HZZ labour market test: employer procedure in Croatia 2026

The HZZ test tržišta rada (the labour market test conducted by the Croatian Employment Service) is the formal check carried out before MUP approves a residence-and-work permit for a foreign worker. Under Article 100 of the Aliens Act (NN 133/20), HZZ verifies whether an unemployed resident matches the requested profile for a specific position. The purpose is to protect the resident labour market, the employer must show that no domestic supply exists before a foreign worker is admitted. The procedure runs 30 days and is the first formal gateway in foreign-worker hiring.

When the test is required

The labour market test is required for most occupations but not all. Three categories are exempt:

Deficitarna zanimanja (shortage occupations) on the annual shortage list adopted by the Minister of Labour. The 2026 list includes welders, metalworkers, carpenters, cooks, C and C+E drivers, CNC operators and a range of other skilled trades. The detailed breakdown sits in the 2026 quota guide.

Foreign workers with special status, workers continuing employment with the same employer on a renewed permit, intra-corporate transferees, researchers, athletes and certain professional categories.

Special bilateral frameworks, seasonal workers from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia in sectors covered by bilateral agreements.

The test applies to all other occupations. An employer meeting the procedure for the first time often hopes the occupation is on the shortage list, but a realistic check comes before planning any timeline.

How the application is filed

The labour market test request is filed by the employer at the regional HZZ office competent for the company's registered seat. The request contains:

• A description of the role with a detailed task list.
• Qualification requirements: education level, work experience, certifications, languages.
• Work location (exact address, not just municipality).
• Wage and other employment terms.
• Expected contract duration.
• Number of workers requested.

The request can be filed electronically through the HZZ portal or physically at the office. Electronic filing shortens the administrative side by 2 to 3 days.

The biggest mistake at this stage is a vague job description. An employer requesting "a construction worker" will receive a test that checks resident supply of generic construction labour and the request will probably be denied because supply exists. An employer requesting "a 6G welder with a stainless steel certificate for shipyard projects" receives a test that checks exactly that profile, where resident supply is genuinely thin, and clears routinely.

What HZZ verifies

During the 30-day window HZZ contacts unemployed jobseekers in its register who match the profile and have the role marked as suitable. Notification runs through several channels:

1. Automated matching against the unemployed register by occupation code and qualifications.
2. Job posting on the HZZ website and weekly bulletin.
3. Individual contact for candidates in the relevant location radius.
4. Referral of candidates to the employer for interview.

The employer is required to consider any candidate referred by HZZ. If a referred candidate meets all requirements, HZZ has grounds to deny the request because resident supply exists. If no one applies or applicants do not meet requirements (missing certificate, missing experience, mismatched location), HZZ issues positive confirmation.

Operational tip: an employer interviewing a referred candidate must keep written interview records and a documented reason for rejection if the candidate does not match. The record may later be requested in an inspection or procedure audit.

Outcomes and what comes next

The labour market test can end three ways:

Positive outcome, HZZ issues confirmation that no matching resident supply is available. The confirmation is valid for 90 days, during which the employer can file the single permit application at MUP.

Negative outcome, HZZ finds a matching resident candidate. The employer can either hire the resident candidate (no permit needed) or appeal if they believe the candidate does not match. Appeals are rarely filed and even more rarely succeed. The faster route is to revise the job description to reflect actual requirements.

Administrative silence, if HZZ does not issue a decision within 30 days, the positive presumption applies and the employer can proceed. In practice silence is rare and a decision is delivered on time.

Most common mistakes in practice

Job description that is too generic. "Production worker" or "waiter" without detail leads to a negative outcome. Specifying the certificate, language and experience changes the test from a generic comparison into a real check.

Unclear foreign-language requirements. When the employer requires English, state the level (basic, intermediate, advanced) and the work context. HZZ reads a generic "English knowledge" broadly.

Wage below the regional benchmark. A wage below the regional average for the occupation looks suspicious to HZZ and may trigger a deeper review. A wage at or above benchmark clears without additional scrutiny.

Wrong filing timing. A test filed in October for positions starting in April leaves the employer with an unused 90-day window. Ideal filing is 4 to 6 months before the target start date.

What the test does not mean

The labour market test is a check on resident supply, not a qualitative assessment of the employer. HZZ does not review the business model, does not judge whether the role makes sense and does not look at employment conditions beyond what is in the request. A positive test does not mean the employer can hire whoever they want, the MUP procedure still follows, with full documentation review and conditions check.

Conversely, a negative test does not mean the employer cannot bring in foreign workers, it means that for the profile as written, a resident alternative exists. A revised profile in a later request can produce a different outcome.

Next step

The labour market test is the first stage of the single permit. For the full procedure and links to other regulatory steps:

• Croatia's single residence-and-work permit, complete employer guide
• Foreign worker quotas in Croatia 2026

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