Croatia: EU free movement, not the Western Balkans Regulation
Different rules apply to Croatia than to its neighbours Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia. The Western Balkans Regulation (section 26(2) BeschV) applies only to nationals of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Croatia has been an EU member state since 2013, and Croatian nationals have been free to work in Germany without restrictions since 1 July 2015.
For you as an employer, this means no visa, no pre-approval from the Federal Employment Agency (BA) and no quota. Croatian workers register their address like any other EU citizen – within two weeks of moving in (section 17(1) of the Federal Registration Act, BMG).
The usual rules for employment in Germany apply, including the statutory minimum wage: €13.90 per hour since 1 January 2026 and €14.60 from 1 January 2027.
A BA pre-approval or a place in the Western Balkans quota is neither needed nor provided for in the case of Croatian nationals.
What free movement changes compared with the Western Balkans Regulation
Several steps that set the timeline for Bosnia and Herzegovina or Serbia do not apply at all to Croatian nationals. The table shows the differences.
| Step | Croatia (EU) | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia (Western Balkans Regulation) |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | not required | national visa from the German Embassy in Sarajevo or Belgrade |
| BA approval | not required | pre-approval, valid for nine months from issue |
| Quota | none | up to 50,000 first-time approvals a year, split by month and nationality |
| Change of employer | no BA approval | new BA approval via the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde) |
| Address registration | within two weeks of moving in | within two weeks of moving in |
What free movement does not replace: an employment contract, careful selection and good preparation for arrival. That is where we come in.
Process without a BA step
Without a visa or pre-approval, the timeline for Croatian workers depends on how quickly suitable candidates are found, assessed and ready to start. There is no waiting time at the BA or at an embassy.
Clarify your needs
We discuss the occupation, tasks, location and requirements of the role with you and prepare an individual, non-binding quote.
Search and shortlisting
We look for suitable candidates, among other places in our database of over 68,000 registered candidates in total.
Video interview or practical test
Depending on the profile, you see video interviews or the recordings of a practical test at our assessment centre in Jelah.
Offer and employment contract
You decide and sign the employment contract with the worker – with no application to the BA.
Arrival and start
Registration within 2 weeksWe support the journey. The worker registers their address within two weeks of moving in (section 17(1) BMG).
Our usual figure of 10–12 weeks to the start of work refers to the procedure under the Western Balkans Regulation. We do not give a separate duration for Croatia, because it depends solely on search and selection.
Driving licence: EU driving licence
A driving licence issued in Croatia is an EU driving licence. The notes on conversion under Annex 11 FeV on our Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia pages refer to licences from those countries.
For truck drivers with a Croatian passport, it is still worth looking at the document itself: was the licence issued in Croatia or, for example, in Bosnia and Herzegovina? For licences from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Annex 11 FeV lists only classes A1, A and B – see our Bosnia and Herzegovina page for details.
Candidates from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a Croatian passport
Many people from Bosnia and Herzegovina also hold Croatian citizenship. With a Croatian passport they are EU citizens: EU rules apply to them, not the Western Balkans Regulation – so its quota does not apply either.
For you, this means that a candidate from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a Croatian passport needs neither a visa nor a pre-approval to work in Germany. It is therefore worth clarifying citizenship right at the start.
Because our assessment centre is in Jelah, Bosnia and Herzegovina, these candidates can take their practical test there. You see the recordings in your CRM portal without having to travel.
What we handle for skilled workers from Croatia
Even without a visa procedure, the real work remains: finding the right candidates, assessing their skills and preparing for the start. We do this as a licensed private employment agency based in Jelah, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- Recruitment: searching for suitable candidates, among other places in our database of over 68,000 registered candidates in total
- Selection: video interviews or a practical test, depending on the profile
- Practical test at the Jelah assessment centre (680 m²), filmed on 4K cameras; on request you define the task with us and see the results in the CRM portal
- Language: preferably at least A1/A2 German or good English; language courses before arrival on request
- Arrival: support with the journey and the start; health insurance for every placed worker through our partnership with BARMER
- Costs: success-based – you pay only for a successful placement; the service is free for candidates
- Direct employment with your company only – no temporary agency work
Not every candidate is given a practical test. We agree with you, for each occupation, whether a video interview or a practical test makes sense.