The Swiss labor market is now fully open to Croatian citizens, based on a decision of the Federal Council of the Swiss Confederation of 14 January 2026. This also abolishes the quotas for issuing work permits, which were introduced two years ago, and there are no longer any legal possibilities for future restrictions. With this decision, Croatian citizens can enjoy full freedom of movement, residence and work that applies to other citizens of the European Union. The Federal Council's decision is based on the fact that the number of work permits issued to Croatian citizens in 2025 was lower, i.e. fewer work permits were issued than were planned for the activation of the safeguard clause.
Namely, the European Union and Switzerland signed the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFPM) in 1999, and after it became a member state, the extension of the agreement to Croatia was agreed in Protocol III. The Agreement also included a safeguard clause allowing Switzerland to unilaterally reintroduce quotas for Croatian workers in the event of a large increase in immigration for a period of ten years from the entry into force of Protocol III, i.e. until 31 December 2026.
Switzerland could have used the option of establishing quotas once again this year, but the Federal Council decided to completely lift restrictions on Croatian citizens' access to the Swiss labour market.
According to the Federal Council, Croatian workers accounted for two percent of total immigration from the EU/EFTA in 2025, and are mainly employed in industry, healthcare, social services, retail trade and construction. In the period from 1 January to 31 December 2025, Switzerland granted 1,701 B permits (residence and work permits for work longer than one year) and 792 L permits (short-term residence and work permits for work up to one year) to Croatian workers.