Form 18a: A Key Document for Foreign Workers
The Bjelovar-Bilogora County Public Health Institute has issued detailed instructions for employers and third-country nationals coming to work in Croatia for the first time.
The Bjelovar-Bilogora County Public Health Institute has issued detailed instructions for employers and third-country nationals coming to work in Croatia for the first time.
On August 11, 2026, the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Public Health Institute (ZZJZ BBŽ) published important information for employers and third-country nationals planning to work in the Republic of Croatia. This concerns Form 18a, i.e., the Certificate of Health Status and Vaccination Status, which is mandatory for a specific category of foreign workers upon their first arrival.
The obligation to submit Form 18a applies exclusively to third-country nationals coming from a visa regime who are applying for their first temporary residence permit for the purpose of work in Croatia. The form must be submitted to the Ministry of the Interior along with the residence application itself.
A key detail highlighted by the Institute is the document's validity period. At the time of application submission, Form 18a must not be older than 90 days. Therefore, it is crucial to carefully plan the timing of the medical examination and the submission of documentation.
The ZZJZ BBŽ emphasizes that the worker must undergo all necessary medical examinations and tests in their country of origin, not in Croatia. Only after all results are ready does the worker provide the employer with a properly completed and certified Form 18a.
The employer then uses this document in the subsequent procedure related to obtaining residence approval from the competent authorities.
The Bjelovar-Bilogora County Public Health Institute particularly urges interested parties to thoroughly review the instructions for correctly filling out the form and the guidelines for submission to the Ministry of the Interior before submitting their documentation. They also point out that Form 18a is not related to the health examination conducted during residence renewal, these are two separate procedures.
All detailed instructions, the form itself, and an example of a correctly completed form are available on the official website of the Bjelovar-Bilogora County Public Health Institute.
