Croatia Tightens Visa Regulations: New Restrictions for Foreign Workers

Croatia has recently strengthened its visa and work permit regulations. These changes follow the discovery of widespread abuse, particularly among Bangladeshi nationals. The new measures will also affect other third-country applicants, leading to enhanced background checks and potentially longer processing times.

Background on Visa Abuse

The Croatian government uncovered significant misuse of work permits. Many foreign workers, particularly from Bangladesh, never arrived in Croatia. Instead, they used their visas to enter other Schengen countries illegally.

In 2023, Croatia issued work permits and visas to 12,400 Bangladeshi nationals. Alarmingly, around 8,000 of them never set foot in Croatia. Their luggage made the journey, but they did not. Of the 4,400 who did arrive, only about half are currently employed. Similar issues arose with workers from India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Egypt, but Bangladeshi nationals represented the majority of cases.

Currently, an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 Bangladeshi nationals are legally employed in Croatia. Due to these findings, the government has suspended or significantly restricted new work permits and visas for Bangladeshi applicants.

Government Response

Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has expressed concerns to the Bangladeshi Embassy in The Hague. The government warned that it might suspend work permits and visas indefinitely if corrective measures are not taken. In response, Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has acknowledged the issue and pledged to implement measures to prevent further misuse.

Enhanced Screening Measures

Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior has designated Bangladeshi nationals as a high-risk migration group. Many visa holders were found in other Schengen countries rather than Croatia. Some even abandoned their journeys while transiting through European airports, with only their luggage arriving in Croatia.

To combat this, Croatia will:

• Conduct stricter background checks on all third-country applicants, including Bangladeshi nationals.
• Assess each applicant’s intent and migration risk before approving visas or work permits.
• Deny applications if there is evidence or reasonable suspicion of visa misuse.

Crackdown on Employment Agencies

Authorities are also increasing scrutiny of employment agencies involved in processing work permits. Reports indicate that some agencies have failed to comply with legal agreements, contributing to the misuse problem. To address this issue, the government plans to:

• Investigate recruitment agencies suspected of misconduct.
• Take strict action against agencies violating labor laws.
• Strengthen regulations to prevent further abuse.

Future Outlook for Foreign Workers

While these measures may temporarily limit Bangladeshi nationals from obtaining work permits, Croatia remains open to structured agreements for legitimate labor migration. Strengthened cooperation between Croatian and Bangladeshi authorities could help resolve these issues and restore confidence in the work visa process.

Until then, foreign workers should stay informed about evolving visa policies. Compliance with all immigration regulations is crucial to avoid disruptions in their employment plans. Croatia aims to balance stricter regulations with a welcoming environment for legitimate workers.