Originally published at: Croatia Digital Nomad Visa: All You Need To Know | Go VisaFree
We, as a community, support digital nomad visas. It makes us delighted to see that countries are adapting to the demands of the modern world. Croatia is one of these countries that has opened its doors to digital nomads. With Croatia Digital Nomad Residence Permit, you can now live in Croatia while continuing to work remotely.
In this article, we’ll go over the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa in detail.
What Is Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
Croatia digital nomad visa is a residence permit that allows digital nomads, remote workers, and freelancers to stay in Croatia for up to 12 months.
The main requirement is for this residence permit is that you’re a third-country national and working for a company that is registered abroad, not in Croatia. Note that with this type of residence permit, you’re not allowed to work or provide services to employers in Croatia.
Eligibility Criteria for Croatia Digital Nomad Residence Permit
There is a certain set of rules for Croatia digital nomad visa. Let’s have a look.
You’re eligible to get a digital nomad residence permit in Croatia if you,
- Are non-EU/EEA citizen
- Have a monthly income of 16.907,50 kuna per month (€2,250 approx.)
- Are working for a company based outside of Croatia, or a self-employed
If you’re going to add additional family members, an additional 676,30 kuna income per month will be required.
Note that the government imposes no restriction on the source of income; it can be your salary, pension, investments, etc. If you don’t have a regular monthly income, you can show proof of funds in your account. In this case, the required amount is 202.890,00 kuna (€27,000 approx.).
Required Documents For Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
- Application form: This can be obtained from the embassy/police station, or downloaded from the official website
- Proof of purpose: This letter establishes your status as a digital nomad. This can be a work contract or other paperwork confirming that you work for a foreign employer or your own company registered outside of Croatia using communication technology.
- Copy of your passport/travel document: Make sure your passport’s validity is three months longer than the validity period of your intended stay. Copy is usually fine but just in case, take your passport with you when you go to the police station. You will require a notarized copy of your passport that has been translated into Croatian if your passport is not in English.
- Background check from your home country: Proof showing that you’ve not been convicted of criminal offenses in your home country, or from the country where you’ve stayed for more than one year before arriving in Croatia. You can get this document more easily in your home country rather than trying to get it while in Croatia. If you’re from the US, you’ll need to get a federal background check, through the FBI.
- Marriage certificate: If you’re married, submit your marriage certificate. This document is also to be apostilled/legalized, officially translated.
- Health insurance policy: Present your private health insurance policy for the entire term of your permit (up to one year) that covers you while in Croatia
- Proof of funds to support yourself: Submit documents showing your income which will support you during your stay in Croatia
- Your address in Croatia: When you’re making your application, you’ll need to provide your address in Croatia. If you have a confirmed reservation for your accommodation, this can be the address of the hostel or hotel.
Note that documents need to be translated and notarized.
How To Apply for Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
Step #1
Figure out where you’ll need to apply. There are three options available:
- If you require a visa to enter Croatia, you can apply for one at a Croatian embassy or consulate overseas.
- If you do not require a visa to enter Croatia, you can apply at the following locations:
a)Croatian embassy or consulate abroad
b)A police station in Croatia, (the nearest one, according to your temporary address in Croatia) - Whether you require a visa to enter Croatia or not, you can apply for a digital nomad permit online.
Step #2
Visit the consulate or police station for more information
If you are applying from outside of Croatia, contact a Croatian embassy or consulate to learn more about the requirements and procedure. They will also provide you with more information and updates.
If you want to apply from within Croatia, contact the police (Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova, or “MUP”) in the jurisdiction where you intend to live. There are service desks dedicated to foreigners at police stations.
Step #3
Submit your application
Once your documents are ready, you’re good to go and make your application. Revisit the embassy/police station and present your documents. Officers will go over your application to make sure you’ve met all of the requirements. They will accept your application for processing if everything is complete. If not, they’ll ask for additional documents.
If you’ve made your application online, you’ll get an email from the authorities.
Make sure you include a phone number in your submission (preferably Croatian if you are in Croatia). This is how the officers will contact you regarding your application.
The length of time it takes for your application to be processed varies based on the police station, the embassy, a number of other factors. Don’t leave Croatia for at least a month while your application is being processed. It’s legal for you to be in Croatia at this time.
