Who can apply for the voucher to learn Croatian language?
The voucher system will allow foreign workers from third countries to learn Croatian language for jobs in sectors and occupations where knowledge of the Croatian language is required for quality work, as well as migrant returnees and their descendants, and foreign nationals under temporary protection.
Foreign workers from third countries may apply for the voucher to learn Croatian language if:
- a foreign worker who is a third-country national and has been issued a work permit for a period of at least two years,
- a foreign worker who is a third-country national and has been granted a residence permit for the purpose of work for at least one year, after one year of work in the Republic of Croatia,
- a third-country national who is a Croatian emigrant, a family member/descendant of a Croatian emigrant or a family member of a descendant of a Croatian emigrant, and
- a foreigner under temporary protection.
The voucher for the Croatian language learning program for foreigners up to level C1 (inclusive) according to the CEFR is awarded to the above groups with the additional condition of employment in an occupation that requires an educational qualification at the higher education level and in an occupation in the field of regulated professions that requires an educational qualification at the education level as regulated.
Exceptionally, a third-country national who is a Croatian emigrant, a family member/descendant of a Croatian emigrant, or a family member of a descendant of a Croatian emigrant may be granted a voucher for learning the Croatian language for foreigners up to level C1, regardless of employment status.
When applying for a voucher for the Croatian as a foreign language learning program, the applicant must attach:
- a copy of the residence certificate (if the applicant is a foreign worker - a third-country national),
- a copy of the residence and work permit (if the applicant is a foreign worker - a third-country national) or a copy of the EU Blue Card (if the applicant is a highly qualified foreign worker - a third-country national),
- a copy of the residence permit (if the applicant is a third-country national who is a Croatian emigrant, a family member of a Croatian emigrant or a descendant of a Croatian emigrant),
- a copy of the identity card of a foreigner under temporary protection (if the applicant is a foreigner under temporary protection).
Shorter informal programs for learning Croatian as a foreign language last at least 70 hours and are adapted to the sectors in which foreign workers are employed:
- construction
- turism and hospitality
- processing industryacturing
- food industry
- health and social care,
- traffic or
- telecommunications.
[NEW] High-skilled workers and workers in regulated professions will be able to continue learning Croatian through formal programmes (up to C1 level).
FINANCING OF THE PROGRAMME
The obligation to partially co-finance the cost of the programme of Croatian as a foreign language for foreign workers is established.
Croatian Employment Service (CES) finances through vouchers part of the cost of attending the programme as follows:
- 50% for a person employed by an employer that employs over 250 employees,
- 60% for a person employed by an employer that employs up to 250 employees,
- 70% for a person employed by an employer that employs up to 50 employees.
The part of the cost of education that is not co-financed by the CES is paid at the beginning of the programme, while the CES pays the remaining amount at the end of the programme.
