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Croatian A1.1 exam for your work permit (from 4 June 2027): who needs it, who pays, how to prepare
By Bok! · Checked on 19 October 2026
Short answer
From 4 June 2027, many workers from outside the EU must show proof of basic Croatian (level A1.1). You need it when you renew your residence-and-work permit or ask for a new one, for example with a new employer. It applies after one year on that permit. The employer pays for the exam.
- Who: workers from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland with at least 1 year on a residence-and-work permit (article 97, or article 110 item 32).
- From when: 4 June 2027 (article 70; confirmed by MUP).
- Who pays: the employer pays for the exam.
Who must take the Croatian A1.1 exam?
The new rule is in article 92.a of the Law on Foreigners (Zakon o strancima). It was added by the amending law in Narodne novine 55/2026.
Paragraph 1 says this: a third-country national must pass an exam in Croatian language and Latin script if he or she has lived in Croatia for at least one year on a residence-and-work permit. This means a permit:
- issued under article 97 of the law (or renewed), or
- issued under article 110, item 32 of the law.
"Third-country national" means a person who is not a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. So this covers most workers from Nepal, the Philippines and India.
Paragraph 2 names the level: a standardised exam at the basic level, A1.1. A1.1 is a beginner level of Croatian.
Who does not need the exam?
Paragraph 7 says you do not need the exam if:
- you finished primary, secondary or higher education in Croatia, or
- you speak a language from the South Slavic group.
The law does not list which languages count as South Slavic.
Paragraph 8 says article 92.a does not apply to seasonal workers.
From when does it apply?
The amending law was published in Narodne novine on 27 May 2026. Article 70 says the law enters into force on the eighth day after publication. That is 4 June 2026.
But article 70 makes an exception. Paragraphs 1, 4 and 6 of article 92.a enter into force one year after the law. These are the parts about the duty to pass the exam, the employer's records, and the proof you must give with your application. That date is 4 June 2027 (article 70; confirmed by MUP). The Ministry of the Interior (MUP) writes on its information page: "Navedena obveza stupa na snagu 04.06.2027."
The other paragraphs (for example who pays, what counts as proof, and who is exempt) are already in force since 4 June 2026, but in practice they only matter once the duty starts on 4 June 2027.
Who pays for the A1.1 Croatian exam?
Paragraph 3 is clear: the employer pays the costs of the exam.
What about a language course? The law does not say who pays for a course. It is not regulated. Ask your employer early.
What counts as proof?
There are two ways to show your Croatian, according to paragraph 5:
- Pass the exam at an institution that is allowed to run it.
- Finish a course in Croatian language and Latin script at level A1.1 or higher. The certificate counts as proof only if the course was at an institution that has approval to run the standardised A1.1 exam.
Paragraph 6 says you must add this proof to your application when you:
- ask to renew a residence-and-work permit issued under article 97,
- ask for a new residence-and-work permit under article 97 (for example with a new employer), or
- ask for a permit under article 110, item 32.
Paragraph 4 also says the proof becomes part of the worker records that your employer must keep.
What happens without proof?
The amending law adds a new reason to refuse a residence-and-work permit: article 93, paragraph 1, item 16. It covers a worker under article 92.a paragraph 1 who does not attach proof of the passed exam. Article 93 paragraph 1 says the Ministry "may" refuse the application in these cases.
In simple words: if you need the exam and have no proof, your application can be refused. Do not wait until the last month.
What we don't know yet
Paragraph 9 says the minister will set two things in a pravilnik (rulebook): how the exam is taken and how much it costs. Paragraph 9 points to the rulebook of article 154, paragraph 4. Today that is the long-term residence rulebook (NN 100/2021, level B1). The law says the Minister of the Interior must update it within six months after 4 June 2026, so around 4 December 2026 (our calculation; article 69 paragraph 3 of the amending law).
On 19 October 2026 we could not find this new A1.1 rulebook in Narodne novine. [UNVERIFIED, checked 19 Oct 2026: a published A1.1 rulebook may exist that we did not find; we will update this page when it appears.]
So today nobody can tell you the official exam format, number of questions, pass mark or price. Be careful with posts that promise a fixed list of questions or sentences.
Where can you take it?
Paragraph 2 lists who can run the A1.1 exam:
- foreign language schools with approval from the minister for labour to teach Croatian to foreigners through the voucher system,
- universities or university units that teach Croatian and run exams, and
- adult education institutions with approval from the education ministry to run Croatian language and Latin script exams.
