Croatia tightens permit rules after abuse by foreign workers

Zagreb

Croatia has introduced stricter measures for issuing visas and work permits after discovering widespread abuse, particularly among Bangladeshi nationals.

Authorities found that many foreign workers, after obtaining legal permits, either never arrived in Croatia or used their visas to enter other Schengen countries.

Abuse of Work Permits and Visas

In 2023, Croatia issued visas and work permits to 12,400 Bangladeshi nationals. However, 8,000 of them never arrived in the country, with only their luggage making the journey, Večernji list reports.

Of the 4,400 who did come, only about 50% are currently employed.

Similar violations have been reported among workers from India, Nepal, the Philippines, and Egypt, but the highest number of cases involve Bangladeshi workers.

At present, between 7,000 and 8,000 Bangladeshi nationals are legally employed in Croatia.

Given these findings, Croatian authorities have effectively halted or significantly restricted the issuance of new visas and work permits for Bangladeshi nationals until the situation is resolved.

The government has also warned Bangladeshi authorities that visas and work permits could be suspended indefinitely if the issue is not addressed.

Government Response and Future Measures

Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has officially communicated concerns to the Bangladeshi Embassy in The Hague, which oversees relations with Croatia.

The message urges Bangladesh to take immediate action and work with Croatian authorities to establish a structured agreement on labour migration.

Such a measure aims to prevent further misuse and ensure that Croatia’s labour market remains open to Bangladeshi workers in the long term.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson acknowledged the issue and assured that his government would take steps to resolve it.

Stricter Checks on Visa Applicants

Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior has labelled Bangladeshi nationals as a high-risk migration group due to frequent visa abuses.

Many visa holders have been found staying in other Schengen countries instead of Croatia. Some even abandon their journey to Croatia while transiting through European airports, with only their luggage reaching the country.

To counter this, Croatia will now conduct additional background checks on all visa and work permit applicants.

These measures will apply not only to Bangladeshi nationals but to all third-country applicants based on risk assessment.

Before approving any visa or work permit, authorities will assess each applicant’s intent and potential migration risk. If there is evidence or reasonable suspicion of visa misuse, applications will be denied.

Targeting Employment Agencies

Croatia is also scrutinising recruitment agencies involved in processing work permits, Večernji list said. Reports indicate that some agencies fail to comply with agreements, contributing to the visa abuse problem.

Authorities will investigate and take action against agencies found violating regulations.