Full freedom of movement for Croatian nationals was introduced in 2022. As a result of the sharp increase in the number of Croatian workers that year, the Federal Council decided to unilaterally activate the safeguard clause provided for in the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP) and to reintroduce quotas in 2023 and 2024. During these two years, the number of short-term permits (EU/EFTA L permits) was limited to 1,053 per year and the number of residence permits (EU/EFTA B permits) to 1,204 per year. The quotas for 2024 have already been used up.

As the safeguard clause may only be applied for a maximum of two consecutive years, Croatian nationals will once more have full access to the Swiss labour market from 1 January 2025.

If the number of Croatian workers in this country exceeds a certain threshold again in 2025, Switzerland may once more invoke the safeguard clause and limit the number of permits, but only for the year 2026. This is because Croatia is subject to a transitional period of ten years, until 31 December 2026, after which date Croatian nationals will definitively benefit from full free movement of persons, in the same way as nationals of the other EU member states.

Between 1 January 2017 - the date on which Croatia became a contracting party to the AFMP - and 31 December 2021, the Federal Council imposed restrictions on the number of Croatian workers permitted to come and work in Switzerland.

Address for enquiries:

medien@sem.admin.ch

Publisher:

The Federal Council
Federal Department of Justice and Police