Work visa for Dutch citizens

Dutch citizens do not need a work visa or work permit to work in Croatia. They can freely enter the country and work under the same conditions as Croatian citizens.

If you plan to stay for more than 90 days, you must complete several formalities:

• Register your place of residence with the local police department (MUP).
• Obtain an OIB (personal identification number) — required for work, opening a bank account, and taxes.
• Take out medical insurance — once you are officially employed, you will automatically be connected to the Croatian healthcare system.

Do Dutch citizens need a visa for seasonal work in Croatia?

the Dutch do not need a work visa or special work permit to work in Croatia. They have the right to freely enter and work in the country under the same conditions as Croatian citizens.

What do the Dutch need to do before starting work in Croatia?

1. Sign an employment contract with an employer in Croatia. Without an official contract, the work will be considered illegal.
2. Arrive in Croatia and start working as agreed.

Registration after arrival in Croatia

After entering the country, citizens are required to:

• Within 3 months, register their place of residence with the local police department (MUP).
• If the job lasts more than 3 months, obtain a certificate of registration confirming your right to reside in Croatia.

Documents required for registration in Croatia for Dutch citizens

To register, you will need:

• a valid passport or ID card;
• a copy of your employment contract or confirmation from your employer;
• proof of residence (rental agreement or other document);
• medical insurance.

Labor market in Croatia: Croatia has a developed labor market, especially in the fields of tourism and hospitality, information technology, agriculture, construction, finance, and other industries. Specialists in engineering, IT, tourism, medicine, and language translation are often sought after.

Professions in demand: Some of the professions in demand include restaurant staff, hotel staff, programmers, engineers, medical professionals, teachers, marketing and sales professionals.

There are several popular online job portals in Croatia where you can find vacancies and post your resume:

• MojPosao (mojposao.net): This portal is one of the largest and most popular in Croatia. You will find jobs from various industries and cities in the country.
• Posao.hr (posao.hr): Another popular job portal where you can search for jobs in different categories and regions.
• LinkedIn: The social network LinkedIn is an important tool for professional networking and job search. Sign up for LinkedIn, create your profile and join groups and communities related to your field of work in Croatia.
• HZZ (hzz.hr): The Croatian Employment Service (HZZ) provides information on job vacancies, employment support programs and other useful resources for job search.

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Working hours: The total working hours in Croatia are usually 40 hours per week. A typical working day lasts from 8:00 to 16:00 with a lunch break usually from 30 to 60 minutes. The work week usually starts on Monday and ends on Friday.

Vacations: Employees in Croatia are entitled to vacation time according to the country's legislation. Of course, workers receive paid annual vacation, which depends on the length of their employment. It is usually 20 or 26 working days per year. In addition, additional leave is provided for in cases of, for example, marriage, birth of a child or family circumstances.

Dress code: The official dress code in Croatia usually depends on the type of work and sector. In more formal and traditional industries, such as banking or legal services, a more conservative style of dress, such as suits or business suits, is required. In less formal sectors, such as IT or tourism, a more casual style of dress is allowed, but it is still best to maintain a professional appearance.

Minimum wage: There is a set minimum wage of 840 euros in Croatia. The minimum wage establishes the minimum level of pay per hour, day or month. This figure may depend on various factors such as the age, qualifications and experience of the employee.

Dismissal: Croatian law sets the rules for dismissal of employees. The employer must have objective grounds for dismissal, such as the employee's failure to fulfill his/her work duties or economic circumstances. The law provides for the payment of appropriate compensation or dismissal with notice.

Occupational safety: There are rules and regulations in Croatia regarding safety and health in the workplace. The employer is obliged to provide safe working conditions, provide the necessary personal protective equipment, and provide training and information on workplace safety.

Social insurance: Croatia has a social insurance system that provides coverage in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, income replacement and other situations where an employee is unable to work.

The business environment is favorable for foreign investors to establish a company or open a branch. With the necessary documentation and share capital, you can establish a public limited liability company or a private limited liability corporation. A public notary and investors must carry out the incorporation process, open a bank account and hire a Croatian accountant. Do not forget to come up with a company name to contact the Croatian Finance Agency and make sure it is unique and available for use.

The costs associated with setting up a company in Croatia include incorporation fees, minimum share capital where applicable, company formation costs, accounting costs, and virtual office costs. 

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The process of setting up a company in Croatia

To establish a company, you will need the following set of documents

• Copies of passports of the shareholders of the company to be incorporated
• Signature samples (legal support is allowed in this case)
• Articles of association signed by a power of attorney
• Exclusive documents from the registration office with the relevant fees
• Other requirements include having a bank account, a registered office and a local accountant for a successful company registration in Croatia. Remember that you need to go through all these procedures with the help of a public lawyer, which is a mandatory requirement when setting up a company in Croatia.

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What types of business entities can be opened in Croatia?

A private limited liability company (D.D.O. Drustvo s Ograbnicenom Odgovornoscu) is an organization for micro and medium-sized enterprises consisting of one or more shareholders. A D.O.O. must have a share capital of at least 20,000 HRK divided into shares. However, investors from non-European Union countries must have a share capital of at least HRK 200,000, as provided by Croatian law.

The amount you invest dictates the limits of your liability. In case of problems such as bankruptcy or liquidation of the D.O.O., your assets are safe. The main documents required for registration are the memorandum of association (if there are two or more founders) or the statement of incorporation (if there is one founder). These two documents should cover:

• information about representatives, company name and address of the company's office
• detailed information on the plans for the future activities of the Croatian company
• information on the minimum authorized capital or authorized capital
• data on the amount of each shareholder's contribution

Detailed information about the rights and obligations of each shareholder, as well as the process to be followed if the company is liquidated or transformed.

