.

You can also refer to the website of the Employment Service of the Republic http://www.hzz.hr, other agencies (www.upsagencija.hr).

Current vacancies in 2021

When allocating a quota allowing foreigners to find employment in the Republic, preference is given to such specialists:

• Dentists, anesthesiologists, doctors;
• Foremen and builders;
• Artists;
• Shipbuilders (workers and engineers);
• Athletes;
• Welders and other working professions for the provision of services.

Russian women are readily employed as nannies, cooks, nurses, etc. There are many vacancies for agricultural workers on farms. The number of licenses for seasonal work has doubled in the past year.

Work without knowing the language

A labor migrant from Russia without knowledge of the Croatian language can pick berries, vegetables and fruits, get a job as a cattleman. A foreign worker with a poor knowledge of the Croatian language will be able to get a job at a meat or fish processing enterprise, a cannery.

There is also work in the service sector: cleaners, maids, gardeners, plumbers. More options are available for applicants who speak English.

Seasonal work

Such work is associated not only with the sowing or harvesting company, but also with the time of the maximum influx of tourists into the country. During this period, the need for labor migrants to serve tourists in hotels and restaurants sharply increases.

Local residents prefer other places to generate income and do not compete with the Russians.

Temporary job

The part-time job requires at least a minimum knowledge of the official language of the country from the job seeker; proficiency in English is also encouraged.

Vacancies with a fixed duration of employment are available:

• Promoter;
• The seller;
• Nannies, housekeepers, cooks;
• Cattleman;
• Picker of berries, mushrooms;
• Waiter.

Income from employment is low, but it does not require a certain qualification either.

Other options

Other employment options are looking for a job with the families of compatriots or in companies owned by them. The easiest way to find such a workplace is by regularly visiting the Russian-language website www.rabota-za.ru. Job vacancies are printed there not only from employers in Croatia, but also from all European countries.

Official employment procedure

The process of applying for Russian migrants to work in Croatia involves obtaining a work permit. Passing all stages is necessary for labor migration for a period of more than 3 months, documents are valid for up to 2 years.

Priority of actions

The legitimacy of working in Croatia requires overcoming certain stages:

1. It is necessary to find an employer in advance, contact him and draw up a preliminary contract. The employer may initiate the issuance of a work and residence permit for a foreigner.
2. Apply to the Consulate of the Republic in Russia with an application for the provision of permits.
3. Open a work visa at the consular section of the Embassy in Moscow or at the Visa Application Centers in large cities of the Russian Federation. You must first pay a service fee - 19 euros and a state fee.

Upon arrival in the Republic, within 24 hours, it is necessary to register a work visa for a labor migrant by visiting the Department of Internal Affairs.

Types of work permits

The types of work permits in Croatia are:

• Apparatus employed;
• Implementation of a scientific program;
• Carrying out entrepreneurial activities.

A single permit is issued within the framework of the annual quotas for the employment of foreigners.

Is it possible for migrants to work in Croatia without a permit

The provision of employment for some categories of foreigners is not associated with the mandatory presence of state quotas. These include:

• Management of foreign companies represented in Croatia;
• Professional journalists;
• Professional sportsmen;
• Teachers who arrived in the republic by invitation;
• Scientific workers.

Refugees who fled the country for political reasons are also not required to obtain a residence and work permit.

What documents are required

Submission of an application for an entry document is accompanied by the provision of the required package of documents, which includes:

• A photocopy of a valid passport of a Russian citizen
• Copy of your passport;
• 2 photos (3.5 x 4.5 on a light background);
• Questionnaire with all fields filled in (in Croatian or English);
• Medical insurance;

• Certificate of financial solvency;
• Employment agreement with the employer.

Additionally, they may require a diploma translated into English or local language and confirmation of work experience in the profession.

Stages of obtaining a work visa

Obtaining the requested entry document is associated with a visit to the Visa Application Center in one of the major cities of the Russian Federation, the Embassy or the General Embassy of Croatia (in Moscow).

The applicant must provide not only documentation, but also confirmation of payment of the state fee:

• For visa category "D" - 90-250 euros, depending on the length of stay;
• For type C visa - 35 euros.

The behavior of the job seeker during the interview will also play an important role.

Selection Criteria for Applicants for a Work Visa

When selecting potential employees, priority is given to those who have:

• Appropriate education;
• Work experience in the specialty;
• A profession demanded by the state quota.

Priority in obtaining a visa is given to those applicants who speak English and / or Croatian and are solvent.

Work visa extension

Most of the reasons for extending a work visa have category D - long-term. The most compelling of these is the extension of the employment agreement. Other force majeure circumstances are also taken into account.

To extend the period of stay in the country, you must contact the local police department and state your reasonable intention (in writing).

Business immigration

Work permits in the Republic are issued to private entrepreneurs who already have their own business, as well as to those foreigners who want to establish a company in Croatia. In the first case, a businessman needs to hire at least 3 Croats. The business must be profitable.

In the case of opening a DOO (an analogue of our LLC), you must assign yourself a salary (at least 1100 dollars), have an authorized capital (≈ 27 thousand euros), recruited Croats to establish salary not less than 600 euros.

Features of internship in the country

You can find an internship on the following resources:

• www.iagora.com/
• www.studyabroad.com
• www.medicalmobility.eu

Training mainly takes place in the following specialties:

• Agriculture;
• Tourism;
• Economy;
• Marine business.

An internship can be paid or unpaid.

Consequences for attempting illegal employment

Some Russians enter the country as tourists and then (without permission) get a job. In this case, illegal immigrants and employers who accept them are both committing a violation of the law. For those and others, preventive measures are provided, up to and including deportation.

Having overcome all the difficulties of finding a job in Croatia, the migrant worker will receive a decent salary and apply his diploma as intended. In the future, you can get a chance for permanent residence in the country and feel like a prosperous European.