Starting 1 January 2025, Croatian citizens will gain full rights to live and work in Switzerland, as the country lifts the quota system that had restricted their access.
The Swiss Federal Council announced the decision in line with the EU-Switzerland Free Movement of Persons Agreement. Switzerland had invoked a safeguard clause in 2022, allowing quotas for Croatian workers due to a significant increase in their numbers. However, the clause was limited to two years and will expire in December 2026.
This marks the end of transitional measures tied to Croatia’s 2013 EU accession, granting Croatian nationals the same rights as other EU citizens. The decision also addresses previous criticisms from the Croatian government over unequal treatment.
