785 hotel jobs in Croatia through the government: how the G2G programme works, and how to get in line

"Pano po makapasok sa slot nila?" How do I get one of the slots? If you saw the news about Croatia hiring Filipinos, here's how the programme works.

What's on offer

Croatia has opened 785 jobs in its hotel industry to Filipino workers through the Department of Migrant Workers' (DMW) government-to-government (G2G) programme. The roles are for hotel staff, chefs, waiters and housekeeping.

On 19 and 20 October 2026, nine Croatian hotel employers came to Mandaluyong City to interview applicants in person. 943 applicants had already been shortlisted for that round.

This is the second year of the Philippines-Croatia programme, which runs under a labour cooperation agreement the two countries signed in 2024.

How G2G is different

In a G2G programme, the government does the recruiting, not a private agency. That brings three advantages:

• No placement fee. There's no agency in the middle charging you.
• A standard contract. The pilot set a standard employment contract, and gave Filipino workers access to dispute settlement in Croatia if something goes wrong.
• A safer path. The DMW describes the programme as a legal, orderly and safe route to work in Croatia.

During the pilot, the DMW also said Croatian language isn't required, as long as you're good at English.

How to get in line

1. Register on the DMW portal at portal.dmw.gov.ph. This is how you take part in G2G hiring. Create your account and complete your profile.
2. Watch for the Croatia announcement. The DMW said detailed guidelines and application requirements would be posted on its official channels, including announcements from its Pre-Employment and Government Placement Bureau.
3. Prepare your documents early. Have your passport, certificates of employment from hotel or restaurant work, training certificates (such as TESDA cookery or housekeeping NCs) and an English-language CV ready.
4. Apply only through official channels. The 785 slots are filling fast, so be realistic. If you miss this round, a registered DMW profile puts you in a good position for the next one.

Watch out for fake "Croatia recruiters"

Every time a G2G programme makes the news, fake recruiters appear on Facebook and in messaging apps offering "guaranteed slots" for a fee. Remember:

• G2G hiring doesn't go through private agencies, so anyone saying they're an "agent" for the Croatia G2G programme is not legitimate.
• There's no placement fee. Anyone asking for a deposit, a "processing fee" or a "reservation fee" is a red flag.
• The DMW posts official announcements on its own website and verified pages, not through individuals' social media accounts.

If someone asks you for money, report them to the DMW. Our guide to spotting illegal recruiters explains how.

Programme details can change. Check the DMW's official announcements before applying.

This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Government rules and rates change; confirm current figures with the official agency before acting.