Unemployment Benefits in Croatia
Workers and self-employed people who lose their job through no fault of their own can get unemployment benefit (naknada za nezaposlenost) from the Croatian Employment Service; people with no income can get the guaranteed minimum benefit.
✓ From official pages ✓ Each part says when we checked
At a glance
Croatian Employment Service (HZZ)
Croatian Employment Service
The job market in Croatia
The International Labour Organization's estimates put Croatia 87th lowest of 183 countries for unemployment in 2025; the world's rate was 4.9%.
Croatia's unemployment rate over the years · every country, ranked
What to do first
- Register with the public employment service, Croatian Employment Service (Hrvatski zavod za zapošljavanje, HZZ). Official page
- Apply for Unemployment benefit (naknada za nezaposlenost): register with the Croatian Employment Service within 30 days of the end of the employment contract and file an application for unemployment benefit. Official page
- Keep up with the job-search rule while you claim (below), and keep a record of where you applied.
- See whether you can get Guaranteed minimum benefit (zajamčena minimalna naknada). Official page
- Questions: call +385 1 61 26 000, +385 1 6444 000 (Croatian Employment Service).
Unemployment benefit (naknada za nezaposlenost)
Who can get it. Worked at least 9 months in the past 24 months (6 months if under 30); job not ended through own fault or voluntarily.
For how long. Between 90 and 450 calendar days, depending on total time worked.
How to claim. Register with the Croatian Employment Service within 30 days of the end of the employment contract and file an application for unemployment benefit.
From an official page, read October 26, 2026.
Looking for work while you claim
To keep the benefit you must regularly contact your employment advisor, be actively looking for work, and be available for work.
Reporting. Regular contact with your employment advisor at the HZZ.
From an official page, read October 26, 2026.
Keep my work search record for Croatia
Free. It lists where you applied and what else you did to look for work, each line ready to copy into the form you report on. It is your own record: we send nothing to any government.
Help finding work
- The public employment service: Croatian Employment Service (Hrvatski zavod za zapošljavanje, HZZ)
Guaranteed minimum benefit (zajamčena minimalna naknada)
For a single person or household with no income to cover living needs; EUR 170 for a single working-age person, EUR 221 for a single person not capable of working or elderly. Recipients able to work must accept a job offered by the HZZ.
From an official page, read October 26, 2026.
Who to call
Croatian Employment Service: +385 1 61 26 000, +385 1 6444 000.
From an official page, read October 26, 2026.
Questions
Is there unemployment benefit in Croatia?
Yes: Unemployment benefit (naknada za nezaposlenost), paid by Croatian Employment Service (HZZ).
How long does unemployment benefit last in Croatia?
Between 90 and 450 calendar days, depending on total time worked.
How do I claim unemployment benefit in Croatia?
Register with the Croatian Employment Service within 30 days of the end of the employment contract and file an application for unemployment benefit.
Do I have to look for work while I claim in Croatia?
To keep the benefit you must regularly contact your employment advisor, be actively looking for work, and be available for work.
Who do I call about unemployment in Croatia?
Croatian Employment Service: +385 1 61 26 000, +385 1 6444 000.
Where can I get help finding a job in Croatia?
The public employment service is Croatian Employment Service (Hrvatski zavod za zapošljavanje, HZZ).
Nearby countries
Albania
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Gibraltar
Greece
Italy
Kosovo
Malta
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Portugal
San Marino
Serbia
Slovenia
Spain
Vatican City
Where this comes from
Every part of this page was read on an official website, and each links the page it came from and the day we checked it. Rules and amounts change, so check that page before you rely on a figure. Jobareer is not part of any government and cannot see or change a claim.
See also: unemployment rate by country · Croatia's unemployment rate · unemployment in the US, state by state.