Croatia Digital Nomad Visa: A Definitive Guide
In this article
Croatia is a beautiful country to live in and in January 2021, the Croatian government
introduced a new digital nomad visa to enable more non-EU citizens to live in Croatia
while working remotely. The move follows similar
EU digital nomad visas
that countries such as Greece launched recently.
The digital nomad visa is a temporary residence permit for Croatia and does not
provide free travel in the Schengen area.
Benefits Of Having a Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
Having a Croatia digital nomad visa enables non-EU citizens to live in Croatia
on a temporary basis, provided that they meet the requirements. Without a relevant
visa, people can only visit Croatia for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
By obtaining a digital nomad visa for Croatia, freelancers and other types of digital
nomads can live in the country for longer than 90 days and also legally work digitally
from Croatia. The digital nomad visa enables the applicant to live in Croatia for up to
one year, working on a freelance basis or as a private business owner.
One of the main benefits of obtaining a Croatia digital nomad visa is that you can
spend time in the country, experience the culture, and decide whether it is a place you
would like to permanently like to live (if you meet the visa criteria).
However, there are many other benefits as well, such as:
- Double taxation exemption
Digital nomads are not required to pay additional Croatian
tax if they do not work for a Croatian employer.
- Opportunity to work from wherever you want
The work life of a freelancer can be much more flexible than most
typical jobs, and with a Croatia digital nomad visa, you can travel around
different parts of Croatia while you work.
- Stay in Croatia for longer
If you take a holiday in Croatia and fall in love with the country, a digital
nomad visa can enable you to live there for up to one year, with the possibility
of renewal, but you would need to wait six months to reapply for your digital nomad visa.
Who Can Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa for Croatia?
To be eligible for a Croatian digital nomad visa, you must meet the criteria listed below:
- You must be a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country
- You must earn a stable monthly income of at least €2,300 per month
- You must be either a freelancer or self-employed
Croatia Digital Nomad Visa Requirements
In addition to meeting the criteria listed above, applicants are required to provide
the required documents as part of their application, such as a completed application form,
a valid passport, health insurance, and finances.
In regards to providing evidence of your income, this includes additional income you may
have on top of a monthly salary, such as investments and other regular sources of income
you receive into your bank account. If you do not have a regular monthly income, you can
provide evidence of funds in your account instead and the minimum for this is €27,000.
What Are the Required Documents For Getting the Visa?
To apply for a digital nomad visa for Croatia, you must provide the following documents:
- A completed application form (online or Form 1a if you apply in person).
- Valid passport with at least 3 months validity after the expiry date of intended stay.
- Proof of health insurance covering the period of time intended to stay in Croatia (must cover the territory of the Republic of Croatia).
- Proof of purpose of stay in Croatia (a contract of employment for a company outside of Croatia or proof of the registration of your own company).
- Proof of finances to show you will be able to support yourself during your stay in Croatia (bank statement or payslips submitted as a pdf file). Currently, the monthly income that must be proven is HRK 17,822 (approx. €2,400), or alternatively, you would require proof of savings of HRK 213,870 (approx. €28,500) to fund your stay.
- Proof of a clear criminal record from your home country, which must be a legalized document.
- The address you will be residing, with rental contract or booking details.
These documents can be provided in Croatian or English language but it is recommended that
you have documents translated into Croatian, as this will help to speed the process up.
Where Can You Apply For the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa?
There are different ways that you can apply for the Croatia digital nomad visa:
- Online (the most convenient and fastest way to apply)
- In person (at the embassy or consulate of the Republic of Croatia in your home country)
- In person at a police station if you are already in Croatia
For citizens of countries that require a visa to visit Croatia, the process is a bit more
complicated. You would either need to apply for a Croatia Tourist Visa or apply for a
Digital Nomad Visa at the embassy and then apply for a Croatia type D visa.
