In recent years, Croatia has begun to witness a heartening trend: its people are coming home. After decades marked by outmigration, the tide is subtly turning. Thousands of Croatians who once sought opportunities abroad are now choosing to return, driven by family, a better quality of life, and a renewed sense of hope in their homeland’s future.
If you’re among those dreaming of a return, you’re not just part of a statistic, you’re part of a national renewal. This blog post explores the motivations behind this shift, details the growing support from the Croatian state, and introduces a vital modern solution, Employer of Record (EOR) services like Ambacia, that can make your transition seamless, stable, and successful.
The heart of the homecoming: why Croatians are returning
The stories from returnees paint a consistent picture. The pull of family bonds and the search for a more balanced, affordable life are the most powerful motivators.
- Family and emotional roots: As one returnee from Germany put it, “Why stay abroad when you can live here?” The desire to raise children closer to grandparents, within their own cultural circle, and to escape the feeling of merely “surviving” in a foreign country is profound.
- Economics and quality of life: While higher salaries abroad are attractive, soaring costs of living, especially housing in cities like Berlin, Dublin, or Vienna, often erode that advantage. Many are finding that with Croatia’s rising living standards; they can achieve a more relaxed and financially sustainable lifestyle at home.
- A changing Croatia: Official data confirms the trend. State Secretary Ivan Vidiš notes that Croatia has seen a positive migration balance for several years, with over 10,000 citizens returning annually. Key destinations for returnees are Zagreb and cities in Slavonia, like Osijek.
How the Croatian State is rolling out the welcome mat
Recognizing the immense value of its returning citizens, the Croatian government has activated a suite of programs designed to remove barriers and provide a soft landing.
- Financial springboard for entrepreneurs: The flagship program “Biram Hrvatsku” (I Choose Croatia) has already helped over 1,360 people return and start their own businesses. It offers non-repayable grants of up to €20,000 to kickstart ventures, with construction, hospitality, and services being popular sectors.
- Targeted support for families and homebuyers: As Minister of Demography Ivan Šipić states, a young family first needs “an apartment, a good job, and security.” Measures include:
- Tax Refunds: A 50% refund on property sales tax for those under 45.
- Affordable Housing: Programs to build rental and ownership apartments for young families.
- Family Benefits: Significantly increased allowances for second and third children and extended parental leave.
- Business and investment incentives: Through agencies like HAMAG-BICRO, the state offers entrepreneurial loans of up to €150,000, where a portion of the principal can be forgiven over time for businesses that create jobs and contribute to local communities.
- Working on the bureaucratic hurdles: The government acknowledges that processes like nostrification of foreign diplomas can be slow and is forming inter-ministerial teams to streamline these procedures, making it easier for highly educated professionals to reintegrate.
The modern returnee’s challenge: Keeping your international career
For many professionals today, the dream isn’t just to return, it’s to return while maintaining a rewarding, well-paying career they’ve built abroad. This is where state programs, focused primarily on local entrepreneurship or employment, meet a gap.
What if your ideal job is remote, with a company based in Germany, Ireland, or the United States? Navigating international employment law, taxes, social security, and payroll from Croatia can be a daunting, legally complex task for both you and your foreign employer.
This is where Ambacia’s EOR service becomes your essential bridge
Ambacia acts as your legal Employer of Record (EOR) in Croatia. Think of us as your local employment partner, handling all the administrative and legal complexities so you and your international employer don’t have to.
How Ambacia complements state support for a smooth transition:
| Your goal & State support | The challenge for remote workers | How Ambacia’s EOR is the solution |
| 🏡 Secure, Stable Life in Croatia (State provides housing & family incentives) | Your foreign employer may be unable or unwilling to navigate Croatian employment law to hire you directly | We legally employ you on behalf of your client company, ensuring full compliance with Croatian labour, tax, and social security regulations from Day 1 |
| 💼 Financial Stability & Growth (State offers entrepreneurial grants) | Losing a high-income remote job jeopardizes financial security needed to buy a home or start a family business | You maintain your salary and role without interruption. We ensure your salary, benefits, and all contributions are paid correctly and on time in Croatia |
| ⚖️Safety & Legal Peace of Mind (State ensures public safety) | Without a proper local employment structure, you could face legal or tax risks, and lack local health insurance or pension contributions | We provide a 100% compliant employment contract, comprehensive statutory benefits (healthcare, pension, sick pay), and handle all payroll tax filings |
| 🚀 Focus on Your Life & New Ventures (State simplifies bureaucracy for entrepreneurs) | Managing self-employment (obrt) for foreign income is complex and diverts energy from your actual work or new local projects | We handle all employment admin. You can focus on your job and, if you choose, use your stability to explore state entrepreneurial grants for a separate local business on the side |
Your roadmap home with Ambacia
- Explore State programs: Research the “Biram Hrvatsku” grant or housing programs to see if they align with your long-term plans.
- Secure your remote role: Approach your current or a new international employer with a solution: propose they engage you via Ambacia’s EOR service in Croatia.
- Seamless onboarding: Ambacia handles the contract, setup, and all legalities. You pack your bags.
- Return and thrive: You arrive in Croatia as a fully employed, financially secure resident, ready to build your life and future, backed by both your international career and local state support.
Conclusion: building your future on a foundation of stability
Croatia is actively calling its people home and building frameworks to support them. The returning wave is a testament to the enduring draw of home and the country’s positive momentum. By combining these state-led initiatives with modern global employment solutions like Ambacia, you no longer must choose between a thriving international career and a fulfilling life in Croatia.
You can have both. You can return with confidence, stability, and the freedom to fully embrace the life you’re coming home to.
Are you exploring a return to Croatia while keeping your remote job? Discover how Ambacia’s Employer of Record service can provide the secure, compliant foundation for your move.
