Croatia has recently joined the list of countries with a visa for digital nomads — and this calls for celebration!
Living and working remotely in cities such as Dubrovnik, Zagreb, or Split has now become a reality for nomads thanks to the new Croatia digital nomad visa. What’s more, the country has developed a great infrastructure for it.
In this post, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about its application process and requirements. I’ll also go over some of the advantages and disadvantages of living and working in Croatia.
But before we start, here’s a brief summary of the most important aspects:
- You can apply for a visa in person or online, either from your home country or from Croatia.
- There is no possibility to renew the visa, but you can apply for it again after 6 months following your first stay.
- The waiting time is estimated to be between 3 and 4 weeks.
- Croatia offers many practical benefits for digital nomads, and there are no nationality restrictions.
How to apply for the Croatia digital nomad visa
There are two options for applying for a Digital Nomad Visa for Croatia: firstly, through a Croatian embassy, and secondly, online. Here is a step-by-step guide for both pathways!
Applying for the Croatia Digital Nomad visa at a Croatian embassy
- Find your nearest Croatian embassy by clicking on the following link.
- Fill in the visa application form and prepare the necessary documents for submission, which I will tell you about in the following section!
- Go to your nearest embassy or call in to make an appointment to submit all the paperwork.
When your application has been accepted, you will receive a letter or a phone call – and don’t worry, it typically doesn’t take very long!
Applying for the Croatia digital nomad visa online
- Go to the official website of the Croatian Ministry of the Interior and fill in the online form to apply for a digital nomad visa.
- Fill in all the data and attach the necessary documents.
It’s that easy! As soon as your visa has been approved, you will receive an email. Here’s how long this procedure usually takes and when you can expect to get a response.
Visa delivery time
The visa delivery time is estimated to be between 3 and 4 weeks, although there are cases where the process can take up to 12 weeks. Here’s why:
- High demand for digital nomad visas for Croatia.
- Incorrect submissions of the application form.
- Lack of required documents during the process.
- Change in visa policies.
How the Croatia digital nomad visa works
The Croatia digital nomad visa allows remote workers to live and work in Croatia for a period of one year. In this sense, it is considered to be more of a temporary residence permit.
It is therefore necessary that, once your visa is approved and when you arrive in the country, you begin the process of registering your temporary residence within a maximum period of 3 days from your arrival.
To do this, you will have to go to the police station closest to your temporary residence and present the following documents:
- A completed application form, known as Obrazac 8a.
- A certified rental contract, a landlord’s declaration, or a rental agreement verifying that this will be your address.
After this process, you will have to apply for the biometric residence card – another mandatory requirement! The good thing is that you can do this at the same police station where you registered your stay. Remember to bring a 30×35 mm photo.
As for the renewal, the Croatia digital nomad visa, as mentioned, has a maximum duration of 12 months, but it is possible to renew and apply for it again once 6 months have passed since your previous stay.
✅ Pros of the digital nomad visa for Croatia
- You do not have to pay income tax in Croatia.
- It is a safe country and offers a very affordable cost of living.
- Many people speak English and are welcoming and approachable.
- There are plenty of charming towns and beaches where you can soak up the culture and natural landscapes.
- The visa application process is simple and intuitive.
❌ Cons of the digital nomad visa for Croatia
- You have to wait 6 months after the first stay to reapply for the visa.
- The visa waiting time can be as long as 12 weeks if issues in the application arise.
Requirements for applying for the Croatia digital nomad visa
As promised, here is a list of the requirements and documents to be submitted during the application for the Croatia digital nomad visa. Make sure you have all of the following elements before you submit your application!
- A valid passport with validity of at least 3 months after the visa term.
- Proof of monthly income of at least 16,907 HRK, which is equivalent to 650 USD. If you have no monthly income, you can provide proof of funds of approximately US$30,000.
- Medical insurance covering your entire stay in the country.
- A criminal record certificate from your home country or the country where you last resided for more than one year.
- A rental contract or a confirmation of a reservation at the address where you will reside in Croatia. You should be aware that you can use a hotel as a temporary address and then change it at the police station to your permanent address.
- Proof of your status as a digital nomad, whether you are self-employed or employed by a company.
What activities are permitted and prohibited
Regarding permitted activities, the only condition for working remotely in Croatia as a digital nomad is that you carry out your work for a company located outside the country. Alternatively, if you work on a freelance basis for clients in other countries.
What nationalities are allowed and prohibited
There are no nationality restrictions for those who want to apply for the digital nomad visa for Croatia. However, you should know that if you are a citizen of the European Union, you don’t need a visa!
Any EU citizen, by virtue of their status, has the right to live in any EU country.
