Foreign students currently residing in Croatia can work using the Student Service administered by the Student Centre. Student Service provides matchmaking services, connecting students with prospective employers.The Student Service offices are usually units of local Student centres (Studentski centar) which are also responsible for subsidised student accommodation and meals. The list of Student Centres is available at:
https://mzo.gov.hr/istaknute-teme/odgoj-i-obrazovanje/visoko-obrazovanje/potpore-studentima/164 (only in Croatian).
The web page of the biggest Student Service office in Zagreb is also available only in Croatian language but all inquiries can be directed to their e-mail sservis@sczg.hr.
Apart from EU citizens, the Student Service was also made available for third country nationals as of January 2020, when the new regulatory framework of student work in the Republic of Croatia entered into force.
The student work positions offered by the Student Service are part-time and temporary, allowing students to adjust their work engagement to their student obligations. The salary is calculated per hour and the minimum amount is 3,35 EUR/hour (25,4 HRK, June 2020 exchange rate) for less demanding jobs and up to 4 EUR (30 HRK) for administration and promotion jobs.
For all foreign students working through the Student Service, their employers are obliged to cover health and pension insurance, as well as intermediary services of the Student Service, which is additional 18% of the abovementioned net amounts received by the student.
In cases where a student earns more than 63.000,00 HRK (around 8.320,00 EUR) net amount on a yearly basis, additional income taxation rules apply. Double taxation can be avoided if the Republic of Croatia signed a treaty for the avoidance of double taxation with the student’s country of origin. For more information, it is best to refer to the Croatian Tax Administration office.
