The aim of this research was to examine the role of the perceived intergroup threat in the relationship between the quality of contact and the preferred social distance from foreign workers of non-European origin. The results are consistent with the revised theory of intergroup threat, according to which the experience of intergroup contact precedes the perception of threat, and emotional and cognitive consequences, such as prejudice, follow from such experiences. As a measure of contact quality, a scale based on the concepts of positive contact and Allport's optimal contact conditions was used. The perception of threat was measured by scales of real and symbolic threats from foreign workers developed for the purposes of this research. The level of prejudice was measured by the social distance scale. The survey was conducted using an online questionnaire on a convenient sample of 211 participants. The sample showed a moderate level of contact quality, intergroup threats and social distance. A statistically significantly higher level of perceived real threat was observed as compared to the symbolic one. The results indicate a statistically significant negative correlation between the quality of contact and intergroup threats and social distance. A statistically significant positive correlation between intergroup threats and social distance was also found. Both examined types of intergroup threat proved to be partial mediators of the connection between the quality of contacts and social distance. In other words, Croats who have experienced more favorable encounters with non-European foreign workers are ready to establish closer relations with them, partly due to a lower perceived real or symbolic threat.