Paid Time Off (PTO) in Croatia

Last updated on January 1, 2024.

Vacation Leave Quota

4 weeks

Employees in Croatia are entitled to 4 weeks of paid vacation (20 working days).

The minimum entitlement to vacation leave for all employees is determined by the labor law of Croatia. Provisions in collective agreements, work regulations, or employment contracts can regulate and modify the right to vacation, but only in a way that benefits the employee.

An employee becomes eligible for vacation leave benefits after 6 months of continuous employment at the company.

Employees who are minors or working under harmful conditions are entitled to 5 weeks of paid vacation.

13 public holidays are on top of these vacation days.

The vacation entitlement is identical to those in neighboring countries, like, for example, leave laws in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Carry Over

Allowed. Carry-over days must be taken before June 30.

An employee can transfer their unused vacation days from the previous calendar year to the following. However, they must use all transferred days by June 30 of the following year.

Payment of Unused Vacation on Termination

Required by law.

Labor laws prohibit cashing out or giving up the right to vacation leave.

However, in the case of termination of employment, the employer is required to compensate an employee for all unused vacation days.

Sick Leave in Croatia

For up to 42 days is paid by the employer, then by state health insurance.

Sick leave in Croatia is organized similarly to other leave laws in Europe.

Employees are required to inform the employer immediately in case of injury or illness that prevents them from working. An employee must show a medical certificate within 3 days confirming that he or she is unable to work, along with an expected duration.

Payout of Sick Leave

During sick leave, an employee is entitled to at least 70% of his or her average salary in the last 6 months. However, most employers in Croatia continue to pay the entire salary during sick leave.

Who Pays for Sick Leave?

Employers are obligated to pay employees during the first 42 days of their sick leave. After 42 days, sick leave is paid by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO).

Maternity and Paternity Leave in Croatia

Maternity Leave (rodiljni dopust)

28 days prenatal and 6 months postnatal.

Maternity leave may begin no earlier than 45 days before the anticipated date of delivery.

Maternity leave must begin at least 28 days before the expected date of birth until the child is 6 months old. In cases of premature births, maternity leave is extended. A pregnant employee can take shorter leave if they desire, but they must take at least 98 days of maternity leave (28 days prior to the expected delivery date and 70 days postpartum) without interruption.

Maternity leave is available to all employed or self-employed mothers.

Croatia is not on the list of countries with the best maternity leave in the world.

Payout

Maternity leave is paid by state-funded health insurance, at the rate of 100% of average wages.

Paternity Leave (očinski dopust)

10 days

The paternity leave may be taken until the child is 6 months old.

Both employed and self-employed employees are entitled to paternity leave.

Payout

Paternity leave is paid at 100% of standard wages.

Bereavement Leave in Croatia

7 days

Employees are entitled to up to 7 days of paid leave due to the death of an immediate family member.

The following persons are considered to be members of the immediate family: spouse, direct relatives by blood and their spouses, brothers and sisters, step-children and adopted children, foster children, step-fathers and step-mothers, adoptive parents, and persons whom the employee is obligated to support under law as well as a person with whom the employee is married under the common law.

Jury Duty Leave in Croatia

Jury duty leave is not specified.

Military Leave in Croatia

Military leave is not specified.

Voting Leave in Croatia

Voting leave is not specified.

Public Holidays in Croatia for 2024

13 public holidays

A complete list of official holidays celebrated in Croatia:

Sources

1. Labor law in Croatia, https://cms.law/en/int/expert-guides/cms-expert-guide-to-labour-law-in-central-eastern-europe/croatia

2. Croatia - Cash benefits (sick leave), https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1104&intPageId=4459&langId=en

3. Maternity and parental benefits, https://gov.hr/en/maternity-and-parental-benefits/704

Check out our Leave Laws page to learn more about laws in various countries.