Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
Information about Croatia's digital nomad visa
For those who may wonder, digital nomads are people who perform their job remotely using modern technologies and devices, and hence don't focus on one place to live and are eager to travel and stay at new locations.
Croatia is one of the countries that keep up with modern demands and thus implemented a highly desired opportunity – digital nomad visas.
Croatia digital nomad visa is a visa to enter Croatia that allows its holders to reside in the country and work there remotely for a non-Croatian company or as a freelancer.
The temporary residence is issued for non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and their family members for a period of 12 months. While its holders aren't able to extend it, they can apply for a new residence permit after its expiration and after being out of Croatia for 6 months.
A digital nomad visa can be obtained at the Croatian embassy or consulate, police station, or through an online application.
Who is eligible for a Croatia freelance visa?
In order to be eligible for a Croatia digital nomad visa, the following must apply to you:
- you are not an EU/EEA citizen
- you are self-employed or work in a company located outside of Croatia
- you have a stable monthly income of around €2,300 (or HRK 17,822.50). If you're willing to bring your family members (spouse and children) to live with you in Spain, you should have a monthly income of €90/month (HRK 676,30/month)
- if you don't have a stable source of income, you should demonstrate that you have sufficient funds in your account. You must have at least €27,000 (HRK 202,890.00).
There are no restrictions on which source of income you must have. It can be either your investments, salary, pension, etc.
How to obtain a digital nomad visa to Croatia
You are able to apply for a Croatia digital nomad visa online remotely, at a police station, or at the nearest Croatian embassy or consulate in person.
The application process requires you to complete the following steps:
- Fill out the application form at the website or in person from a selected office.
- Attach proper documentation.
- Pay the temporary residence fee.
- Wait for your application to be processed and approved.
- Upon approval of your application, contact the place where you have applied to obtain a visa.
- Come to Croatia and register your temporary residence place. Apply for a biometric residence card.
- Collect your biometric residence card.
Digital nomad visa requirements
For a digital nomad visa, all eligible remote workers must present the following required documents:
- a valid travel document (effective for a minimum of 3 months from the digital nomad visa expiration date)
- bank statements proving your income (€90 on bank account per month if alone, €27,000 per month if with family, to show that you can support yourself and your relatives)
- health insurance covering the entire stay in Croatia (you must show your private health insurance policy)
- clean criminal record (you must prove that you haven't been convicted of criminal offenses in your home country or the country where you've been for more than a year before coming to Croatia)
- proof of accommodation in Croatia (for example, rental agreement or booking confirmation)
- evidence of having a purpose for visiting Croatia (you need to state the reason behind your visit and present paperwork demonstrating that you are employed by a foreign employer or your own company registered in another country than Croatia)
- marriage certificate (if you are married)
- birth certificate (if you have children and intend to take them with you)
All the documents must be translated into Croatian and notarized.
Advantages of the Croatia remote worker visa
The Croatia digital nomad visa offers remote workers solid advantages:
- An extended stay in Croatia. With a digital nomad residence permit, you can live in Croatia for over a year and then apply for a new visa. You have an opportunity to work and enjoy Croatian nature at the same time and feel secure, as Croatia is one of the safest countries in the world.
- You can work from any place. The digital nomad visa for Croatia allows its holders to work remotely legally, and Croatia is really a great country to do so! There is a vast number of cafés and coworking spaces with high-speed internet, so it's really comfortable for those who want to work away from home and improve their work-life balance.
- You don't need to pay income tax. Under Croatia digital nomad visa, you aren't charged double taxation if you do not work for a Croatian company.
- It may help you to acquire Croatian citizenship. Living in Croatia for 5 years allows you to get permanent residence, which then may enable you to obtain Croatian citizenship. A nomad tourist visa allows you to reside in Croatia and gain some of the required time for permanent residence.
How to stay in Croatia longer with a digital nomad visa
The Croatia digital nomad visa stays effective for up to a year. It cannot be extended but can be renewed six months after its expiration.
To renew it, you have to leave Croatia for 3 months. After these 90 days, you can submit a new application for a digital nomad visa. Note Croatia is not a Schengen Area country, so you don't have free travel access to other European countries in the Schengen zone as with Estonia, Portugal, or Malta digital nomad visas.
Other important things to know about the digital nomad visa for Croatia
- Croatia digital nomad residence permit allows family members of remote workers to join them during their stay in Croatia, including "common law marriage" partners.
That applies to unmarried couples living together over three years, or even less if they have children. They need to present proof of their relationship and common household: joint rental agreements, witness statements, and other relevant documents.
- Digital nomads must register their temporary residence address at a police station within a 30-day period from obtaining a temporary stay. If that isn't satisfied, their digital nomad visa will be revoked.
- Digital nomads don't have to pay the additional tax for working in Croatia, but they still need to pay taxes in their home country.
- Besides the temporary residence fee, you'll need to pay an additional fee for the biometric residence card.
