Croatia is making some big changes to its EU Blue Card program. This is to attract very skilled workers from other countries.
As reported by TravelBiz, Croatia wants to make the EU Blue Card last longer—from two years to four years. They are looking at some new rules to make this happen. This will help fix the problem of too few workers in Croatia. The goal is to make things easier and more inviting for skilled people from other countries.
What You Should Know
The EU Blue Card is like a special pass for talented people who are not from the EU. It allows them to live and work in EU countries. This card is meant to bring in skilled workers for important jobs that need filling. Those with a Blue Card can move to different EU countries under certain rules and can get permanent residency faster.
Staying Longer for Better Work Life
With the new rules, if you have an EU Blue Card, you can stay in Croatia for up to four years instead of just two. This will give workers more time to settle into their jobs and Croatia. Prime Minister Andrej Plenković says this change is crucial.
According to Foreign Affairs Minister Davor Božinović, ‘Our main aim is to bring skilled people to Croatia.’
The new four-year stay is part of a plan to get more skilled workers into the country to help the economy grow.
New Rules for Tech Workers
Croatia is also thinking about changing who can get a Blue Card, especially for people who work with computers—the IT sector. The new rules should help those who may not have a formal degree but do have lots of experience and know-how. A team will check their work history to see if they qualify. This is because, in tech jobs, skills can be more valuable than degrees.
Increase in Work Permits Given
From January to September 2024, Croatia handed out 158,837 work and stay permits to people from other countries.
The majority went to workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nepal, and Serbia. These workers typically get jobs in construction, tourism, and trade, showing that many industries need help from foreign workers.
How to Get Croatia’s EU Blue Card
To get a Blue Card in Croatia, you need to do a few things:
1. Valid Job Offer: You must have a job offer that lasts at least one year in a highly skilled field.
2. Salary Requirement: You should earn at least 1.5 times the average salary in Croatia, which is about €24,845.64 a year right now.
3. Qualifications: You need to show you have the right education or training for unregulated jobs. If it’s a regulated job, you need to meet Croatia’s legal standards.
4. Financial Means: You must show you can support yourself financially so you won’t need help from the government.
Application Time and Cost
Getting an EU Blue Card can take between 30 to 60 days.
There’s a fee of €74.32 when you apply. This fee helps cover the cost of processing your application.