Planning a workation in Dubrovnik? Or a business trip to Zagreb or Split? Learn the essential information you and your employees need to work safely and compliantly while traveling in Croatia, including working conditions, safety and health regulations, tax treaties, social security, and more.
Capital city
Zagreb
Telephone code
+385
Official language
Croatian
Currency
HRK (Croatian Kuna)
Time zone
CET (UTC+1)
Social security compliance
When working remotely abroad, your employees may become subject to the social security scheme of the destination country, which means you, as an employer, would need to pay social security premiums accordingly.
As part of the European Union, Croatia follows regulations that coordinate social security among EU/EEA member states and Switzerland. One key regulation is Regulation (EC) No 883/2004, which ensures that social security systems operate smoothly across borders.
Additionally, Croatia has entered into numerous social security treaties with other countries to avoid dual contributions, available here.
To ensure your employees remain compliant with these treaties, they must possess a valid A1 certificate (if traveling from another EU country to Croatia) or a Certificate of Coverage (CoC) (if traveling from a country outside the EU). For WorkFlex users, the certificate is issued automatically after a trip request is submitted. Discover our solution for efficient social security risk mitigation here.
Tax compliance
As a member of the OECD, many of the Croatian tax treaties are based on the OECD Model Tax Convention. This framework provides guidelines for structuring tax treaties and covers various types of income, including dividends, interest, royalties, and employment income. In addition to these guidelines, Croatia has signed tax treaties with numerous countries, available here.
Despite the existence of many tax treaties and the adoption of the OECD Model Tax Convention, the issue of Permanent Establishment remains a significant compliance concern for employers with employees temporarily working in Croatia, whether for a workation or a business trip. If a traveling employee is deemed to constitute a Permanent Establishment in the destination country, the employer may be required to register the company locally, allocate profits to the local business (branch), and file corporate taxes, leading to substantial administrative burdens.
To avoid this scenario, here are some key strategies:
If your employees are traveling for a workation, they should refrain from negotiating or signing sales contracts during the trip. Additionally, they should avoid visiting clients or any office, including the employer's local office in the destination country. Following these guidelines will help mitigate the important compliance risk for the employer related to permanent establishment.
If your employees travel for business, it may be impossible to refrain from the activities above. In this case, please make sure to inform your (tax) compliance department of this matter. If you and your organization are a WorkFlex user, this topic is covered through the WorkFlex platform.
PWD notification obligations
Under European law, employers are generally required to register their employees’ postings with local labour authorities in the destination country, i.e. to submit a PWD notification. This notification serves several important purposes, including balancing worker mobility with the protection of their rights. PWD notification obligations apply in Croatia.
As a consequence, to stay compliant with the PWD obligations, employees traveling to Croatia either for a workation or a business trip must comply with several local working conditions, notably must receive at least the same pay as local employees in similar roles. Learn more about the posted worker notifications in Croatia here.
Visa
To work legally while in another country, employees generally need a valid work title. It's important to keep in mind that the consequences of entering without the proper documentation can be significant for both the employee and the employer.
For those planning work-from-anywhere trips to Croatia, here’s a quick overview:
- Short-term stay: If you’re a citizen or residence permit holder from a Schengen Zone country, you can enjoy a stay in Croatia for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without needing a visa. If you're coming from a non-Schengen country, you’ll likely need a Schengen Visa (Type C) for short stays of up to 90 days.
- Long-term stay: Planning to stay longer than 90 days? In that case, you’ll probably need to apply for a residence permit or a long-stay visa.
For those planning business trips to Croatia, here’s what you need to know:
- Short-term trip: If you’re a citizen or a residence permit holder of a Schengen country, you can enter Croatia for short business trips without needing a visa, and you can stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. For travelers from non-Schengen countries, you’ll likely need a Schengen Business Visa. This visa allows you to move freely throughout the Schengen Area for your business activities.
- Long-stay visa: If your business plans involve staying longer than 90 days, you’ll need to apply for a specific long-stay visa. The requirements can vary based on the nature of your business activities, so it's a good idea to check the specifics in advance.
Need trip-specific visa information? Check out WorkFlex Visa Navigator.
Working hours
Most employees in Croatia work from Monday to Friday, with a standard workweek consisting of 40 hours. The workday is usually from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with a lunch break of about 30 minutes to 1 hour.
To remain compliant during your trip abroad, here are some suggestions to follow:
- Avoid working overtime: Regulations regarding overtime can differ significantly and may be much stricter compared to those in your home country.
- Refrain from working outside regular hours: The rules surrounding working outside regular hours may vary and could be stricter than in your home country.
