Croatia · Investor / Golden Visa

Self-Employed / Company-Founder Stay and Work Permit

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 2026-07-16 · Our methodology
4.5/10 diff
Moderate

For TCN who owns ≥51% of a Croatian d.o.o. (LLC) or obrt (sole proprietorship), or founds a d.o.o.. Minimum capital inve…

Min income
Processing
60+ days
Path to PR
Yes
Job offer
Not required
Direct answer

For TCN who owns ≥51% of a Croatian d.o.o. (LLC) or obrt (sole proprietorship), or founds a d.o.o.. Minimum capital invested €26,544.56 (legacy HRK 200,000), treated as start-up capital usable for business expenses. Income proof ≥1.5× Croatian average gross monthly salary (~€2,300/mo in 2026). No labour-market test, no HZZ opinion. Alternative path: employ ≥3 Croatian citizens permanently full-time at gross salary ≥ average.

At a Glance

Visa Duration
12 months
Processing Time
60+ days
Min Income
Path to PR
Yes
Difficulty
4/10 — Moderate

Eligibility Requirements

RequirementDetails
Age Range18+
Job Offer RequiredNo
Sponsorship RequiredNo
Health Insurance RequiredYes

Family & Rights

RightDetails
Path to Permanent ResidencyYes

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 Self-Employed / Company-Founder Stay and Work Permit?

For TCN who owns ≥51% of a Croatian d.o.o. (LLC) or obrt (sole proprietorship), or founds a d.o.o.. Minimum capital invested €26,544.56 (legacy HRK 200,000), treated as start-up capital usable for business expenses. Income proof ≥1.5× Croatian average gross monthly salary (~€2,300/mo in 2026). No labour-market test, no HZZ opinion. Alternative path: employ ≥3 Croatian citizens permanently full-time at gross salary ≥ average.

Can the Self-Employed / Company-Founder Stay and Work Permit 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 We do not publish a qualifying timeline for this route because we have no official source stating one; check with the relevant authority for the current residence requirement.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:

Data last verified: 2026-07-16 · See our methodology

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