The Ministry of Science, Education and Youth (MZOM) publishes a list of approved institutions. The list is dated 17 June 2026.
Important: this list is published under article 154, paragraph 5. That is the article about the exam for long-term residence. It is likely that many of the same institutions will also run the A1.1 exam, but this is not confirmed yet. [UNVERIFIED, checked 19 Oct 2026: whether the institutions on this list will run the A1.1 exam.]
One example of a course: Croaticum (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb) has an online A1.1 programme for foreign workers. Their 2026 programme (announced 17 July 2026) runs from September to December: 70 hours in total, two evenings a week, EUR 600 per person, and a maximum of 12 people per group. Employers can contact them by email. FF Zagreb (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb) is on the MZOM list under article 154, paragraph 5. Its approval for the A1.1 exam is not confirmed. [UNVERIFIED, checked 19 Oct 2026: whether a Croaticum course certificate counts as proof under paragraph 5.]
See also: Where to take the Croatian language exam for foreigners: approved institutions by city.
Don't confuse A1.1 with B1
A1.1 is a very basic level. Two other Croatian exams ask for much more:
- Long-term residence: the rulebook in NN 100/2021 sets an exam at level B1, with five parts: listening, reading, language structures, writing and speaking.
- Citizenship: the rulebook in NN 6/2021 accepts a language course certificate only if it is at least level B1. There are other ways to prove it too, for example an exam or school finished in Croatia.
If someone says "the exam is B1", they probably mean long-term residence or citizenship.
How to prepare
Start now. A little every day works better than a lot in the last week.
- Learn the Latin script. The exam is about Croatian language and Latin script. Learn the letters č, ć, dž, đ, š, ž and how to read them.
- Learn everyday basics. Greetings, numbers, days and times, your name and address, your job, and simple questions.
- Listen and speak. Say the words out loud. Use Croatian with colleagues at work.
- Talk to your employer. The employer pays for the exam. Ask when and where you will take it.
- Watch for the rulebook. When the official format is published, practise for that format.
Start free with Bok! Short Croatian lessons with audio and quizzes, explained in Nepali, Tagalog, Hindi or English.
FAQ
Do I need the Croatian A1.1 exam if I have been in Croatia less than one year?
The duty in article 92.a paragraph 1 is for people who have lived in Croatia at least one year on a residence-and-work permit. MUP says the year is counted from your first entry into Croatia. Check your own dates with your employer or the police administration.
Who pays for the A1.1 Croatian exam?
The employer pays the costs of the exam (article 92.a paragraph 3). The law does not say who pays for a course.
Can a course certificate replace the exam?
Yes, if you finished a course at level A1.1 or higher at an institution that has approval to run the standardised A1.1 exam (paragraph 5).
I am a seasonal worker. Do I need it?
No. Paragraph 8 says article 92.a does not apply to seasonal workers.
What does the exam look like and how much does it cost?
We don't know yet. A rulebook will set the format and the cost (paragraph 9). It was not published when we checked on 19 October 2026.
What if I change employer?
Paragraph 6 also asks for proof when you apply for a new residence-and-work permit under article 97, not only for a renewal of the same permit.
Sources
- Narodne novine 55/2026, Law amending the Law on Foreigners (art. 19 adding art. 92.a; art. 20 amending art. 93; art. 69; art. 70): narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2026_05_55_692.html
- Law on Foreigners (Zakon o strancima), NN 133/2020, amended in NN 114/2022, 151/2022, 40/2025 and 55/2026 (art. 93 refusal grounds; art. 154): narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_12_133_2520.html. Narodne novine has no official consolidated text; we read one at zakon.hr (unofficial).
- Ministry of the Interior (MUP), information for third-country nationals: mup.gov.hr/…/281820
- Government of Croatia, press release, 5 February 2026: vlada.gov.hr/…/46112
- MZOM, list of institutions (17 June 2026): mzom.gov.hr/…/4827
- Croaticum, A1.1 programme for foreign workers: croaticum.ffzg.unizg.hr/?lang=hr&p=7536
- Rulebook on the long-term residence language exam, NN 100/2021: narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2021_09_100_1800.html
- Rulebook on language checks for citizenship, NN 6/2021: narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2021_01_6_124.html
Checked on 19 October 2026.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Rules can change. For your own case, ask your employer, the police administration (MUP) or a lawyer.