How To Apply For A Croatian Digital Nomad Visa? Step-by-Step Explanation
Step 1: Where to Apply - Determine the Method of Application
You have several options to choose from in terms of where to apply. The easiest
method is to apply online using the online form on the Republic of Croatia Ministry
of the Interior website. You will need to provide your documents in .pdf format
and pay the fees online.
If you are already in Croatia on holiday, it is possible to apply for a digital
nomad visa at the local police station, taking all of your documents and payment
with you. You should contact the MUP in the jurisdiction where you want to live
to apply this way.
If you are in your home country, you will need to make an appointment at the
Republic of Croatia embassy or consulate.
Step 2. Contact Authorities to Get the Right Information
Before you submit your application it is important that you have gathered all of the
correct documents and evidence. If you are applying through the embassy in your home
country, you should check with them which documents they request, as different countries
may have slightly different requirements.
Step 3. Gather and Complete the Required Documents
You should gather all of the required documents in the accepted format, ensuring you have
the last six months of payslips and recent bank statements that prove regular income.
If you miss any of the required documents it could delay your application for several
weeks, so it is important to have everything ready for your embassy appointment or the
online application.
Step 4. Submit Your Application
When you submit your application you will also need to make the application fee payment
and other costs which will depend on the way that you apply (we cover this in detail in
the section - How Much Does the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa Cost - Administrative Fees
of the Whole Procedure.)
Step 5. Wait for the Approval
It can take up to a month for approval of your Croatia digital nomad visa but this will
usually be faster if you apply online. If you apply at the consulate or police station,
the approval period will be determined by their current processing times.
Step 7. Register Address in Croatia
Once you have entered Croatia, you must register your address within three days of arrival.
You can do this by visiting the local police station and completing the form Obrazac 8a
and providing proof of your residency. This can be in the form of a letter from your
landlord, a title deed, or hotel/apartment booking confirmation details.
Step 8. Apply for the Biometric Residence Card
The next step is to apply for a biometric residence card at the police station. You will
need to supply passport-size photos and pay the administrative fees. You will also be
required to have your fingerprints taken and provide your signature. You will be provided
with a white card until your residence card is ready.
Step 9. Collect Your Residence Card
You will be notified when your residence card is ready, which usually takes around three
weeks. You can go and collect it from the police station where you applied for your
biometric residence card.
How to Apply for Croatia's Digital Nomad Residence Permit?
You can apply for Croatia's digital nomad residence permit at your local police
station once your visa has been approved and you have registered your address.
Family Inclusion
It is also possible for the family member of a digital nomad to obtain a temporary residence
permit. The nomad will need to provide additional proof of funds for each family member
(an extra 10% of the average monthly salary for every family member).
For a spouse, you will require a marriage certificate or proof of common-law marriage.
To apply for children to be included in the visa, their birth certificates will be required.
What Is The Processing Time For Obtaining the Visa?
The authorities responsible for issuing your nomad visa depend on where you apply for
the visa. Applicants in Greece already can get their visa application approved by the
Greek Ministry of Migration and Asylum. They need to get their visa issued before the
visa that brought them to Greece expires. For applicants outside Greece, the Greek
consular authority or embassy in your home country is responsible for issuing your visa.
Visa Processing Time: How Long Will You Wait for the Feedback?
The costs for applying for the digital nomad visa vary depending on where you are
applying from:
Costs when applying at the Croatian embassy or consulate abroad
Granting temporary stay - HRK 420 (approx €55)
Digital nomad visa application fee - HRK 460 (approx €60)
Residence card - HRK 310 (approx €40)
Costs when applying at the police station in Croatia
Granting temporary stay - HRK 350 (approx €45)
Administrative fees - HRK 70(approx €10)
Residence card - HRK 240 (approx €30) or for urgent issuance HRK 450 (approx €60)
Costs when applying online
Admin fees paid via internet banking - HRK 350 (approx €45)
Residence permit paid via internet banking - HRK 240 (approx €30) or
urgent issuance HRK 450 (approx €60)
You may also need to pay fees for your criminal records or for your bank to
supply bank statements.