- Do not work on weekends: If the weekend days differ from those in your home country, please avoid working on both your regular weekend days and the local weekend days.
Public holidays
- January 1: New Year's Day
- January 6: Epiphany
- Easter Sunday: Date varies
- Easter Monday: Date varies
- May 1: Labor Day
- May 30: Statehood Day
- Corpus Christi: Date varies
- August 5: Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day
- August 15: Assumption of Mary
- November 1: All Saints' Day
- November 18: Remembrance Day of the Victims of the Homeland War
- December 25: Christmas Day
- December 26: St. Stephen's Day
To comply with labor laws, please refrain from working on national or regional holidays during your trip. These days hold significant importance for locals and provide a great opportunity for you to blend in and celebrate with the community.
Working activities
When considering travel for work purposes—whether for a workation or a business trip—it is crucial to understand the implications of Permanent Establishment (PE) and associated tax risks. PE is a significant compliance concern for companies and can become costly due to the administrative burden if the compliance requirements for employees working abroad are not properly managed. To help mitigate these risks, here are a few guidelines to follow.
If you are traveling for a workation, please:
- Refrain from negotiating or signing sales contracts during your trip.
- Avoid visiting clients or any office, including your employer's local office in the destination country.
Following these guidelines will help mitigate the important compliance risks related to Permanent Establishment for your employer.
If you are a business traveler, it may be difficult to avoid the activities mentioned above. In this case, please ensure you inform your employer's compliance department about this matter. If you and your organization are WorkFlex users, this topic is addressed through the WorkFlex platform.
Data protection
Data protection is fundamentally about keeping our information safe from unauthorized access, breaches, theft, or damage. This responsibility is important for everyone, regardless of where they are working.
When employees work temporarily from abroad, data protection involves ensuring continued coverage and compliance with the data protection regulations of both, the home country and the destination country. In addition to adhering to your home country's regulations, it’s important to note that since Croatia is a member of the EU, the GDPR will be applicable during your trip.
For WorkFlex users, a comprehensive list of data protection activities is available in the profile, but here are some general data protection guidelines to keep your data safe:
- Adhere to your company's internal data policies: Familiarize yourself with and follow your organization’s specific data protection protocols.
- Use secure network connections: Always connect through secure networks, especially when accessing sensitive information.
- Be aware of phishing: Stay vigilant against phishing attempts by verifying the authenticity of emails and messages before clicking on any links.
- Utilize strong passwords and multi-factor authentication: Create complex passwords and enable multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security.
- Keep your devices in a secure location: Always store your devices in safe places to prevent unauthorized access.
- Lock your screen whenever applicable: Ensure your screen is locked when you're away from your device to protect your information.
Travel health insurance
When traveling to Croatia for work—whether for a short business trip or an extended workation—it’s essential to have adequate health insurance coverage to ensure access to medical care.
For business trips, the employer typically arranges the employee's travel health insurance. However, for workations, responsibility can sometimes be less clear. Regardless of whether insurance is provided by the employer or purchased by the employee, international coverage is crucial for a safe and secure trip.
For travelers using WorkFlex
If you’re traveling with WorkFlex, comprehensive health insurance is automatically included if your employer has activated this feature. For more details, please refer to your trip request on the WorkFlex platform.
For other travelers
- EU/EEA/Swiss citizens: The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) grants access to public healthcare services within the Croatia's national health system, covering essential services like doctor visits, hospital treatments, and prescription medications (urgent or necessary medical care to the same extent as for local residents). The EHIC is valid only at public healthcare facilities, so check your private health insurance policy to confirm whether additional coverage is provided for private healthcare services.
- Citizens of other countries: Ensure you have travel health insurance with worldwide coverage, whether for a workation or business trip, so that you can receive adequate medical treatment in case of an emergency.
Urgent safety information
For travelers using WorkFlex:
Please refer to your trip's risk assessment under the "Health and Security" dimension to review any urgent security information relevant to your travel.
For other travelers:
Please visit official authority websites to check for any current threats or urgent security advisories:
Terrorism
Follow the general cautionary measures.
Crime
Overall, Croatia enjoys a low level of street crime, with violent crimes being rare. However, it is important to remain vigilant, particularly regarding petty crime such as pickpocketing and property offenses, which are more common in tourist areas. In Zagreb, these incidents may occur at night, especially near the main train station, the nearby underground shopping passage, and the bus station.
