Do you need a visa?
No. As a citizen of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland you can live and work in Croatia without a visa or work permit.
- If you stay more than 3 months, you may have to register your residence with the local authorities; the deadline and the office depend on the country (Your Europe: registering your residence).
Documents and where to get them
In your country, before you leave
- ID card or passport, valid for the whole move.
- European Health Insurance Card, from your national health insurance: it covers necessary care in the first weeks, until you are insured in the new country.
- Birth certificate (and marriage certificate, if married). Between EU countries, many certificates need no apostille and can come with a multilingual form that avoids translation (Regulation (EU) 2016/1191).
- Criminal record certificate from your country of nationality and, if different, from where you lived recently: some employers ask for it. Request it close to the date it will be used.
- Degree, transcript and references from previous jobs, digitally.
On arrival
- Residence registration at the local office.
- Personal identification number for tax and social security: the employer needs it to pay your salary.
- Health insurance: you are normally insured through your job; the European Health Insurance Card covers necessary care until then.
- Bank account in Croatia or in euros, for your salary.
Step by step
Before you leave
- Sign the contract and confirm in writing the gross annual salary, the start date and the relocation support.
- Gather the documents above, on paper and digitally.
- Find housing with an address where you can register.
- In your country, tell the authorities you are moving: update your registered address and your tax residence. In the year you leave, tax may be due for the part of the year you were still resident.
First week
- Register your address and get your personal identification number.
- Open a bank account and give the details to your employer.
First month
- Check that you are registered with the public health insurance (or take out the insurance the country requires).
- Check the tax and contributions on your first payslip.