Right to work without a permit
Temporary-protection status includes the right to work automatically, with no residence-and-work permit, HZZ opinion or labour-market test.
Employing Ukrainians in CroatiaEmploying Ukrainians in Croatia.
Temporary protection and the residence-and-work permit
Most Ukrainian citizens in Croatia hold temporary-protection status, which includes the right to work with no residence-and-work permit, HZZ opinion or labour-market test. For candidates without that status, we run the standard residence-and-work permit procedure at MUP. We support employers with status checks, documentation, accommodation and onboarding.
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Ukraine · Eastern Europe
Two legal routes for employing Ukrainian citizens
Since March 2022 Croatia has applied the EU's temporary-protection mechanism for people displaced by the war in Ukraine. The status covers Ukrainian citizens resident in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, their family members, and certain stateless persons and third-country nationals. The right to work is part of the status itself – the employer does not need a residence-and-work permit, an HZZ opinion or a labour-market test to hire someone who holds it.
The application for temporary protection is filed at the competent Police Administration or Police Station, or online via the Croatia4Ukraine application. Once approved, a foreigner's card under temporary protection is issued. The Council of the EU decided in July 2026 to extend the status to 4 March 2028, and the Croatian Government took a corresponding decision in September 2026; new applicants (not existing beneficiaries) must now also show they have fulfilled, are exempt from, or lawfully left Ukraine despite, military-service obligations under Ukrainian law.
A Ukrainian citizen who does not hold (or does not use) temporary-protection status is employed under the same procedure as any other third-country national: a labour-market test at HZZ precedes non-deficit occupations, and the employer files the residence-and-work permit application with MUP; occupations on the current deficit list skip the labour-market test. We check each candidate's actual status before choosing the route – assuming the wrong one slows the whole process down.
- Temporary protection – right to work without a permit
- Filed with the Police Administration or via Croatia4Ukraine
- Alternative: residence-and-work permit (MUP)
- Status checked before the process starts
2028
temporary protection extended to 4 March
0
labour-market tests for temporary-protection status
MUP
residence-and-work permit without that status
100%
fully legal employment and residence
Other directions
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We also recruit from Philippines, India, Nepal, .
See all directionsBenefits
Why employers hire Ukrainians through temporary protection
Straightforward application
Filed with the competent Police Administration/Station or online via Croatia4Ukraine; a foreigner's card under temporary protection is issued on approval.
Language proximity
Ukrainian and Croatian are both Slavic languages, which speeds up onboarding compared with more distant labour markets.
Industrial experience
Metallurgy, machine building, processing and construction are part of Ukraine's industrial base; candidates know machinery, shift work and output targets.
Alternative route without the status
For candidates without temporary protection we run the standard residence-and-work permit procedure at MUP, including the labour-market test where required.
Status valid for the longer term
Temporary protection has been extended to 4 March 2028, giving employers a predictable planning horizon.
Qualifications
How we verify Ukrainian candidates
Every profile includes scanned qualification documents, employment history, references and a language assessment; for technical trades a practical skills test can be arranged on client request after arrival.
Technical school and university diplomas
Ukrainian vocational education is built on technical schools and colleges in mechanical, electrical and construction fields. We verify documents and provide translations where needed.
Welding and operator certificates
We check the scope of qualifications and welding methods; a practical skills test can be arranged after arrival in Croatia, by agreement with the employer.
Employment history and references
We verify work at named plants in Ukraine and abroad, confirmed where possible with references from previous employers.
Driving licences and driver qualifications
For drivers we check the category, seniority and route history, then help with the licence exchange required under Croatian rules once residence is in place.
Where we source candidates in Ukraine
The region a candidate comes from often shapes their professional profile.
Lviv and the Lviv region
Closest to the EU border, with the largest pool of candidates with experience working abroad. Construction, manufacturing, logistics and services.
Ivano-Frankivsk and Ternopil
A base for construction and skilled trades, candidates used to crew-based site work.
Volyn and Rivne
Wood processing, furniture and manufacturing, with experience on machinery.
Vinnytsia and Cherkasy
Large-scale agriculture and food processing – agricultural machine operators and sorting-line staff.
Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia
Heavy industry, metallurgy and machine building – welders, fitters and machine tool operators.
Recruitment and status
From contract to legal employment – two possible routes
The process always starts with checking the candidate's status. If a candidate holds or can obtain temporary protection, employment moves faster because the labour-market test and the permit procedure do not apply. Without that status we run the standard residence-and-work permit procedure at MUP.