How To Pay the Fees Online?
The payment for all the fees must be paid to the state budget account, which is:
International Bank Account Number (IBAN): HR1210010051863000160
Model: HR64
You will also need to provide your OIB number, which is
5002-713-passport number
e.g. 5002-713-6237 if your passport numbers are 6237.
If you are not sure what your OIB number is, you should ask the embassy
or check with the police station where you are applying.
How Long Is the Visa Valid For?
At the current time, it is not an option to extend the Croatia digital nomad visa.
If you want to stay in Croatia, there may be another type of visa you are able to
apply for. You can return to your home country and apply for another digital
nomad visa after six months.
Will Digital Nomads Be Charged Income Tax While in Croatia?
You will need to check what the tax requirements are for the country that your
company is registered in but the Croatia income tax act states:
(1) Income tax shall not be paid on:
26. receipts of natural persons realized based on non-independent work
or activity for an employer not registered in the Republic of Croatia
based on the acquired status of a digital nomad in accordance with a special regulation.
Useful Information About Life in Croatia
Croatia enjoys a high number of days of sunshine and due to the climate, it is a popular
holiday destination for travellers from western Europe looking to enjoy warmer weather.
Between June and September temperatures are usually between 66°F and 86°F.
For digital nomads, having a fast and reliable internet connection is crucial to enable work,
and Croatia boasts good coverage in the majority of urban areas. The average fixed internet
connection speed is 46.76 Mbps and the average mobile internet access speed is 65.79 Mbps.
There are good transport options in Croatia, with the bus network being one of the best ways
of getting around. Train travel is more limited in Croatia but if you live in Zagreb,
there are good train connections.
The local currency in Croatia is Kuna (HRK), and the current exchange rate is 1 HRK
to 0.133 Euro.
How Much Is the Cost Of Living In Croatia?
Compared to the UK, the cost of living in Croatia is significantly lower. For example,
rent prices in the UK are 160% higher than in Croatia and consumer prices
(not including rent) are 34% higher in the UK.
Groceries and eating out at restaurants are cheaper in Croatia than in the UK and
many parts of Europe. Overall, living in places like Zagreb is much more affordable
than in most other European cities.
A monthly budget of around €1,000 should comfortably cover rent, bills, transportation,
and groceries in most areas of Croatia.
Digital Nomad Hotspots - Coworking Spaces in Croatia
Croatia is well set up for digital nomads, with Split, Zadar, and Zagreb
all being digital nomad hotspots.
These are some of our top picks for coworking spaces:
- Saltwater Workspace (Split)
- CoCreative (Split)
- Code Hub (Zadar)
- COIN (Zadar)
- HUB385 (Zagreb)
- BIZkoshnica (Zagreb)
You can find coworking spaces with fast internet connections that you can rent per day,
week or month, although some have minimum contracts.
FAQs
1. Does Croatia have a digital nomad visa?
Yes, since January 2021 Croatia has offered a digital nomad visa to allow non-EU citizens to work remotely in Croatia for up to one year.2. How do I get a digital nomad visa in Croatia?
You can apply for a digital nomad visa by filling in the online form, or you can apply from the Republic of Croatia embassy in your home country. If you are already in Croatia, it is possible to apply at a police station.3. Can I extend my Croatia digital nomad visa?
No, it is not possible to extend your Croatia digital nomad visa. When your visa runs out you should return to your home country and you may apply again after six months.4. Do digital nomads pay tax in Croatia?
You are not required to pay tax in Croatia as a digital nomad but you must check the tax obligations in your home country.5. How long does it take to get a digital nomad visa in Croatia?
The processing time for a digital nomad visa is usually a few weeks. To speed the process up, make sure you provide all of the documents translated into Croatian. Applying online will usually be faster than applying in person, provided you have all of the correct documents.
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