Crafts in Croatia

Crafts in Croatia can be registered through several options. It is important to check the sectoral requirements, including minimum technical requirements.

Service provision options 

Crafts in Croatia can provide services on a cross-border and permanent basis.

1. Freedom to provide services 

• No establishment requirement for the EU/EEA, providing many services temporarily; only a declaration on the cross-border provision of services from the EU/EEA is required

2. Business establishment 

• Establishment required for providing services permanently, while optional for temporary cross-border providers registered in the EU/EEA; establishment required for all enterprises from Croatia and third countries

Business establishment options

Crafts in Croatia can be registered through several options:

1. START (one-stop shop)

• For Croatian citizens
• Electronic establishment of LLC, simple LLC, and crafts (sole trader)
• All registration steps are performed in one place
• Without notarization

2. START Point (physical)

• For Croatian citizens
• All registration steps are done electronically by going to one of 20 locations
• Without notarization

3. e-Craft

• For Croatian citizens

Electronic establishment of a Craft (sole trader) at e-Obrt

Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO) – within 24 hours of starting the business, data is automatically sent to the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO)

Tax Administration – within 8 days from starting the business.

4. Physically

• For Croatian, EU/EEA and foreign citizens
• Separate physical steps for registering crafts:

Registration at the competent administrative authority in a county or at the City of Zagreb

Croatian Pension Insurance Institute (HZMO) – within 24 hours of starting the business, data is automatically sent to the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO)

Tax Administration – within 8 days from starting the business.

Required documents

• Proof of identity (copy of an ID or a passport)
• Proof of meeting special health requirements (for certain craft businesses: catering, restaurants, fast food facilities, pastry shops, bakeries and others, i.e., for most that include handling of food)
• Proof of the right to use premises (if a craft business requires a premise: retail, catering, tourism, different types of services such as hairdresser, cosmetician, pedicure and chemical cleaning services and so on)
• For associated crafts: appropriate secondary school qualification, master craftsman’s certificate or vocational qualification (if applicants do not meet a special requirement of vocational training, appropriate secondary school, or master craftsman’s certificate, they may run an associated craft business if they hire a person meeting that requirement on a full-time basis).
• Work permit for third-countries nationals (only for third countries – outside EU/EEA).
• Valid residence permit (only for third countries outside EU/EEA).

Recognition of qualifications

The following documents need to be sent to poduzetnistvoiobrt@mingo.hr:

• Proof of foreign vocational qualifications
• Proof of passed exams
• List of criteria to take the exam
• Official plan and programme from which a summary of the exam passed is visible
• Proof of nationality of another EU/EEA state
• CV in Croatian
• Certificate of payment of the administrative fee (or certificate of exemption from paying the administrative fee).

Fees

Fees are no longer required

Notes

The proprietor has to start performing the activity within one year from registration if a craft business is registered without indicating the beginning of the business activity.

Forms of crafts

1. Free-form crafts: not requiring a vocational qualification certificate or master craftsman’s certificate
2. Associated crafts: requiring a vocational qualification certificate, an appropriate secondary school qualification, or a master craftsman’s certificate
3. Privileged crafts: can be performed only based on a license, i.e., a privilege certificate.

Competent authority and regulations

Ministry of Economy (Crafts Register)

Vukovarska 78, 10000 Zagreb

+385 1 6109 720

poduzetnistvoiobrt@mingo.hr

Crafts Act (NN 143/13, 127/19, 41/20) – Article 9(5) – Consolidated Version

Services Act (OG 80/11) – Articles 1, 14, and 15

Ordinance on the recognition of foreign vocational qualifications on master craftsman’s degree and its individual parts to perform regulated professions in the area of associated crafts (OG 90/17)

Last updated on 28 February 2025