Opening a craft in Croatia

You can open a craft through the online service e-Craft or START or by physically visiting the competent administrative body

 

Opening a craft in Croatia is possible in several ways. It is important to check what the requirements are for the activity, including the minimum technical requirements.
Business registration options

Crafts in Croatia can be registered in the following ways:

1. START

• For Croatian citizens only
• Electronic establishment of LLC, simple LLC and crafts
• All registration steps are carried out in one place
• Without notary certification

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 opening of a craft

4. Physically

• For Croatian, EU/EEA and foreign citizens
• Registration with the competent administrative body in the county or the City of Zagreb

Required documents:

• Proof of identity (copy of ID card or passport)
• Proof of compliance with special health conditions (for certain trades: catering, restaurants, facilities fast food, pastry shops, bakeries, etc., or for most activities involving food business)
• Proof of the right to use the premises (when space is required for the performance of the trade: retail, catering, tourism, various types of services such as hairdressers, beauticians, pedicurists, dry cleaning, etc.)
• Evidence for related crafts: proof of appropriate secondary vocational education, passed master's exam or professional qualification exam (if the applicant does not meet the special requirement of professional qualification, appropriate secondary vocational education or passed master's exam, he can perform a related craft if he employs a person, full-time, who meets this requirement for these jobs)
• Work permit for foreigners from third countries (only for third countries - outside the EU/EEA)
• Valid certificate of residence (only for third countries - outside the EU/EEA)

Recognition of qualifications

To have a qualification recognized, the following must be submitted to the email address poduzetnistvoiobrt@mingo.hr documents:

• proof of foreign professional qualifications
• proof of passed exams
• list of conditions/criteria for taking the exam
• official plan and program showing the brief content of the passed exam
• proof of citizenship in another EU/EEA country
• CV in Croatian
• certificate of payment of administrative fee (or certificate of exemption from paying administrative fee).

Fee

No fee.

Note

By registering a craft in the Craft Register, the craftsman is obliged to start performing the craft within one year from the date of issuance of the craft certificate.
The craftsman is obliged to report the performance of a craft to the competent county office, or the office of the City of Zagreb, no later than eight days before the start of a craft, which will immediately inform the appropriate inspections.

Types of crafts

1. free crafts - for the performance of which, as a condition, no professional qualification exam or a master craftsman’s certificate is required,
2. related crafts - for the performance of which, as a condition, a professional qualification exam and related cratf for the performance of which requires a master craftsman’s certificate,
3. privileged crafts - which a craftsman may perform only on the basis of a privilege issued by the competent ministry depending on the type of craft.