It is known from which countries most foreigners have immigrated to Croatia: A total of over 170 thousand permits have been issued.
Out of the total number of residence and work permits issued, as many as 112,981 permits were issued for new employment.
In accordance with the Foreigners Act, from January 1 to December 31, 2023, the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) issued a total of 172,499 residence and work permits. The highest number of permits was issued in the construction sector, with 68,912. This was followed by the tourism and hospitality sector with 45,868 permits, industry with 24,034 permits, transportation and communication with 11,497 permits, and trade with 5,126 permits.
Out of the total number of residence and work permits issued, 112,981 permits were issued for new employment, 40,660 for permit extensions, and 18,858 for seasonal workers, with the highest number of permits issued in the tourism and hospitality sector (16,882), the MUP notes.
The highest number of residence and work permits until December 31, 2023, was granted to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 38,236. They were followed by citizens of Serbia (24,028), Nepal (23,493), India (15,627), North Macedonia (13,412), the Philippines (10,999), Kosovo (9,922), Bangladesh (8,749), Turkey (5,067), and Albania (4,244).
The Ministry of the Interior also published data on permits issued by police directorates. The fewest permits were issued in the Požega-Slavonia Police Directorate, while the most permits were issued in the Zagreb Police Directorate.
Permits issued by police directorates are as follows:
Bjelovar-Bilogora Police Directorate: 1,172 permits
Brod-Posavina Police Directorate: 4,405 permits
Dubrovnik-Neretva Police Directorate: 10,305 permits
Istria Police Directorate: 24,340 permits
Karlovac Police Directorate: 3,648 permits
Koprivnica-Križevci Police Directorate: 3,900 permits
Krapina-Zagorje Police Directorate: 3,547 permits
Lika-Senj Police Directorate: 3,166 permits
Međimurje Police Directorate: 5,010 permits
Osijek-Baranja Police Directorate: 4,310 permits
Požega-Slavonia Police Directorate: 746 permits
Primorje-Gorski Kotar Police Directorate: 15,512 permits
Sisak-Moslavina Police Directorate: 5,032 permits
Split-Dalmatia Police Directorate: 17,930 permits
Šibenik-Knin Police Directorate: 5,479 permits
Varaždin Police Directorate: 8,097 permits
Virovitica-Podravina Police Directorate: 816 permits
Vukovar-Srijem Police Directorate: 2,490 permits
Zadar Police Directorate: 10,053 permits
Zagreb Police Directorate: 42,541 permits