Croatia Work Visa Abuse: A Growing Concern
Croatia, with a population of 3.86 million, is facing an acute labor shortage due to its thriving economy and declining population. To address this issue, the Croatian government has been issuing a significant number of Croatia work visas to foreign workers. In2024, Croatia issued around 151,000 work visas, with plans to issue 165,000 Croatia work visas in 2025. However, authorities have discovered that many foreign workers who were granted Croatia work visas did not arrive in Croatia, instead opting to move to other Schengen countries.
This violation is predominantly attributed to Bangladeshi nationals. According to statistics, out of 124,000 Bangladeshi nationals granted Croatia work visas in 2023, only 8,000 arrived in Croatia.
Government Response: Stricter Visa Policies
While Bangladeshi nationals are the primary offenders, other nations have also been found to be in violation. Nationals from India, the Philippines, and Nepal have also abused the Croatia work visa system, although to a lesser extent. In response, the Croatian government has taken stricter measures, including:
- Implementing more stringent visa policies to ensure applicants' genuine intention to work in Croatia
- Labeling Bangladesh as a high-risk nation for frequent visa violations, with other countries also being monitored based on their violation records
Bangladeshi officials have been formally informed of this issue, and Bangladesh has acknowledged the problem, ensuring that action will be taken against visa violators.
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