Everything about the Croatian pension system for self-employed workers: HZMO, mandatory dual pillar, contributions and optimisation.
The Croatian system is built on a mandatory dual pillar managed by HZMO, supplemented by a voluntary pillar.
The Hrvatski zavod za mirovinsko osiguranje (HZMO) administers the mandatory pension system. All self-employed workers (obrtnici, samostalne djelatnosti) must register and contribute.
The first pillar operates on a pay-as-you-go basis. The contribution rate is 15% of the contribution base. Pension is calculated based on points accumulated over the entire career.
For those born after 1962, 5% of contributions go to a mandatory individual pension fund (AZ, Erste, PBZ or Raiffeisen). This capital is managed by licensed pension funds.
The dobrovoljno mirovinsko osiguranje allows supplementing your pension through voluntary savings. The state adds a 15% bonus on contributions paid, capped at €99.54/year.
Bonus pilier 3 : The Croatian state pays a 15% bonus on voluntary pillar 3 contributions, making it one of the few European systems offering direct state co-funding.
The contribution base for the self-employed is calculated on declared income, with a minimum of approximately €700/month and a maximum of approximately €7,000/month. The total 20% rate is split between pillar 1 (15%) and pillar 2 (5%). A minimum of 15 years of contributions is required for an old-age pension.
Take advantage of the 15% state bonus by contributing the maximum to voluntary pillar 3. Up to €99.54 annual bonus provided by the state.
Choosing a contribution base above the minimum allows you to accumulate more points and significantly increase your future pension.
Compare the performance of mandatory funds (AZ, Erste, PBZ, Raiffeisen) and choose the one matching your risk profile and retirement horizon.
Ensure you accumulate at least 15 years of contributions to qualify for an old-age pension. Periods of activity in other EU countries can be counted.
Our financial analysis tools help you optimise your contributions and plan your self-employed retirement in Croatia.
Discover our solutionsThe retirement age is 65 for both men and women (progressive equalisation completed by 2030). A minimum of 15 years of contributions is required for an old-age pension.
The total rate is 20% of the declared contribution base: 15% for pillar 1 (pay-as-you-go) and 5% for pillar 2 (individual capitalisation). The minimum base is approximately €700/month.
Pillar 2 is a mandatory individual savings system for those born after 1962. The 5% contribution goes to a personal pension fund managed by AZ, Erste, PBZ or Raiffeisen.
The Croatian state adds 15% of voluntary contributions paid to pillar 3, capped at €99.54/year. This is a unique tax advantage in Europe to encourage supplementary retirement savings.
The minimum pension is approximately €350/month for a full career. Pension levels in Croatia remain among the lowest in the EU, highlighting the importance of supplementing with pillars 2 and 3.
Generate a complete professional business plan powered by artificial intelligence.
Automatically draft your company's legal statutes with AI.
Evaluate your business creation project viability with a personalized AI analysis.