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A public limited liability company (A.D.), intended exclusively for large enterprises, is established by one or more founders, and the authorized share capital is at least 200,000 kuna divided into shares. As in a D.O.O., the liability is directly proportional to the capital contribution of each shareholder. This type of company requires a management board, a supervisory board, a shareholders' board, and a main board to make important decisions. The charter is binding for the company's internal rules and regulations.

A limited liability company in Croatia allows two or more founders to operate under different business rules. A general partner, whose personal assets can be confiscated in the event of liquidation, and a limited partner, whose liability is limited to their capital contribution. "K.D." should be added to the name of the company. No minimum share capital is required for this type of business, and only general partners can represent the business on the market.

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The procedure for registering a company in Croatia

Firstly, the name must be unique, so it is checked by the Croatian Financial Agency. If the name is acceptable, the founding members must notarize the memorandum of association or organizational agreement, the application for registration with the court, and the statement of acceptance from the director. All these documents must be sent with a legitimate Croatian translation. The next step is to open a bank account and deposit the authorized capital. After submitting all the necessary documents, the company is registered as a member of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Tax registration is also mandatory for the administration of V.A.T. and income tax. This application should be submitted to various Croatian administrative offices to obtain a unique tax identification number.

The last step is to register with the Croatian Health Insurance Institute and the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute before 15 days from the date of company incorporation. The required documents for the establishment of a Croatian company include

• Registration certificate confirming the company's registration
• Tax certificate confirming that the company is subject to taxation
• An application at the territorial office where you registered
• Registration forms for the employees you want to hire

Once the registration is complete, you can start your business by hiring an accountant.

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Stages of setting up a company in Croatia

The main steps you need to follow are as follows:

1. First, you need to formulate a business structure that fits the company's goals and activities to know what type of company to open.
2. Come up with at least three potential names for your company and consult with the Croatian company registration authority.
3. Open a bank account and deposit the initial share capital, which will help you with further transactions
4. Submit the Memorandum, Articles of Association and basic company documents to the Croatian Company Registry.
5. Register the company with the Croatian Pension Insurance Fund to pay pensions to employees upon retirement.
6. After receiving the certificate of incorporation, register for taxes such as V.A.T. and employee income tax to operate legally and avoid accusations of tax evasion.

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Costs of starting a company in Croatia

If you are a foreigner looking to open a company in Croatia, here are the costs you may incur.

• Registration fees, which can be up to 90 euros
• Virtual office fee of approximately 300 euros per month with a unique company address and assistant
• The minimum share capital, which is 20,000 kuna or 2,700 euros for a private limited liability company, or 200,000 kuna or 27,000 euros for a public LLC.
• Company formation fee, which is approximately EUR 834
• Bookkeeping costs, which start at EUR 100 for bookkeeping or tax advice

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To do business in Croatia as a foreigner, you may need to obtain a business visa. There are several types of visas in Croatia that can be used for business activities, including short-term tourist visas, business visas, and long-term work visas.

You will need to provide the following documents to obtain a business visa to Croatia:

• Passport with sufficient validity.
• Visa application form.
• Proof of financial stability, such as bank statements, financial reports, proof of ownership of real estate or other assets.
• Biometric photographs.
• Health insurance that covers medical expenses during your stay in Croatia.
• Evidence of the purpose of your trip, including a business plan, an invitation from a Croatian company or other documents confirming your intention to conduct business in Croatia. You may be required to develop a business plan that describes your business activities, projected income, and other relevant details. The business plan can be used to prove the objectives and value of your business in Croatia.
• In some cases, in addition to a business visa, you may need to obtain a work permit to conduct business in Croatia. It depends on the type of business and the length of your stay.

You can find a job in Croatia with the help of Facebook groups

There are about 70 expat groups on Facebook in Croatia. These groups are a great place to announce that you are looking for a job. In addition, from time to time there are job openings in these groups, so it doesn't hurt to join the ones that make sense for you.

There are also Facebook groups and pages specifically created for people looking for work in Croatia. Here is a list of them:

• Best Jobs Croatia, Zagreb
• Freelancers Croatia
• IT Jobs Croatia 
• Jobs Zagreb
• Skipper Jobs in Croatia
• TRAŽIM / TREBAM - snimatelja / fotografa - wedding, art... (Specifically for photographers and camera operators)

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Look for jobs in Croatia on Croatian job sites

There are many websites where you can find a job. This is usually the fastest and most convenient method of finding jobs.

The available jobs are usually divided into separate categories depending on the business sector. Many sites also allow you to refine your search by specific parameters to better focus it.

Here are some of the biggest job search sites in Croatia:

• Adorio
• Bika
• Danas radim - offers live chat in English
• Freelance.hr
• Jooble HR
• MojPosao
• Njuškalo
• Oglasnik
• PickJobs - available in 7 languages
• Posao
• Danas radim

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Let the Croatian government help you find a job in Croatia

Another way to find a job in Croatia is to use government resources. Hrvatski zavod za zapošljavanje (Croatian Employment Service), also known as HZZ, burza rada or burza, is a state institution that implements publicly funded employment programs. Its headquarters is located in Zagreb.

Every unemployed person can apply to the burza, regardless of whether they have had a job before or not. By submitting an application, you will be informed of new vacancies.

The burza is obliged to send you vacancies according to your education, profession and interests. They usually send notifications via SMS. It is your responsibility to come to their office once a month in the beginning, and eventually once every two months.

You can unsubscribe from Burza at any time if you have found a job or if you no longer wish to receive it. Subscription to Burza is not mandatory for the state if you are unemployed.

To apply to the burza, you must contact the office nearest to your permanent address. A list of HZZ regional offices in Croatia can be found here. Find the regional office in your area and click on the "SEARCH" button to see the nearest HZZ office you can visit.