Journal logo

Why Croatia Used Work Visas for Bangladeshi Citizens

The Croatian government took an important political decision to suspend the display of visas to Bangladeshi citizens.

By Akm Shamim HossainPublished 9 months ago 4 min read
Why Croatia Used Work Visas for Bangladeshi Citizens
Photo by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash

Why Croatia Used Work Visas for Bangladeshi Citizens - In early 2025, a detailed summary

, the Croatian government took an important political decision to suspend the display of visas to Bangladeshi citizens. This step has sparked concerns among job seekers, recruitment agencies and political decision makers in both Croatia and Bangladeshi. To fully understand this decision, it is important to look at the background, reasons for the suspension, and the consequences of the future.

Increasing Demand for Croatian Workers In recent years, Croatia has become an increasingly attractive target for foreign employees, particularly in areas such as construction, hospitality, agriculture and production. The Croatian government has opened a labor market for non-EU members, including Bangladeshi citizens, due to domestic shrinking and increasing economic needs.

In 202 alone, around 12, 000 work permits were granted to employees in Bangladeshi, one of the best employees in non-EU countries. These permits should help meet the labor shortage in Croatia's growing economy.

What was wrong: Visa system abuse. Many work permits were issued, but Croatian authorities soon realized serious injustice. According to state sources, , 12, 00 approved permits only about , 00 workers arrived in Croatia. of those who arrived

disappeared shortly after entering the country, often illegally traveling to other countries in the Schengenzone, searching for better wages and linking informal labor networks.

As Croatia is now a member of the Schengen region, this pattern of behavior has generated serious concerns not only for Croatia but also for the broader European Union. This means that as soon as a person enters Croatia, they may be able to move freely to most Europe without further reviews of borders.

Recruitment fraud and trafficking risks. Another important issue was the role of some unregulated or fraudulent recruitment agencies in Bangladesh. Reports say many employees paid

large sums of money (sometimes up to 8,000 USD) and got fake jobs.

was misled by wages and working conditions.

were undocumented immigrants who were either marginalized or undocumented in Europe upon their arrival.

Such practices not only violated immigration rules, but also caused alarms in both countries due to misuse of immigrant employees, abuse and even trade with immigrants.

Printing the European Union and Croatia reaction: The Croatian government was under growing pressure from the European Union to manage the situation. The Schengenzone is strongly based on trust and cooperation between member states. All countries that become the "goal" of irregular migration are expected to act promptly and responsibly.

Croatia temporarily exposed the issue of new work visas for citizens of Bangladesh Shushu. invested research in the case of employment trade and visa fraud.

Enhanced border control and workers inspection.

The

suspension is officially described as "temporary", but there is no clear timeline for when or if it is cancelled.

Bangladesh Reactions and Corrective Actions The Bangladesh government has acknowledged the severity of the situation through the social welfare of expatriates and employment abroad. In response, several initiatives have been considered or implemented, including rigorous department training, qualification reviews, and document test introductions.

Monitoring and punishing fraudulent recruitment agencies.

Collection of employee security deposits or legal guarantees to ensure that employees follow the correct transition channels.

These efforts aim to restore Croatia's trust and reopen the path to legal labor migrants from Bangladesh.

Impact on Bangladeshi migrant workers: For many future employees in Bangladeshi, this suspension has been catastrophic. Croatia had evolved into a promising alternative to traditional work goals such as the Middle East and Malaysia. Many have already sold their property or financed to pay for jobs in Croatia.

Recruitment agencies are also being investigated, some of which have already been occupied or closed to violate government guidelines. The government is also warning people to stay away from illegal recruitment or agents that promise abbreviations in Europe.

Look ahead: Is there any hope?

The current visa suspension is a set-up, but the solution is still an option. If Bangladesh succeeds in a more stringent oversight of formal labor agreements and adoption with Croatia, the visa ban could ultimately be lifted.

Several lessons can be drawn from this situation:

Proper oversight is essential for international labor migrants.

Countries must cooperate to ensure safe and ordinary legal migration.

Migrant workers should be fully informed of their rights, obligations and risks related to illegal migration.

At this time, Bangladeshi workers who want to go to Europe may have to look into other legal options, such as visas and seasonal work programs for qualified workers in Germany, Italy and Romania, while stabilizing the situation with Croatia. Conclusion

Croatian work visa suspension for Bangladeshi citizens is a complex topic based on irregular movement, risk of human trafficking and systematic weaknesses in recruiting workers. However, due to the proper cooperation between the two governments and the enforcement of stricter regulations, a positive solution remains hoped.

The key is to prioritize transparency, employee protection and international cooperation as it remains a tool for opportunity, not from exploitation.

politics

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.