2
possible legal routes – depending on candidate status
0
labour-market tests for temporary-protection status
100%
compliance with Croatian authority requirements
Faze procesa
Needs analysis, job profile and quote. We check each candidate's status once the contract is signed.
- 01
Call and needs analysis
StartWe agree duties, required licences, pay and accommodation standard.
- 02
Quote and contract
StartWe present the quote and sign the contract with the employer.
We establish whether the candidate holds temporary-protection status or needs the residence-and-work permit route at MUP.
- 01
Checking candidate status
After contractWe confirm whether the candidate already holds temporary protection, qualifies for it, or needs a residence-and-work permit.
- 02
Choosing the legal route
After contractBased on status, we choose between temporary protection and the permit procedure.
Temporary protection: filed with the Police Administration/Station or via Croatia4Ukraine. Without that status: labour-market test where required and the residence-and-work permit application at MUP.
- 01
Filing for temporary protection
Route AFiled with the competent Police Administration/Station or online via Croatia4Ukraine; a foreigner's card under temporary protection is issued on approval.
- 02
Labour-market test and MUP application
Route BFor candidates without the status: labour-market test at HZZ where required, then the residence-and-work permit application at MUP.
Accommodation, address registration, bank account and the first day at work.
- 01
Arrival and accommodation
After approvalTravel arrangements, accommodation meeting sanitary requirements and address registration.
- 02
First day at work
After approvalBank account, health and safety training and onboarding.
Tipičan raspored
Kandidati na radnom mjestu za 2–3 mjeseca. Rok ovisi o kapacitetu nadležnih tijela, konzulata, veleposlanstava i viznih sustava.
Stage 1
Call, quote and contract
01Stage 2
Checking candidate status
02Stage 3
Temporary protection or residence-and-work permit
03Stage 4
Arrival, accommodation and first day at work
04Troškovi zapošljavanja
Od čega se sastoji budžet
Administrative costs
EmployerCosts at the competent authorities differ depending on whether the route is temporary protection or the residence-and-work permit; we confirm the figure for each case.
Travel from Ukraine
Employer / agencyTravel and transfer to the place of accommodation.
Accommodation
EmployerHousing meeting sanitary requirements.
Medical checks and insurance
Employer / agencyMedical checks, safety training and travel insurance.
Agency fee
EmployerSourcing, status verification, handling the procedure and coordinator support after arrival.
The total cost depends most on whether the candidate holds temporary protection or needs the residence-and-work permit route – we account for both scenarios in every quote from day one.
Spremni za početak
Raspored i budžet prije odluke.
- Ponuda bez skrivenih stavki
- Realan termin dolaska
- Jedan koordinator za cijeli proces
Industries
Where workers from Ukraine perform best
This origin is chosen when people are needed quickly and the role calls for independence and technical experience. Below are the industries where it delivers the best results.
Industrial manufacturing
Machine operators and line staff from metal, furniture and processing plants.
- Machine operator
- Production worker
- Maintenance mechanic
- Fitter
- Quality controller
Construction and installations
Candidates with experience on sites abroad: structures, finishing, electrical and sanitary installations.
- Construction worker
- Steel fixer
- Formwork carpenter
- Bricklayer and plasterer
- Site electrician
Welding and metalworking
Backed by metallurgy and machine building in Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia.
- MIG/MAG welder
- TIG welder
- Steel structure fitter
- CNC operator
- Grinder
Transport and logistics
Drivers with international route experience and staff for warehouses and distribution centres.
- C+E driver
- Warehouse operative
- Forklift operator
- Order picker
- Freight forwarder
Agriculture
Agricultural machine operators and staff for orchards, greenhouses and sorting lines.
- Agricultural machine operator
- Orchard worker
- Greenhouse worker
- Sorting line worker
- Field supervisor
Hospitality and hotels
Candidates with hotel and restaurant experience, some already with experience working abroad.
- Cook
- Kitchen assistant
- Waiter
- Room attendant
- Dishwashing staff
Candidate availability depends on status and travel options; to staff a larger shift, consider other origins in parallel.
Roles
Roles we recruit for in Ukraine
This origin delivers most for urgent staffing gaps and for roles requiring certificates: welding, construction, transport and maintenance.
- MIG/MAG welder
- TIG welder
- Fitter
- CNC operator
- Construction worker
- Steel fixer
- Electrician
- Installation fitter
- C+E driver
- Warehouse operative
- Machine operator
- Production worker
Considering other origins? See also workers from Georgia, workers from Kazakhstan or workers from the Philippines.
