How to Start Up an Enterprise in Croatia

The Croatian legal framework governing foreign investment has been designed in a way that does not make any difference between domestic and foreign investors. All possibilities in relations between domestic investors are also open to foreigners investing capital in Croatia.
Moreover, foreign investors enjoy additional guarantees that are not given to domestic investors. The Croatian Constitution provides that no law or other legal document shall reduce the rights granted to a foreign investor at the time of investment in Croatia. It also guarantees the free repatriation of profits or capital upon fulfillment of all legal obligations.
When foreign investors start up or participate in the start-up of an enterprise in Croatia, their rights, obligations and position are identical to those of domestic investors, provided the condition of reciprocity is met.

Foreign legal entities and persons may:

• invest capital on a contractual basis
• invest in a company
• invest in a bank or insurance company
• set up as craftspeople or do business as sole traders
• obtain a concession to exploit natural resources or other assets of interest to Croatia
• participate in build-operate-transfer (BOT) and build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) operations.