The short version
- Croatia lets people from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland live there for up to 18 months while they work online.
- The work must be for a company that is not registered in Croatia. That can be your employer or your own company.
- You show at least EUR 3,622.50 a month, or a lump sum in the bank.
- Croatia is in Schengen. Your days there count toward your 90 until you hold the permit.
What is Croatia's digital nomad visa?
It is a permit to live in Croatia for up to 18 months while you work online for a company that is not registered in Croatia. Many people call it a visa. Croatia's Ministry of the Interior (MUP) calls it "temporary stay of digital nomads".
If you are given less than 18 months, you can apply to extend it by up to 6 months. You apply in person at a police station, at least 60 days before your stay ends.
Who can apply?
People who are not EU, EEA or Swiss citizens and who work remotely for a company that is not registered in Croatia. In short:
- You are not a citizen of an EU or EEA country, or of Switzerland.
- You work remotely, for an employer or for your own company.
- That company is not registered in Croatia, and you do not work for, or sell services to, employers in Croatia.
So you do not need to run your own business. If your employer lets you work from a laptop, and it is not a Croatian company, that can count.
How much money do you need to show?
At least EUR 3,622.50 a month. MUP sets it at 2.5 times last year's average monthly net salary in Croatia, so the number can change.
There are two ways to show it:
| Way | What you show |
|---|---|
| Monthly income | Bank statements showing regular income, or payslips for the last 6 months |
| Savings for 12 months | EUR 43,470 in the bank |
| Savings for 18 months | EUR 65,205 in the bank |
MUP does not say how it counts income that comes in uneven amounts.
What papers do you need?
Seven things, plus the fee:
- Passport. Valid for at least 3 months after your stay ends.
- Application form. Online, or Form 1a if you apply in person.
- Proof of your work. A statement from you or your employer that you work remotely, plus your work contract or your own company's registration papers.
- Proof of money. The statements, payslips or savings above.
- Health insurance. It must cover Croatia for your whole stay. Travel or private cover is accepted.
- Criminal record certificate. From your home country or from a country you lived in for over a year right before you come. It must be legalised.
- An address in Croatia. Where you will stay. A first-time applicant can give a hotel or hostel booking.
Papers can be in Croatian or English. Papers in any other language need a translation by an authorised translator.
Where do you apply, and what does it cost?
It depends on whether you need a visa to enter Croatia.
- No visa needed. You can apply online, at a Croatian embassy or consulate, or at a police station in Croatia if you are there lawfully.
- Visa needed. You can apply online or at a Croatian embassy or consulate, but not at a police station. Once approved, you get a long-stay D visa from the embassy to enter.
| Where | Fees MUP lists |
|---|---|
| An embassy or consulate, paid when you apply | EUR 55.74 for the stay, plus EUR 93 for a D visa or EUR 41.14 for the residence card |
| A police station in Croatia, paid after approval | EUR 46.45 for the stay, EUR 31.85 for the card (EUR 59.73 to speed it up) and a EUR 9.29 admin fee |
MUP does not list a separate fee for online applications. It sends them to the police station for the place you will stay. It does not give a processing time. Once you arrive, MUP asks you to register your address with the police within 3 days.
How does it fit with your Schengen days?
Until you hold the permit, your days in Croatia count toward your 90 days in any 180, like any Schengen country. Once you hold it, your days in Croatia do not count. Trips to other Schengen countries still follow the 90/180 rule.
This matters most if you want to apply from inside Croatia. You can only apply at a police station if you are there lawfully, so you need Schengen days left. If you need no visa and apply this way, MUP says you may stay in Croatia until the decision on your application takes effect. The EU's Entry/Exit System has no "application pending" status, though, so it keeps counting your days while you wait.
One simple setup is to apply from outside Schengen, online or at an embassy. MUP's page does not say whether someone who has used their 90 days can enter on the approval alone, so that is a question for the embassy. Count your days first with the free Schengen calculator.
What comes before this step?
Income. This permit is for people who already work online for a company outside Croatia, so that comes first. If you are not there yet, start with earn money online before you move. Tax is its own question and is not covered here. Guides on it will go in the tax section.