Ukraine compared with other recruitment origins
A comparison of typical differences in the process and candidate profile.
| Criterion | Ukraine | Other origins |
|---|---|---|
| Legal basis | Temporary protection (no permit) or residence-and-work permit (MUP) | Residence-and-work permit (MUP), often with a D visa |
| Labour-market test | Not required under temporary protection; required for non-deficit occupations without that status | Required for non-deficit occupations |
| Visa | Not required for short stays with a biometric passport | D visa at a consulate for longer stays |
| Language | Slavic-language proximity | Working English or a crew leader required |
| Status over time | Temporary protection extended to 4 March 2028 | Permit renewed according to the length of the employment contract |
Cultural integration
Challenges and proven solutions
Teams from Ukraine settle in quickly, but a few things are worth setting up at the start.
Language: fast, but not instant
Bilingual workstation instructions and a short glossary of technical terms prevent misunderstandings in the first weeks, even where a shared Slavic root can mislead.
Residence and banking formalities
Address registration, a bank account and, under the permit route, a timely renewal application. The coordinator tracks deadlines so residence and work legality is never interrupted.
Family and the situation at home
Many workers leave families in Ukraine and deal with the consequences of the war. Flexibility around leave and the ability to stay in touch genuinely affect team stability.
Turnover and competition for candidates
Ukraine is a competitive worker market across the region. On-time pay and good accommodation are the most effective tools for keeping a team long term.
FAQFrequently asked
Frequently asked
questions
Short answers to questions about employing Ukrainians in Croatia.
Candidates on site within 2–3 months. The timeline depends on the processing capacity of the competent authorities, consulates, embassies and visa systems. Support with temporary residence and work permits
It depends on status. People holding temporary protection have the right to work automatically, with no residence-and-work permit, HZZ opinion or labour-market test. Ukrainian citizens who do not hold (or do not use) temporary-protection status are employed under the same procedure as any other third-country national, including a residence-and-work permit issued by the Ministry of Interior (MUP).
Temporary protection is a status Croatia introduced in March 2022 for people displaced by the war in Ukraine. It covers Ukrainian citizens resident in Ukraine on 24 February 2022, their family members, stateless persons and third-country nationals who held international or equivalent national protection in Ukraine on that date, and people displaced shortly before that date who cannot safely return.
The Council of the EU decided on 15 July 2026 to extend temporary protection until 4 March 2028, and the Croatian Government took a corresponding decision at a session in September 2026. The official decision text and its Narodne novine publication were not reviewed directly for this page – confirm the exact date on gov.hr or with MUP before relying on it.
No. The right to work follows directly from temporary-protection status, with no HZZ opinion, labour-market test or separate residence-and-work permit required.
The application is filed at the competent Police Administration or Police Station, or online via the Croatia4Ukraine application. Once approved, a foreigner's card under temporary protection is issued.
No. Under the EU Council's July 2026 decision, new applicants must show they have fulfilled, are legally exempt from, or lawfully left Ukraine despite, military-service obligations. This condition does not apply to people who already hold temporary-protection status.
The standard third-country-national procedure applies: for non-deficit occupations the employer first requests a labour-market test from HZZ, then files the residence-and-work permit application with MUP within 90 days of HZZ's notice. For occupations on HZZ's current deficit list, the labour-market test is skipped and an HZZ opinion is enough.
For a short, tourist stay, Ukrainian citizens with a biometric passport do not need a visa. Work requires the relevant legal basis – temporary protection or a residence-and-work permit – and in some cases a D visa for a longer stay.
The Croatian processing timeline for this origin is not confirmed in the sources we rely on, so we do not quote it in weeks or months. It depends on the processing capacity of the competent authorities; temporary-protection cases are generally resolved faster because the labour-market test and permit procedure do not apply.
The employer or agency arranges accommodation that meets sanitary requirements, address registration and help opening a bank account, regardless of whether the legal basis is temporary protection or a residence-and-work permit.
Direction: UkraineHire workers from Ukraine.
We start with a call about your needs and a quote. We then check each candidate's status and file either a temporary-protection application or the residence-and-work permit procedure at MUP.
- 1Call and needs analysis
- 2Quote and contract
- 3Status check and filing with the competent authorities
- 4Arrival, accommodation and onboarding
The timeline depends on the processing capacity of the competent authorities, consulates, embassies and visa systems.
