Croatia started hosting remote workers with the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa, launched in 2021. Today, it offers benefits such as family participation, tax exemption, and high living welfare for nomads with easy application processes.
The Croatia Digital Nomad Visa enables foreign citizens working remotely to stay in the country for 18 months. It can be issued for a shorter time (6 months). To obtain a Croatia digital nomad visa, you need to work in a registered country other than Croatia, or for your own company. You must also be a third-country national (outside the EU/EEA).
The conditions and benefits are not limited to these. In this article, you will have a complete guide on what you need to do to start a 1-year adventure in this country that stretches to the Adriatic Sea.
Note: As of August 2025, the duration of the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa has been extended to 18 months.
Croatia: Quality of Life Attributes
- Cost of living: 48.6 (Low)
- Property Price-Income Ratio: 12.1 (Moderate)
- Internet Speed: 92.1 Mbps (High)
- Healthcare: 64.8 (High Quality)
- Climate: 89.9 (Very High)
- Safety: 74.6 (High)
Quick Croatia Digital Nomad Visa Facts for 2025
- Duration of Visa: Valid for up to 18 months
- Extension Available: It can be extended for another 6 months
- Eligible Applicants: Non-EU/EEA citizens
- Minimum Income Threshold: €3,295 per month
- Processing Time: Typically processed within 30 to 60 days
Key Features of the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizens can apply for the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa with proof of a monthly income of €3,295.
- To be eligible for the program, a remote worker, freelancer, or self-employed person must be working online for a foreign company or their own unregistered business, without providing services to employers in Croatia.
- The program allows family reunification. You can include your spouse and your children. Also, if you are not married, you can include your partner after proving you have been together for 3 years, or sooner if you have a child together, or if you marry.
- You can make your application online through the official government website as well as through an embassy or consulate of the Republic of Croatia.
What to Discover in This Guide?
- What is Croatia Digital Nomad Visa?
- Benefits of Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa
- Eligibility Criteria for Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa
- Croatia Digital Nomad Visa Requirements for 2025
- How to Apply for Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
- Croatia Digital Nomad Visa Cost in 2025
- Processing Times and Expectations
- Taxes for Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
- Cost of Living in Croatia
- 6 Best Places to Live in Croatia as a Digital Nomad
What is Croatia Digital Nomad Visa?
In Croatia, the digital nomad visa began to be discussed in 2020. The story goes that Jan de Jong visited the country in 2020 and saw the devastation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At this time, he thought that a digital nomad visa would be a good way to develop the country, and met with ministers and shared his idea. This proposal concerned the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Tourism.
The relevant ministries also got to work and defined the requirements. They then supported the introduction of the visa for foreigners. Launched for the first time in January 2021, the Croatia nomad visa quickly gained a lot of interest from remote workers.
Benefits of Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa
- Living in Croatia with a digital nomad visa allows you to protect your earnings and work freely.
- The most important advantage is that you are exempt from income tax with this visa. So, you can live a pleasant life in this fascinating country of the Mediterranean while keeping all your earnings in your pocket.
- If you want to take your family with you, you have the opportunity to include them in this process. We will talk about family participation in more detail soon.
- As for the other beauties of Croatia, it offers a safe environment thanks to its low crime rate and community awareness.
- In addition, although the official language is Croatian, many people speak English, which makes your daily life easier.
- The rich culture of the country welcomes you with a unique blend of the Mediterranean, Central Europe, and the Balkans.
- In addition, the low cost of living and stunning natural beauties both improve your quality of life and offer you plenty of opportunities to explore.
Eligibility Criteria for Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa
The Main Applicant
- Being a national of a third country outside the EE and EEA
- 18 years of age or older
- Teleworking in a company registered outside Croatia or in one’s own company
- Income tax proving that they can support themselves (for Croatia, it is at least 2,539.21€ per month).
- Proof of a valid private or travel health insurance policy in Croatia
- Government-issued background check from their home country (apostille/legalized, officially translated if not in English)
- Provide all documents required by the Ministry in apostilled form (documents such as employment contract, proof of income, passport, criminal record, language proof, if any)
The above are the precise rules that you must strictly comply with. There are no clear language restrictions. However, showing proficiency in English or Croatian increases your chances. Education is also not required, but having a bachelor’s degree will put you one step ahead.
