The Croatia digital nomad visa is very popular with digital nomads. It offers you the opportunity to explore the country for a longer term.
In this guide, we’ll go over all the details, the application process and the tax consequences.
Highlights of Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
- Maximum duration: one year. Possible to reapply after a waiting period of six months.
- Income requirement: €2.870 per month. And, you need to have lodging for the full length of your stay.
- Tax free if you remain a tax resident somewhere else.
Eligibility Criteria for the Croatian Digital Nomad Visa
Just like with any digital nomad visa program, you have to meet some criteria to get your hands on the Croatia digital nomad visa. All the documents we’ll mention need to be provided in Croatian or in English. If they are not, they should be translated by an authorized translator.
Country of Origin
The DNV is only open to people from a third-country (non EU/EEA/Switzerland). The reason is rather simple: people who are from the EU/EEA/Switzerland don’t need a visa to stay long-term in any of those countries.
Valid Passport
Your passport should be valid for at least three months longer than your intended stay.
Health Insurance
Health insurance which is valid in Croatia for the full duration of your stay.
Work Remotely
Proof of remote work for a foreign company. This can be your work contract with your employer or a statement from them that you can work remotely.
If you have your own business, you will need to provide proof of this. You’ll need to share the legal details of your company and the work you perform.
Sufficient Means
You should have an income of at least two-and-a-half times the average Croatian monthly net salary for the previous year. For 2024 this means that your monthly net income should be at least €2.870. If you plan to bring family members, you need to increase this amount with 10% per family member.
In order to proof you have sufficient means, you can provide different documents:
- Bank statement showing you have sufficient funds for a stay of a full year; i.e. €34.440 for a single person OR
- Bank statements showing proof of sufficient regular income OR
- Payslips for the last six months confirming your income meets the threshold.
Criminal Record
Provide a clean criminal record from the country where you resided for at least one full year before going to Croatia. This document should be legalized by the competent authorities.
Provide a Croatian Address
You need to provide an address in Croatia for the full length of your stay.
This is an annoying requirement but is necessary to determine which local administration is competent. If you don’t have an exact idea yet about how your stay will look, you can make a temporary booking.
How to Apply for the Digital Nomad Visa Program
If you want to apply for the Croatian DNV, you need to take different steps.
- Start with filling out the application form on the official website of the Croatian government.
- Add all the necessary documents to your application. These documents need to proof you meet the conditions we set out before. They should be in Croation or English. If they are issued in any other language, you will need to add an official translation.
- Once you submitted your application you will receive an automated confirmation email.
- Once the outcome of your application is clear, you will get another notification. If you were granted the visa, you can move to the next step.
- Provided that you need a visa to enter Croatia, you will need to get in touch with the Croatian embassy or consulate responsible for your area as in this case you will need a visa before heading to Croatia.
- If you don’t need a visa to enter Croatia, you can go there and arrange everything locally.
- Then, you can get your biometric residence permit with the local police station. You will need a passport picture for this.
- Please also note that you need to register yourself with the local police station in Croatia within 3 days after entering the country. For this, you will need to file form 16a and add a lease contract, title deed or a statement from the property owner. The landlord need to accompany you to the police station. If he doesn’t, you will need to get the documents notarized before filing them. If you don’t comply with this, your temporary stay will be revoked.
Various fees are applicable for the different steps of the process. These depend on where you apply from. You can find an updated overview of the costs of the Croatia digital nomad visa on the official government website.
Tax Considerations about Croatia and its Visa
When you apply for a digital nomad visa, you always need to consider the potential tax consequences.
Croatia offers an exemption from taxes for people who stay in the country under the Croatia digital nomad visa. However, there is one condition that many nomads often forget about.
In order to benefit from this exemption, you should remain a tax resident in your home country or another country in general. Thus, if you were thinking about leaving your home country to stop paying taxes there while moving to Croatia, this won’t work. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use the momentum to optimize your tax setup.
If you are interested to make use of digital nomad visas in your setup you can have a look at this list of 22 tax free digital nomad visas.
How’s the Digital Nomad Scene in Croatia?
Croatia is an appealing destination for digital nomads due to a combination of lifestyle, cost, and infrastructure factors, as well as some specific initiatives tailored to remote workers. Here are some reasons why you might consider Croatia as a great place to be a digital nomad:
Scenic Beauty and Diversity: Croatia offers a rich variety of landscapes, from the stunning Adriatic coastline with its clear blue waters and beautiful beaches to lush green forests and national parks inland. Cities like Dubrovnik and Split have breathtaking historical sites, while islands like Hvar and Korčula offer peaceful retreats.
Climate: Croatia enjoys a Mediterranean climate on the coast, which means mild winters and hot, dry summers. This makes it an ideal year-round destination, especially if you prefer outdoor activities.
Cost of Living: Generally, the cost of living in Croatia is lower compared to many Western European countries. This extends to accommodation, dining out, and daily necessities, which is beneficial for nomads managing a budget.
Connectivity and Co-working Spaces: Despite its historic and natural settings, Croatia offers modern amenities, including reliable internet and a growing number of co-working spaces, especially in cities like Zagreb, Split, and Dubrovnik.
Community: There is a thriving community of digital nomads and expatriates in Croatia, facilitated by various networking events, social meetups, and online forums, which can help in finding your footing and making connections.
Safety and Quality of Life: Croatia is known for its safety, with low crime rates compared to other countries. The quality of life is high, with excellent food, wine, and local culture.
Travel Opportunities: Living in Croatia puts you at a crossroads of Europe, making it easy to travel to other European destinations. The country’s location offers easy access to other parts of Europe, the Balkans, and even the Middle East.
No Language Barrier: Many Croatians speak English, particularly in larger cities and tourist areas, which eases communication for non-Croatian speakers.
These factors combine to make Croatia a compelling choice for digital nomads looking for a balance of work, leisure, and adventure.
Croatia offers a variety of places to stay depending on what you like. Hereby a list of the most popular places. Some of these places you’ll recognize, while others you might haven’t heard from before. It’s a good idea to do a bit or research for each of them in order to determine which one suits you best.
- Cavtat
- Dubrovnik
- Hvar
- Korcula
- Osijek
- Pula
- Rijeka
- Split
- Zadar
- Zagreb
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