Can I apply for a digital nomad visa if I am in Croatia?
If you are already in Croatia as a tourist, don’t worry! You can apply for the Croatia digital nomad visa from within the country.
To do so, you just need to go to a competent authority to complete the process in person, or access the official website to do it online – it’s as easy as that!
Can I bring my partner or children with me on a nomad visa in Croatia?
The Croatia Digital Nomad Visa allows beneficiaries to bring family members, such as a partner or children, with them.
To do so, you need to present a marriage certificate if you are bringing a spouse, and birth certificates if your children are also travelling with you.
Is travel insurance for Croatia compulsory?
Having travel insurance is a fundamental requirement for accessing the digital nomad visa for Croatia. That’s why I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to tell you about the best option for your stay.
In fact, the official Croatian tourism website strongly recommends taking out comprehensive travel insurance. Let’s take a look at the best options!
Best travel insurance for Croatia
To find the best travel insurance for Croatia, I have carried out extensive research of the top options on the market, looking for the policy that best suits the specific needs of digital nomads.
Through my research, I have found that the ideal option to insure your long-term stay in Croatia:
Get a 5% discount on Heymondo until 30/04/2024. Get in quick!
Activate Discount Here
- Fill in your trip info
- Click on “Calculate Price”.
- All done! The discount will be applied automatically.
Some of the most useful benefits of Hey Mondo travel insurance for digital nomads include:
- 24/7 assistance platform.
- Repatriation and early return.
- Travel expenses for a family member if you are hospitalised for over a week.
Comparison of insurance to Croatia
Not totally convinced? Not to worry! There are plenty of other reputable insurance policies for digital nomads suited to Croatia.
To help you out, I’ve prepared a comparative table with a number of other policies, so you can compare and contrast them to find the best option for you.
| 
| 
| 
| 
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️ | ⭐️ | |
Price 3 months | 174€ | 210€ | 338€ | 126€ | 195€ |
Discount valid until 30/04/2024 | – 15% for families | – 5% | – 5% | ❌ | ❌ |
ACTIVATE DISCOUNT | ACTIVATE DISCOUNT | ACTIVATE DISCOUNT | GET A QUOTE | GET A QUOTE | |
Legal assistance | 13.000€ | 12.000€ | 3.000€ | ❌ | ❌ |
Covid-19 | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
Medical expenses | 1.000.000€ | 500.000 € | 200.000€ | 222.600€ | £10,000,000 |
Hospitalization | Actual costs | 500.000€ | 250.000€ | 200.000€ | £10,000,000 |
Theft or loss of luggage | 2.000€ | 2.500€ | Optional | 2.670€ | £2000 |
Repatriation | Actual costs | Actual costs | Actual costs | 17.800€ | Actual costs |
Sports activities | ✅ | Optional | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Recommended for | All types of stays | All types of stays | All types of stays | Digital nomad | All types of stays |
Review | Chapka insurance | HeyMondo insurance | IATI travel insurance | SafetyWing insurance | Word Nomads Insurance |
Discount > | Promo Code Chapka | Promo Code HeyMondo | Promo Code IATI |
How to travel to Croatia at the best price
One thing that all travellers have in common is the desire to save money while abroad. After years of travelling as a digital nomad I have found a number of tricks that help me reduce the cost of my travels.
These little travel hacks have helped me save on my flights, accommodation, leisure activities, and bank withdrawals. They’ll help you save money on your digital nomad visa for Croatia too!
Find cheap flights to Croatia
Having trouble finding cheap flights for your travels? In the case of Croatia, depending on the country you’re flying from, you may have to make a stopover, thus increasing prices.
Luckily, there’s an easy fix! I use VPNs to find the cheapest flights.
You know, flights don’t cost the same from all countries! To pay for my cheapest flights, I use NordVPN.
Basically, it’s a private network that allows you to access Internet sites from locations other than your own, and this can have some serious benefits:
In April 2024, enjoy a 59% discount on NordVPN.
Click here: Activate Discount
Flights from Barcelona to Buenos Aires don’t cost the same if you buy them from Spain as from India, for example. So, once you’ve installed NordVPN, simply access websites like Skyscanner and compare prices by entering as if you were browsing from different countries.
The 8 countries from which it is cheapest to buy flights are: Malaysia, Bulgaria, India, Turkey, Romania, Indonesia, Portugal, and Thailand. Once you have NordVPN, head over to Skyscanner and start paying reduced prices for flights all over the world!
Find cheap accommodation in Croatia
Accommodation in Croatia is one of the first things you start looking into once you’ve got your visa. It is also crucial that you have an address in the country to be able to register it upon your arrival.
Our next tip concerns Booking and its Genius programme, as it offers the possibility to find quality accommodation at reduced prices.