The Family Members
One of the advantages that the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa gives you is family participation.
Under the visa program, you can relocate without having to leave your family behind while working remotely.
You can include:
- Spouse
- Common-law partner (Marriage is not required; all you have to do is prove you have been together for 3 years)
- Minor child (joint, individual, or adopted, if unmarried)
What you need to do for this is simple:
- A marriage certificate to come with your partner,
- A birth certificate comes with your child,
- You must also provide a document for your unofficial union.
But remember, the financial qualification limit will increase by 10% for each person you bring with you.
Croatia Digital Nomad Visa Requirements for 2025
Now that we have learnt the eligibility criteria, it is time to move on to the Croatia Digital Nomad Visa requirements in 2025.
1. Income Requirement
To get a digital nomad permit in Croatia, you need to prove you have enough income of at least €3,295 per month or show savings of €39,540 for 18 months (or €59,310 for 18 months). For each family member or partner, you can expect to add 10% more.
You can demonstrate your income through bank statements or payslips.
2. Evidence of Remote Employment
You need to provide proof of the purpose of your stay, showing that you work remotely for a foreign employer or your own company not registered in Croatia. This can include:
- A statement from the employer or yourself confirming that you work remotely, and
- A contract of employment or service contract with a foreign employer, or
- Company registration documents and proof that you perform the work through your own company.
3. Health Insurance
You must offer proof of health insurance covering the time you plan to stay in Croatia. Travel or private insurance must be valid in Croatia.
4. Clean Criminal Record
You need to provide proof that you have no criminal convictions from your home country or any country where you lived for more than a year before coming to Croatia. This document must be legalized.
Note that you do not have to submit it when extending your temporary stay.
5. Required Documents for Application
Croatia requires you to submit the necessary documents for the digital nomad application to the institutions.
These documents are expected to be submitted in both English and Croatian. It is also important that they are signed and obtained from official institutions.
You can find the required documents below:
- Passport
- Clean criminal record
- Proof of income
- Completed application form
- Proof of health insurance
- Temporary residence document (rental contract, etc.)
- Employment or service contract with a foreign employer outside Croatia
- A paper answering why you are here.
Providing supporting documents with your application increases your chances of being accepted. In particular, documents on education, a letter explaining the reason for your stay, and proof of income with a high salary will be very good.
Also, what can you offer as proof of livelihood:
- An account statement proving the required financial competence for three years,
- A document showing that you regularly receive the required monthly income,
- Documents proving that your income is sufficient, as stated in the payslips for the last six months.
How to Apply for Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
When applying for a country’s digital nomad visa, it helps to have a complete guide. We’ll provide a step-by-step guide for you to follow, and we’ll cover administrative fees under a different heading.
Step 1: Gather your documents
Before starting the process, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for a visa, including being a third-country national, having a valid passport, and doing remote work.
Then, gather all necessary documents, including a valid passport, proof of remote work, proof of income, and health insurance.
Complete the application form, which you can download from the Croatian government website or obtain from the Croatian embassy or consulate. (A1 Form).
Step 2: Submit your application and pay the fees
Submit your application and the required documents to the Croatian embassy or consulate in your country or the police station in Croatia.
You can also submit your application online through the government website. Your application will then be forwarded to the police administration or station. After your initial application, you will receive an automatic confirmation to upload more documents.
You will also be required to pay the administrative fee, currently 523,40€.
Step 3: Get your residence permit
After you make your application, you have to wait for your application to be processed, which can take up to 30 days.
Once your temporary stay is approved, if you need a visa, you must get a long-term visa (D) or a biometric residence permit from a Croatian embassy or consulate.
If you do not need a visa, you can enter Croatia directly. After arriving, you have to register your address with the local police within 3 days (or 6 months if you entered with a long-term visa. At this step, you must provide Form 16a and show a lease, property deed, or owner’s statement.
Finally, you need to get your biometric residence permit in person at the police station with your photo and biometric data.
Croatia Digital Nomad Visa Cost in 2025
There are administrative fees that you must pay to obtain a Croatia digital nomad visa. Please make sure you have sufficient cash when applying for the visa.
