When traveling to Croatia, your nationality and the types of activities you will conduct during your trip will determine whether you may travel lawfully as a business visitor or if you require a work permit. Please seek advice from your immigration counsel if you are uncertain about the specific types of activities that constitute business or work.

What types of activities may I engage in as a business visitor?

As a business visitor to Croatia, you may engage in the activities below. While this list is not exhaustive and other activities could qualify as business, you may:

• » Attend business meetings or round-table discussions
• » Visit a current project site or factory floor for informational purposes
• » Attend sales conferences, seminars, conventions, or trade shows
• » Participate in training

If I qualify as a business visitor, do I need a visa for Croatia?

Nationals of the European Union, United States, and many other select countries are eligible for a visa waiver and are not required to obtain a visa in order to enter and conduct business activities in Croatia. If your nationality is not eligible for a visa waiver, you must obtain a Visitor Visa from a Croatian Embassy or Consulate prior to travel.

Additionally, nationals who would otherwise require a visa may be eligible for a visa waiver if they hold a visa or residence permit from a Schengen Area member state, Bulgaria, Cyprus or Romania. However, please check with your immigration counsel regarding specific visa waiver eligibility requirements and for the permitted period of stay on a visa waiver.

What types of activities require a work permit?

The activities below, whether paid or unpaid, generally constitute work under Croatian law. This list is not exhaustive, and many other professional activities are considered work in Croatia, even if conducted for a short duration.

• » Consulting
• » Auditing
• » Conducting professional training
• » Delivering, installing, or servicing machinery and equipment

If I am traveling to Croatia for work, what type of work permit do I need?

The requirements for a work permit depend on your qualifications, on the nature and duration of your work, and on whether your employer has an entity in Croatia. The most common Croatian work permits are:

• » Work Registration Certificate (short term work permit)
• » Work and Residence Permit (long term work permit)

Is it possible to be exempted from work permit requirements?

Nationals from the European Union, the European Economic Area and Switzerland are not required to obtain a work permit in order to work in Croatia. However, registrations or other formalities may be required prior to working or residing in Croatia.

Please note that nationals of Austria are not exempted from obtaining work authorization.

Inevitably, the legal and strategic considerations impacting visa selection, as well as visa waiver and work authorization eligibility, entail the careful consideration of many factors. We recommend that you consult with your immigration counsel before taking any course of action.

Copyright © 2019 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. Government immigration agencies often change their policies and practices without notice; please consult an immigration professional for up-to-date information. This document does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. BAL maintains comprehensive immigration information and processing specifics for our clients.