Thefts can occur through car break-ins or at beaches. During the summer, holiday apartments and motorhomes parked at highway rest stops along the north-south route may experience break-ins, occasionally involving narcotics. Additionally, some bars and nightclubs might charge excessively high prices, and patrons should be aware of their surroundings.
Safety Recommendations:
- Keep money, identification, driver’s licenses, and other important documents secure. If possible, store electronic copies or photos to facilitate the replacement process in case of theft or loss.
- Prefer cashless payments or carry only the cash needed for the day.
- Be especially vigilant in crowded places, such as airports, train stations, and shopping passages in Zagreb, as well as in coastal towns. Always keep an eye on your valuables.
- If planning to drive through Slovenia, please check travel and security advice before departure.
- Whenever possible, park in guarded parking lots or campsites and avoid spending the night at highway rest areas or parking lots.
- Do not leave valuables or important documents in your car or unattended at the beach.
- Check prices at establishments before placing orders to avoid unexpected charges.
- Be cautious of unusual emails, phone calls, prize notifications, offers, and requests for assistance from individuals claiming to be acquaintances. Do not share personal information; instead, verify their credibility in person if necessary or contact the police.
Domestic political situation
In Croatia, protests and demonstrations may occasionally take place, and while they are typically peaceful, isolated incidents of violence can occur, particularly around football matches and other large sporting events. These events may also lead to traffic disruptions.
To ensure your safety, please keep the following in mind:
- Stay informed by following local media for updates on events and potential disruptions.
- Avoid demonstrations and large crowds, and maintain a safe distance when possible.
- Always follow the instructions of local security forces.
Landmines
While extensive mine clearance operations have taken place in Croatia since the end of the Balkan War, there remains a risk of landmines in certain areas, particularly those that were contested until 1995 and along former front lines. The regions that may still pose a risk include:
- East Slavonia: 30 to 50 km from the border with Serbia and along the border with Hungary, especially east of Osijek.
- West Slavonia: Including the Daruvar, Pakrac, and Virovitica areas.
- Western and Southwestern Border Area with Bosnia and Herzegovina: Areas south of Sisak and Karlovac, east of Ogulin, Otočac, Gospić, and south and east of Drniš.
In these areas, it is crucial to stay on designated roads and paths. Minefields are indicated on the map of the Croatian Mine Action Center (Misportal) and are typically marked by triangular warning signs ("Ne prilazite"). They may also be cordoned off with yellow plastic strips or marked with signs or posts that have plastic strips. However, there may be areas without any markings, so caution is advised.
National parks, coastal areas, the islands, the Istria peninsula, the greater Zagreb area, and the northern part of the country are generally safe and free from mine hazards.
For further information, please consult the Croatian Directorate for Civil Protection. A detailed map of affected areas is available (please accept the terms and conditions and click on Public Access).
Safety Recommendations:
- Do not leave the designated roads and paths in the aforementioned areas.
- Avoid entering rubble sites or abandoned buildings.
Croatia has a varied climate depending on the region, with coastal areas experiencing a Mediterranean climate and inland areas having a continental climate.
- Summer (June to August): Warm and dry, with average temperatures ranging from 25°C to 35°C (77°F to 95°F) along the coast and slightly cooler inland.
- Winter (December to February): Cold, particularly in the continental regions, with temperatures ranging from -5°C to 5°C (23°F to 41°F). Coastal areas are milder.
- Spring (March to May) and Autumn (September to November): Mild and pleasant, with variable temperatures and occasional rain.
Airports
Zagreb Airport (ZAG)
- Location: Zagreb
- When to use: The main international airport serving the capital, offering connections to numerous international and domestic destinations.
Split Airport (SPU)
- Location: Near Split
- When to use: Ideal for accessing the Dalmatian coast and nearby islands. Popular during the summer tourist season.
Dubrovnik Airport (DBV)
- Location: Near Dubrovnik
- When to use: Best for reaching the southern coastal region and tourist hotspots like Dubrovnik and Cavtat.
Train stations
Zagreb Main Station (Zagreb Glavni Kolodvor)
The central railway hub in Zagreb, connecting domestic and international routes.
International connections: Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, and some connections to Italy.
Split Railway Station
Connects to various destinations in Croatia and limited international routes.
International connections: Limited connections to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Rijeka Railway Station
Important port city station with domestic and some international routes.
International connections: Limited connections to Slovenia and Italy.
Ride-hailing services
- Uber
- Bolt
Public transportation
Buses
A comprehensive bus network connects cities and towns across Croatia, with Croatian Bus and FlixBus as major operators for intercity travel.
Trams
Zagreb has an extensive tram network, making it easy to navigate the city.