UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy

10/18/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/18/2021 07:44

Croatia: providing services and travelling for business

Read this page in combination with the guidance for the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The authoritative source for Croatian market regulations is the Croatian government. This guidance links to official Croatian sources wherever possible.

Trade and services regulations in Croatia

If you are a business providing services in Croatia, you need to follow regulations about:

  • getting authorisations or licences to provide a service
  • complying with specific local business regulations
  • nationality requirements which could prevent you from providing services in some sectors

The Croatia e-government portal for service providers can help you to:

  • find out what you need to know about providing services in Croatia
  • understand the regulations
  • complete the relevant administrative procedures online

Consider appointing an English-speaking lawyer in Croatia to help you comply with specific regulations.

To find out if nationality requirements apply to you, contact the appropriate competent authority.

Trade reservations

To sell or provide services to customers in Croatia, you must follow local laws. If in doubt, you should get professional advice.

Reservations are part of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement. They reserve the right of each party to keep or make new laws restricting investment, or the sale of services, in ways that would otherwise breach the rules in the agreement.

Check which reservations apply to the sale of services from the to Croatia. This includes an interactive tool to find reservations that are already in place.

VAT on sales of digital services

To use the 's VAT Mini One Stop Shop (MOSS), to declare sales of digital services to consumers, businesses need to register for MOSS in an member state.

Find out more about paying VAT on sales of digital services.

Ownership of companies registered in Croatia

If you have a business, you might face restrictions on your ability to own, manage or direct a company registered in Croatia or any other country.

For information about setting up and running a business in Croatia, visit the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.

See our guidance relating to the , Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Ownership of legal firms in Croatia

legal professionals who have investments in law firms in Croatia should contact the Croatian Bar Association for information on the implications for your investment.

Business travel and entry requirements

business travellers and service providers may need a visa, work permit or other documentation.

Check our travel to Croatia for work guide for detailed information on:

  • types of visa and work permit routes available
  • exemptions that may apply to you or the activity you are planning to undertake

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs website has more information about:

  • visas including intra-corporate transfers
  • work and residence permits
  • supporting documentation
  • other conditions

Check which actions travellers visiting Europe need to take.

Social security payments for employees

Find out if you need to pay National Insurance in the or social security contributions in Croatia.

Recognition of professional qualifications

To check what you need to do in Croatia, read our guidance on professional qualifications in the and Switzerland.

If you need to take action to secure the recognition of your professional qualification in Croatia, these sources can help you:

The Centre for Professional Qualifications () provides practical assistance and advice to:

  • professionals who qualified overseas and are interested in working in the
  • professionals seeking to practise overseas

statutory auditors working in Croatia

For statutory auditors, the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Croatia should be able to provide further information.

lawyers working in Croatia

If you are a -qualified lawyer working in Croatia, using either a Croatian or professional title, you should contact the local Bar association in the region where you are working or the Croatian Bar Association (website in Croatian) for specific advice.

Data transfer and

On 28 June 2021, the formally adopted 'adequacy decisions' for the , delivered through:

'Adequacy decisions' allow for the ongoing free flow of personal data from the / to the .

Read guidance on using data in your personal business or other organisation.