Step #4
Get your approval
When your application is granted, you’ll receive a blue envelope, a phone call, or a phone call. If you’ve applied online, expect to receive an email with the approval decision.
Depending on your situation, the next steps are as follows:
- Check if you require a visa to enter Croatia. After that, you receive a visa, travel to Croatia, and collect your residence permit.
- If you don’t need a visa to enter Croatia, you may do so in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Foreigners.
Register your temporary stay within 30 days after you get your approval. Your temporary stay is subject to revocation if you do not comply.
When you enter Croatia, register your address within three days. You can go to the local police station and make the registration. For this step, you need the form Obrazac 8a and a rental contract, a letter from your landlord, a title deed, or a hotel/hostel confirmation.
Step #5
Apply for your residence card
Once all these steps are completed you need to get your biometric residence card.
For this, take your passport size photos and payment receipt for the administrative fees to the police station where they’ll take your fingerprints and signature. The officer will give you a white card as a substitute for your residence proof.
Step #6
Pick up your residence card
Your legal residence card will be ready within three weeks. Return the white card ad collect your card from the police station.
Step #7
Enjoy Croatia as a digital nomad
As you’re legally recognized now, start enjoying your time in Croatia.
Croatia Digital Nomad Fees
Fees if you’re applying at the Croatian embassy or consulate abroad:
- Temporary residence – 420 kuna (€55 approx.)
- Visa – 460 kuna (€61 approx.)
- Residence card – 310 kuna (€41 approx.)
Fees if you’re applying at the police station in Croatia:
- Temporary residence – 350 kuna (€46 approx.)
- Biometric residence card – 240 kuna (€31 approx)
- Administrative fees for the biometric residence permit – 70 kuna (€10 approx.)
Validity of Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
Your temporary residence permit is going to be valid for up to one year, or even less. Note that there is no extension option. However, a new application can be made six months after your previous residence permit has expired.
Family Inclusion
Family inclusion is possible under Croatia’s digital nomad visa scheme. For your spouse, you’ll need to produce a marriage certificate (apostilled/legalized, officially translated) or proof that you are in a common-law marriage. If you have children, attach their birth certificates.
Taxes
As a digital nomad staying in Croatia with a digital nomad residence permit, you’re not subject to any income tax within Croatia. However, you might be subject to paying taxes for your passive income. Also, note that you’ll still need to pay your taxes in your home country. Speaking to a lawyer beforehand will be very helpful.
Useful Information About Life in Croatia
So, if you’ve already decided to live in Croatia on a digital nomad visa, here’s some information you might find helpful.
Getting to Croatia
Any mode of transportation, whether by land, sea, or air, is a fantastic way to get to Croatia. Croatia is reachable from almost every European country by rail, either directly or via a transfer. Croatian roadways are brand new, swift, and modern, whether you go by bus or car. The shores are accessible all year thanks to the ferry service from Italy. There are nine international airports located around the country that link to major European cities, notably during the summer.
Money
Croatia aims to join the Eurozone in the future, but for now, the Kuna is the official currency. You may convert money at any bank, bureaux de change, post office, and practically all travel agencies, and hotels in the country. Credit cards such as Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Diners, among others, will be accepted by the majority of restaurants and ATMs.
Weather
In Croatia, you’ll enjoy three different climates. If you’re near the coast, you’ll get a nice Mediterranean climate with a high number of days of sunshine every year. Summer days are hot and dry, while winters are mild and wet. As you travel inland, temperatures drop slightly as the environment becomes more continental and temperate. You’ll be greeted with fresh mountain air and temperatures around 13ºC in the summer.
Free Wifi
There are around 300 free wifi spots in Croatia.
Activities
Either you’re a beach lover or a history buff, you’ll find many activities in Croatia. Visit the UNESCO sites, sail to the various islands, swim in the turquoise seas of the Adriatic. Spending your weekends in the national parks is also possible. Also, don’t miss out on Digital Nomad Valley Zadar where you can meet fellow nomads.
Conclusion
There you have it. We’ve gone through the basics of the Croatia digital nomad visa and how you can apply. Have you visited Croatia before? Have you ever considered living there? Please let us know. Also, please feel free to leave your comments in our growing forum.
Meanwhile, don’t miss out on our comprehensive guide to Digital Nomad Visas and Remote Work Visas Around the World.