Croatia has been growing in popularity as a digital nomad destination. Since 2021, it has become one of the most highlighted digital nomad destinations along with Thailand, Portugal, and Indonesiaโs Bali island.
This article is part of our series that thoroughly covers the steps to obtain all the digital nomad visas. Here, you will find information about Croatia as a digital nomad destination, the requirements to stay there long-term, general information about the country, the application steps, and the challenges that you might face along the application process.
Overview
Despite being commonly referred to as a digital nomad visa, it is officially a temporary residence permit with a maximum validity of one year. You can either apply for it online or after arriving in Croatia.
This temporary residence permit was first introduced during the 2020 lockdowns. At the time, the application was only available at Croatian local police stations. It started as a solution tailored for travelers stuck in Croatia or WFH employees who could escape restrictions in their home country and travel to Croatia. The validity period is up to a year and could be less. It is also not extendable, unlike other digital nomad visas and permits, such as the Dubai Remote Work visa.
The online application was challenging when it was first introduced. Even with the improvements, the application process isn’t that straightforward and can be confusing for many applicants.
Eligibility Requirements
The main requirement of Croatia’s digital nomad residence permit, similar to all visas and permits of that sort, is having a remote job with a stable income. The minimum remote monthly income that you will need to prove is 2,539.31 EUR. The source of the remote income can be from a remote job, freelancing, business profits, or any other source you can provide supporting documents to prove.
Since there is no fixed duration for the residence permit, you need to prove that you have financial means to support you for the proposed period of stay. For instance, to apply for a 12-month stay permit, you need to prove that you have a minimum of 30,471.72 EUR already available in your bank account. Along with the proof of income, there are other requirements, such as health insurance and a background check, which we will cover in the application process section below.
You can also sponsor family members under this residence permit. Note that the minimum income requirement increases by 10% with every additional family member.
Living and Working in Croatia
There are many compelling reasons for a digital nomad to consider spending a year or more in Croatia. For a digital nomad destination, Croatia checks all the necessary boxes to be considered as one, such as the fast internet, reliable infrastructure, and friendliness towards foreigners. Here are some extra reasons for spending time in Croatia:
Weather & Location: With nice weather during summer and mild weather for spring and fall, you will find stunning landscapes, lively cities, and rich cultural heritage.
Cost of Living: Standing out as one of the most affordable European destinations, the cost of living in Croatia is relatively affordable, at least when compared to Western European countries.
Opportunities: Despite not being a major financial hub, Croatia is becoming a favorable digital nomad destination, especially during the summer. This trend opens up opportunities for networking and collaborative projects within the growing digital nomad community.
Where to stay
From big cities to beach towns to nice smaller cities right off the coast, Croatia offers much for short and long stays. Here are some of the top locations to consider:
Dubrovnik
Known for its stunning old town, Dubrovnik is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with well-preserved medieval architecture and spectacular Adriatic Sea views. Walking the city walls provides breathtaking mountain views. For a relaxing day, you can take a boat trip to one of the Elaphiti Islands, which includes Koloฤep, Lopud, and ล ipan.
Recommended Tours within or from Dubrovnik:
Split
Split is Croatia’s second-largest city. It is renowned for its Roman architecture, including the UNESCO-listed Diocletian’s Palace and vibrant waterfront. The city is especially lively in the summer (June to August), perfect for beach activities and exploring the nearby islands like Hvar and Brac. If you go there during spring or fall, you can enjoy it with less crowds of tourists.
The city offers moderate nightlife options. The waterfront area becomes particularly lively in the evenings, offering a blend of cafes and restaurants with stunning views and a vibrant atmosphere.
Recommended Tours within or from Split:
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital city of Croatia, and it is more laid back, compared to the two previously mentioned cities.
Since it is the capital city and the country’s business center, there is a growing number of coworking spaces and a supportive community. The nightlife is vibrant, with Tkalciceva Street hosting an array of dining and entertainment options. The best times for a visit are spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) when the weather is ideal for enjoying the city’s outdoor activities.
Recommended Tours within or from Zagreb:
The Application Process
As mentioned previously, the application process isn’t that straightforward, and it has been reported by many digital nomads that it can take up to 3 months to know the decision or to know that extra documents are required. So, it is advised to plan ahead and submit your application as early as possible. There are 2 application channels: an offline one at a local police station and an online one. Since you are reading this article, we assume you are not in Croatia to apply through the offline channel, so this section will be all about the online process.
You can start the application using this link. Then, fill out and submit the application form along with all the required supporting documents. The following documents must be submitted in either the Croatian or English languages:
1. Passport: with a validity period of at least three months longer than the intended stay.
2. Proof of health insurance: covering the entire period of stay in Croatia. This is a challenging document since non-EU citizens have a hard time getting such health insurance. It has been reported that a nomad travel insurance, such as SafetyWing’s Nomad Insurance, usually passes the application check.
3. Proof of employment: such as a work contract or a signed official letter, proving that you work remotely for a foreign employer or a shareholder in a company registered out of Croatia along with supporting documents such as tax registeration.
4. Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself during your stay:
- Bank statement showing the total amount required for the time you requested. For a 12-month permit, a bank statement with a 30,471.72 EUR balance is required.
- Bank statement showing regular income meeting the required monthly amount, 2,539.31 EUR per month.
- Payslips for the last six months showing the required monthly amount.
5. Proof of accommodation: It is required to provide a lease agreement for the entire period of your stay. If you are applying outside Croatia, you can submit a short-term online rental such as an Airbnb or Flatio booking. Then, you need to submit the lease agreement within 30 days from receiving your approval.
6. A background check: showing that you don’t have a criminal record from your country of citizenship or long-term residence. It is the most time-consuming document in most cases. We recommend getting this document ready beforehand, especially if you are applying for this residence permit while out of your home country.
The Application Fees
After filling out the application form, you will be prompted to pay those fees:
- Granting temporary stay: 55.74 EUR
- Long-term visa (visa D): 93.00 EUR (additional fee for service applies if you submit your visa application through a third party, such as the VFS visa center)
- Biometric residence card: 41.14 EUR (check with the diplomatic mission/consular post about the possibility of obtaining the card)
Review and Approval
After finalizing and submitting your application, you have to wait to hear back from the Croatian authorities. The waiting period for the decision can vary, and you might be asked for extra supporting documents. For instance, health insurance that doesn’t cover Croatia may not be approved, or you may be asked for confirmation if it covers Croatia.
On average, it usually takes around 2 months to know the decision. It might take longer, even more than 3 months, depending on the officer handling your application and if you will be asked to provide extra supporting documents.
Conclusion
The Croatian Digital Nomad Residence Permit is one of the most cost-effective ways for digital nomads to obtain temporary residence in the EU. It opens up exciting possibilities for remote workers seeking a new experience.
Like many other digital nomad visas, it was created for the specific case of the 2020-2021 lockdowns. The applications were even being accepted only offline via police stations in the beginning. Despite the challenging application process, we tried to cover as many details as we could gather in this guide.
If you have any inquiries or want to share your experience, please let us know in the comments.
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