Administrative fees:
- Application Fee: €55,74 (~$61,66)
- Type D Visa Fee: €93 (~$102,87)
- Biometric Residence Card Fee: €41,14 (~$45,51)
- Health Insurance Fee: Approximately €500-1,000 per year
- Background Check Fee: Approx €50-100
- Translation and Notary Fees: Approximately €50-200
If you apply at a police station, you pay the fees after your stay is approved:
- €46.45 for a temporary stay
- €9.29 administrative fee for the biometric residence permit
- €31.85 for the residence card (€59.73 for the accelerated procedure)
We recommend that you check the official government website for the most accurate and up-to-date information on fees and payment methods.
Also, keep in mind that some costs, such as health insurance, may vary depending on your situation and the insurance provider you choose.
Processing Times and Expectations
The processing time for a digital nomad Croatia visa varies depending on the embassy or consulate where the application is submitted.
This period is 8-30 days on average. However, when additional documents or verification are required, the processing time may be extended.
In order for your application to proceed smoothly, it is essential to get information from the embassy or consulate website and submit complete documents.
Taxes for Croatia Digital Nomad Visa
Tax processes are complicated. Fortunately, we have good news for remote workers. Digital nomad visa holders do not pay the Croatian state during their stay in Croatia. So you are completely exempt from tax under the Digital Nomad Visa tax obligations.
This can be great, but you are still responsible for your home country’s tax obligations. America, for example, is not interested in its citizens living in another country. This means that US citizens living in Croatia must continue to pay US taxes.
Cost of Living in Croatia
As a digital nomad in Croatia, the cost of living varies by city. Zagreb and coastal cities like Split and Dubrovnik are more expensive, while smaller towns are cheaper. On average, monthly expenses for rent, food, transportation, and leisure are around €2,736.5. Plus, expect to pay around €29-€51 for unlimited high-speed internet (60 Mbps or more) via cable or ADSL per month.
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6 Best Places to Live in Croatia as a Digital Nomad
Below, we will briefly introduce 6 popular cities that digital nomads prefer most often.
1. Zagreb
This is the heart of Croatia. It will impress you with its vibrant cultural structure and historical architecture. Especially with its fast internet connection, you will have no problem working remotely. Wander the streets of the city, enjoy your laptop in the cafes, and stop by the Mimara Museum.
2. Split
A coastal city that attracts you with its history and beaches. You can start your day at the beach and end your evening with a local networking event. Join Split’s growing community to meet digital nomads or sip a coffee alone on the Riva Promenade.
3. Dubrovnik
If you’re a Game of Thrones fan, you’ll love this place. The medieval city walls, stunning architecture, and social scene will immediately draw you in. Take a walk around the Old Town during your work breaks and enjoy the Adriatic views.
4. Hvar
If you fancy a tranquil island atmosphere, Hvar is the perfect getaway with its cozy beaches and digital nomad community. There are plenty of cafes to work in.
5. Rovinj
The small but artistic atmosphere will fill you with inspiration. This is a great option to focus on your creative projects.
6. Osijek
In this city surrounded by nature, you can work in neighboring areas and balance your budget with affordable living.
List of the popular destinations for digital nomads in Croatia
If you are looking for different alternatives, here are the popular destinations in the top 15:
- Zagreb
- Split
- Dubrovnik
- Hvar
- Rovinj
- Zadar
- Pula
- Rijeka
- Šibenik
- Trogir
- Makarska
- Opatija
- Korčula
- Bol
- Rab
Frequently Asked Questions on Croatia Remote Worker Visa
Can a US citizen work remotely in Croatia?
Yes, US citizens can work remotely in Croatia. The Croatian Digital Nomad Visa is designed for non-EU/EAA citizens, including American citizens, who are eligible to live and work remotely within the country with the digital nomad visa.
How much is a digital nomad visa in Croatia?
There might be some costs to get a Croatia Digital Nomad Visa, including visa processing fees or translation and legalization costs.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Croatia?
If you are a digital nomad in Croatia, you are generally exempt from paying your Croatian income tax when you earn from your employer or clients outside of Croatia. It means that the Croatian government will not tax you on your foreign-sourced income.
However, it is also important to check if your home country requires tax payments when you are living abroad.
