whereTOemigrate
Get your free results
HR country scene

Stay and Work Permit for Self-Employment with at least 51% Ownership

CroatiaStarting a business

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

Official link

Get your free results Read the five questions ↓

Is this for a founder, startup entrepreneur, self-employed person, freelancer, company owner or another business profile?

According to the founder-authorized secondary snapshot, this route is for a third-country national who establishes and personally runs a Croatian company or a registered trade (obrt). For company owners, holding at least 51% of the company's shares is the ownership threshold for the labour-market-test exemption reserved for owner-managers; it does not by itself establish complete permit eligibility. The supplied official extract provides only a page title and does not substantiate this rule or its current force.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This founder-authorized IMI record is secondary snapshot evidence and does not independently establish complete current law or every exception.
  • Captured official page title/opening text
    Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova Republike Hrvatske - Work of third-country nationals
  • program_overview
    Croatia grants temporary stay for the purpose of "self-employment" to third-country nationals who establish and personally run a Croatian company or a registered trade (obrt).
  • how_to_qualify
    Hold at least **51% of the company's shares** if you want the labour-market-test exemption that MUP reserves for owner-managers

What must actually exist or be demonstrated: business plan, company, innovation, clients, contracts, economic activity, job creation or other substance?

According to the founder-authorized secondary snapshot, the applicant must establish or already own a Croatian trading company or registered trade, invest at least EUR 26,544.56 in the business, and the company must employ at least three Croatian citizens full-time at no less than the average gross salary. The foreign owner's own gross salary must be at least 1.5 times the Croatian average monthly gross salary. The supplied official extract provides only a page title and does not substantiate these requirements or their current legal force.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This founder-authorized IMI record is secondary snapshot evidence and does not independently establish complete current law or every exception.
  • Captured official page title/opening text
    Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova Republike Hrvatske - Work of third-country nationals
  • how_to_qualify
    Invest **at least EUR 26,544.56** in establishing the company or trade; funds must be invested, not merely available
  • program_overview
    requires the company to **employ at least three Croatian citizens full-time** at no less than the average gross salary, while the foreign owner's own gross salary must be at least **1.5 times the average monthly gross salary** in Croatia

What investment, capital, income, revenue, funding or viability evidence is central to this pathway?

According to the founder-authorized secondary snapshot, the central financial requirement is an investment of at least EUR 26,544.56 into the establishment of the trading company or trade. The capital may be tangible or intangible assets, with real property capped at 50% of the invested amount. Additionally, the snapshot states that the applicant must demonstrate means of subsistence at 60% of the average monthly net salary, calculated on the 2025 average net salary of EUR 1,449.00, and pay themselves a gross monthly salary of at least 1.5 times the Croatian average monthly gross salary. The supplied official extract provides only a page title and does not substantiate these figures or their current legal force; the 60% subsistence benchmark is stated for general temporary stay, not independently proven for this route.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This founder-authorized IMI record is secondary snapshot evidence and does not independently establish complete current law or every exception.
  • Captured official page title/opening text
    Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova Republike Hrvatske - Work of third-country nationals
  • how_to_qualify
    Invest **at least EUR 26,544.56** in establishing the company or trade; funds must be invested, not merely available
  • how_to_qualify
    The capital may take the form of tangible or intangible assets, but **real property may not exceed 50%** of the invested amount
  • how_to_qualify
    Demonstrate means of subsistence at the level prescribed by the Regulation on means of subsistence (NN 14/21; NN 3/26) — for general temporary stay, 60% of the average monthly net salary, calculated on the 2025 average net salary of EUR 1,449.00 published in NN 21/26
  • how_to_qualify
    Pay yourself a gross monthly salary of **at least 1.5× the Croatian average monthly gross salary**

What business/self-employed activity may the holder conduct? Are there important restrictions? What is the family position where clearly stated?

The permit covers self-employment in the company or sole trade in which the holder owns at least 51%; a founder/51% owner must regulate stay and work under the self-employment provision and cannot be issued an employment-based (Art. 97) permit for the same company. The holder may perform only the activities for which the permit was issued. A stay and work permit is a form of temporary stay, and close family members of a third-country national granted temporary stay may be granted temporary stay for family reunification.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Source is MUP's English translation of the Aliens Act as published in NN 133/2020 (amounts in HRK); later amendments (NN 114/22, 151/22 and after) are not reflected.
  • Family members' own work rights are not addressed in the quoted provisions.

What approval/application sequence applies, how long is the status granted, how is it renewed, and what longer-term residence direction is officially stated?

According to the founder-authorized secondary snapshot, applications are filed with the competent police administration/station or through a Croatian diplomatic mission, with MUP as the deciding authority. The snapshot states the permit is valid for up to one year and is renewable annually, requiring evidence of continuing operations, employment of the three Croatian workers, and salary compliance. After five years of lawful continuous residence, the holder may apply for EU long-term resident status. The supplied official extract provides only a page title and does not substantiate these procedural or validity claims.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • This founder-authorized IMI record is secondary snapshot evidence and does not independently establish complete current law or every exception.
  • Captured official page title/opening text
    Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova Republike Hrvatske - Work of third-country nationals
  • how_to_qualify
    Applications are filed with the competent police administration/station or through a Croatian diplomatic mission, with MUP as the deciding authority
  • program_overview
    Permits are short-cycle: the EU Immigration Portal records validity of **up to one year, renewable**
  • how_to_qualify
    Renew annually, evidencing continuing operations, continuing employment of the three Croatian workers, and continued salary compliance
  • how_to_qualify
    After five years of lawful continuous residence, apply for EU long-term resident status under the EU long-term residence framework

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

Explore more pathways in Croatia · All pathways

Your story.
Your next step.

Get your free results