Access Booking.com now and get discounts of up to 15% in April 2024 by becoming a Genius user.
There are also ways to save money when booking your accommodation with Booking. The first of which is becoming a Genius user, something you get from making 2 bookings (Genius level 1), and 5 bookings (Genius level 2).
As a Genius user in Booking.com, you can enjoy:
- Discounts on room rates.
- Free breakfast.
- Upgrades to superior room categories.
- Free parking.
- Late check-out.
- Welcome gifts.
In addition, there are hotels in Booking.com that directly offer you a 10 to 15% discount on your rate for being a Genius user.
Access to get discounts of up to 15% by becoming a Genius user.
Finally, Booking.com has a Minimum Price Guarantee program, so if you find a cheaper price for your hotel on any other website, they’ll match it!
How to book activities in Croatia at reduced prices
When it comes to booking activities in Croatia, if you want to save money, GetYourGuide is your best option! This rapidly growing platform has the best discounts and the widest range of activities in the country, so don’t miss out!
GetYourGuide is an indispensable tool for organising any trip to any destination. It’s a platform that helps you book tourism and leisure activities for your trip.
With GetYourGuide, you can book your activities online to avoid queues, and take advantage of a discount for online bookings. This way, you save time and money, so you can enjoy more activities during your trip!
Which bank card to use in Croatia
When it comes to bank cards, you probably already know how important it is to have one that not only offers low fees, but also works in most countries.
Here’s a great card that will help you save on bank fees while in Croatia.
If you travel frequently, the Revolut Metal Card is another great way to save money. For starters, they offer you unlimited currency exchanges without paying any fees!
This Card allows you to make unlimited domestic transfers free of charge, and withdraw up to £800 a month from international ATMs.
If you spent £650 abroad in a month using a standard card, and withdrew £350 at ATMs, you would have paid around £44 in fees.
With the Revolut Metal card, you would have paid £0 in fees.
Want to keep up to date on future digital nomad visas?
Leave your email and receive all the latest updates!
Countries with digital nomad visas in April 2024
In addition to the Croatia digital nomad visa, there are many other countries that have joined the wave of visas for digital nomads, an exciting development indeed! Here is a table of the visas currently available and their most important features.
| |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
41 / 195 | Trend in | Duration | Tax | Travel insurance | Proof |
COUNTRIES | April 2024 | in months | to pay | See recommended | of income |
Anguila | 12 | $2000 | Yes | Yes | |
Antigua Barbuda | 24 | $1500 | Yes | Yes | |
Aruba | 3 | $75 | Yes | No | |
Barbados | 12 | $2000 | Yes | Yes | |
Bermuda | 12 | $260 | Yes | Yes | |
Brazil | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Cape Verde | 6 | $60 | Yes | Yes | |
Colombia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Costa Rica | 24 | $550 | Yes | Yes | |
Croatia | 12 | $155 | Yes | Yes | |
Curaçao | 6 | $300 | Yes | No | |
Cyprus | 12 | $65 | Yes | Yes | |
Dominica | 18 | $900 | Yes | Yes | |
Ecuador | 24 | $450 | Yes | Yes | |
United Arab Emirates | 12 | $610 | Yes | Yes | |
Estonia | 12 | $100 | Yes | Yes | |
Georgia | 12 | $35 | Yes | Yes | |
Germany | 36 | $100 | Yes | Yes | |
Grenada | 12 | $1500 | Yes | Yes | |
Greece | 12 | $90 | Yes | Yes | |
Hungria | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Iceland | 6 | $60 | Yes | Yes | |
Indonesia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Italy | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Latvia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Cayman Islands | 24 | $1470 | Yes | Yes | |
Seychelles Islands | 12 | $50 | Yes | Yes | |
Malta | 6 | $315 | Yes | Yes | |
Malaysia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Mauritius | 12 | $0 | Yes | Yes | |
Mexico | 12 | $45 | Yes | Yes | |
Montserrat | 12 | $500 | Yes | Yes | |
Norway | 48 | $630 | Yes | Yes | |
Panama | 9 | $300 | Yes | Yes | |
Portugal | 12 | $165 | Yes | Yes | |
Czech Republic | 12 | $165 | Yes | Yes | |
Romania | 12 | $125 | Yes | Yes | |
Saint Lucia | 12 | $70 | Yes | Yes | |
Spain | 12 | $85 | Travel insurance | Yes | |
Health insurance | |||||
Sri Lanka | 12 | $500 | Yes | Yes | |
Thailand | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes |
If you want to know more about these visas for digital nomads, feel free to click on the link.
And with that, I wish you the best of luck in your application to the Croatia digital nomad visa!
