Croatia

Effective 20 May 2026, a new EU regulation requires all short-term rental units in Croatia to carry a unique registration number (OIB), which must be displayed on every listing on platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com. Platforms are additionally required to collect and share rental data with Croatian authorities, increasing compliance obligations for operators in the tourism and hospitality sector.

Expat in Croatia · 2026-05-20

Croatia applies EU common external tariffs and trade policies as a full EU member state, with intra-EU goods movements subject to no additional customs procedures. The EU accounted for 68% of Croatia's total exports and 77% of imports in 2023, with Italy, Germany, and Slovenia as the dominant bilateral trade partners on both sides.

Lloyds Bank Trade / International Trade Portal · 2026-03-01

The U.S. Commercial Service has documented persistent concerns among foreign exporters regarding discriminatory technical specifications in Croatian public procurement tenders, where narrow requirements are alleged to favor pre-selected bidders. The multi-year backlog in the Croatian judicial system also continues to impede timely resolution of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringements and commercial disputes.

U.S. Department of Commerce / trade.gov · 2026-05-23

The European Commission's Spring 2026 forecast projects Croatia's real GDP growth will moderate to 2.7% in 2026 from 3.4% in 2025, remaining above the EU average. Growth is supported by private consumption and investment, though elevated inflation (forecast at 4.6% in 2026, driven by energy price acceleration) and heightened external uncertainty are weighing on household purchasing power.

European Commission – Economic Forecast for Croatia (Spring 2026) · 2026-05-21

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) 2026 Economic Survey of Croatia confirms that investment growth will remain strong in 2026, supported by EU fund absorption, but is expected to ease in 2027 as the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) winds down. The OECD identifies downside risks from escalating trade and geopolitical tensions that could weaken demand from Croatia's key European trading partners.

OECD – Economic Surveys: Croatia 2026 · 2026-01-30

Croatia's general government deficit increased to 3.0% of GDP in 2025 due to a sharp rise in nationally financed investments, public sector wage growth, and higher social assistance spending; the deficit is projected to gradually narrow over the forecast horizon. The debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to decline moderately, underpinned by strong nominal growth.

European Commission – Economic Forecast for Croatia (Spring 2026) · 2026-05-21

The FDI Screening Act mandates that non-EU investors seeking to acquire 10% or more of shares, voting rights, or control in companies operating in critical sectors—including energy, health, defence, digital infrastructure, transport, and telecommunications—must obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Finance. The Ministry retains authority to unilaterally initiate control procedures for unreported or deemed-risky foreign investments.

Legal 500 / Croatia Investing-In Guide · 2026-05-23

The OECD 2026 Survey highlights that Croatia faces significant demographic headwinds, with the working-age population projected to decline by approximately 25% between 2024 and 2050 and the old-age dependency ratio rising from 40% to 59% over the same period. The OECD recommends pension, healthcare, labour market, and migration policy reforms to sustain workforce participation and long-term fiscal sustainability.

OECD – Economic Surveys: Croatia 2026 · 2026-01-30

Croatia's renewable energy transition remains underdeveloped relative to its resource endowment: wind and solar electricity generation are low, and the country's share of solar energy is among the lowest in the EU despite having one of the best solar resources on the continent. Fossil fuel subsidies remain in place, weakening carbon price signals and creating a structural gap for investors targeting the clean energy sector.

OECD – Economic Surveys: Croatia 2026 · 2026-01-30