Croatia · Skilled Worker Visa

EU Blue Card

Official name EU Blue Card (Highly-Qualified Third-Country National)

By António Mira, Founder · Member, Arab-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCIAP) & Portuguese-Saudi Business Council (PSBC)

✓ Verified against the official government source · Last verified 2026-06-24 · Our methodology

7/10 diff

Difficult

EU plava karta. Transposes Directive (EU) 2021/1883. Requires higher-education diploma + employment contract for highly-…

Min income

—

Processing

60+ days

Path to PR

Yes

Job offer

Required

Not legal advice. This content is for educational and decision-support purposes only. It is not legal or immigration advice. Always verify requirements with the relevant official authority before making decisions.

Direct answer

EU plava karta. Transposes Directive (EU) 2021/1883. Requires higher-education diploma + employment contract for highly-qualified job (≥1 year) + salary ≥ 1.5× Croatian gross annual average. 2023 threshold: €24,845.64/year (€2,070.47/mo). 2026: approx €2,300/mo (Croatian Bureau of Statistics annual recalculation). Validity 2 years (up to 48 months post-NN 40/25). No labour-market test. Family reunification possible from day one. Intra-EU mobility after 2 years.

At a Glance

Visa Duration

24 months

Processing Time

60+ days

Min Income

—

Path to PR

Yes

Difficulty

7/10 — Difficult

Eligibility Requirements

Requirement	Details
Age Range	18–65
Job Offer Required	Yes
Sponsorship Required	Yes
Health Insurance Required	Yes
Passport Restrictions	Excludes: HR

Family & Rights

Right	Details
Family Allowed	Yes
Path to Permanent Residency	Yes

Related Pathways

Cost of Living

Zagreb

Single (monthly)€1,300

Family (monthly)€2,700

Rent 1BR (center)€650

Groceries€325

Transport pass€78

Split

Single (monthly)€1,220

Family (monthly)€2,500

Rent 1BR (center)€600

Groceries€305

Transport pass€73

Rijeka

Single (monthly)€900

Family (monthly)€1,900

Rent 1BR (center)€500

Groceries€225

Transport pass€54

Dubrovnik

Single (monthly)€964

Family (monthly)€2,006

Rent 1BR (center)€366

Groceries€241

Transport pass€58

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the EU Blue Card (Highly-Qualified Third-Country National)?

Can I bring my family on the EU Blue Card (Highly-Qualified Third-Country National)?

Yes, this pathway allows family members including dependents.

Can the EU Blue Card (Highly-Qualified Third-Country National) lead to permanent residency?

Yes — this pathway can lead to permanent residence, subject to meeting the residence and other conditions. We do not publish a qualifying timeline for this route because we have no official source stating one; check with the relevant authority for the current residence requirement.

Are there alternative pathways to Croatia?

Yes. Croatia offers 8 other immigration pathways. Compare all options on our Croatia country page.

What is the cost of living in Croatia?

Monthly costs for a single person in city center: Zagreb: €1,300/mo; Split: €1,220/mo; Rijeka: €900/mo. These include rent, groceries, transport, and utilities.

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Official source

Requirements on this page are based on this official/primary source:

mup.gov.hr

Data last verified: 2026-06-24 · See our methodology

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