On January 1, 2023, it will have been two years since Croatia began welcoming digital nomads.
After months of effort, the country finally put in place its digital nomad visa law for non-citizens. Croatia made their new law, which has sections pertaining to digital nomads, available in Narodne Novine, which is the country’s official publication for laws, official decisions, regulations, and other announcements.
In this article, we will explore all aspects of the Croatia digital nomad visa, from the criteria for qualification to the paperwork involved and the procedure to apply – with precise guidance at each step.
Visa Overview
Let’s take a look at the origins of the Croatia digital nomad visa and the reasons why it was developed, along with some intriguing facts and figures, prior to giving you the details on how to apply for it.
What is the Croatia digital nomad visa?
A permit for a short-term stay is available for digital nomads who are from Croatia. This license grants non-EU citizens the ability to reside in Croatia for a period of twelve months as long as they meet the necessary criteria.
Individuals who do not possess EU, EEA, or Swiss citizenship can apply for a digital nomad visa. If you possess a passport from a nation that is listed in these categories, you may travel to Croatia without a visa.
Candidates must also satisfy the revenue specifications through employment from home, either employed by a corporation or with their own personal business that isn’t registered in Croatia. The applicant is not allowed to labor or render services to employers based in Croatia.
It is essential to be aware that the word ‘visa’ is typically used in most countries for both extended and brief visits from people from other countries. In Croatia, different words are used to denote permits for various types of visits.
Those applying for the digital nomad visa will receive a short-term residence permit rather than an actual visa. The expression “digital nomad visa” is often employed, therefore we will keep utilizing it in this article.
Key benefits
- No need to pay taxes to Croatia during your temporary stay
- Low cost of living compared to many other European countries
- Growing digital nomad community
- Fantastic range of historic and beach destinations available
- Plenty of co-working spaces in major cities
- Good wifi coverage
Who is eligible?
Croatia’s Law on Foreigners implemented the digital nomad temporary stay permit.
In order to qualify for a digital nomad visa, you must be a person from a country outside the European Union. Only people who are not Swiss citizens or citizens of a country within the European Union or European Economic Area can submit an application.
Additionally, you can ask for this authorization if you are employed with an organization or if you possess a business that is not documented in Croatia. Moreover, you mustn’t provide services to employers in Croatia.
You must provide evidence of your income when submitting your application. The Croatian Ministry of the Interior has outlined the required income for individuals in order to acquire a residency permit for digital nomads.
You must provide bank statements and payslips from the last six months that demonstrate a yearly income that is equivalent to at least 2.5 times the regular monthly net salary.
At this moment, you must have a salary of HRK 17,822.50 (2,364€; $2,506) on a monthly basis.
Croatia also gives you another option. A bank statement can be submitted to prove that the requisite funds for a 12-month period are already in your account. This translates to a minimum of HRK 213,870 (€28,378; $30,079).
Document requirements
This is an extremely important part of the process because if you fail to include even one document in your application, it could lead to your application being denied.
It is essential to submit the paperwork either in Croatian or English. You can apply in person or online. If you wish to apply in person, you will need to complete the bilingual Form 1a, which is an application for a residence permit.
Examine the list thoroughly and double-check your application.
List of required documents for Croatian digital nomad visa
- Copy of a valid travel document (passport)– the document must be valid for three months longer than the period of validity of the intended stay
- Proof of health insurance– travel or private health insurance that covers the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The insurance has to be valid for the period of time you plan to stay in Croatia.
- Proof of purpose – depending on whether you work for a company or you own a company
- Employer’s statement that you work through communication technology and employer’s contact information
- If you’re the owner – a copy of the company registration certificate, and proof that you perform said tasks through your company
- Proof of income– choose one of the three options based on your situation:
- Bank statement showing you have the total amount required for a 12-month stay
- Bank statement showing you have regular monthly income corresponding to the requirements
- Payslips for the last six months as proof of the required monthly income
- Criminal record check– you must prove that you haven’t been convicted in your home country or in any country in which you’ve been resident for over one year before arriving in Croatia.
- Address of stay or of intended stay in Croatia – if you’re staying in Croatia, you can provide a temporary address from a hotel/hostel as long as you’ve got a confirmed reservation.
How to apply
These are the complete directions for applying for the Croatian digital nomad temporary residence permit.
As previously stated, you can submit your application either in person or electronically. So you can apply:
- At a Croatian embassy or consulate in your home country
- In Croatia, at the local police station
- Online
You should be aware that the steps to apply for a digital nomad visa may vary depending on whether you need a visa to go to Croatia.
Apply online
It does not matter if you require a visa to go to Croatia or not, you can still apply online. If you are required to have a visa to enter the country, you must submit an application for a Type D Visa. That is a different form of visa that necessitates additional paperwork and another submission process.
If you don’t require a visa to get into the nation, you can submit an application for a short-term residence permit for digital nomads on the web. In other words, citizens of the United States, United Kingdom and Australia do not require a visa to enter Croatia.
To submit an application electronically, start by contacting the Croatian embassy in your nation. Using the embassy is advantageous because it will provide you with all the necessary information.
Additional Digital Nomad Visas in Europe
A number of nations in Europe are granting Digital Nomad Visas to individuals from different countries who wish to work remotely while in Europe. Some of the highest rated countries for employment in Europe are Portugal, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Malta, and Norway.
We will guide you through the necessary criteria for each visa, which is contingent upon the goals of the specific country’s economy.
Portugal
The Portugal Digital Nomad Visa allows non-EU and non-EEA remote employees who are employed by organizations situated outside of Portugal to move and begin working remotely in Portugal, so long as they make four times the minimum wage of the nation – which comes to €2,836 (or $2,750) a month.
Individuals who work remotely and travel frequently can obtain a temporary resident visa which is valid for up to a year, or alternatively, they can apply for a residency permit which can be extended for a maximum of five years. They need to provide evidence of their earnings for the last three months, documentation of their tax residence, and either an employment agreement or evidence of being self-employed.
People considering a digital nomad lifestyle in Portugal may be able to take advantage of the Portugal D7 Visa, which is available to those who do not meet the financial criteria for the Portuguese Digital Nomad Visa but still want to work in the country. This visa has a lower income threshold. It is essential to be aware that individuals who are granted the Digital Nomad Visa are able to move through the entire Schengen Zone without the need for a visa and without needing to go through customs.
The Czech Republic
Individuals who are freelancers or self-employed and obtain the Zivno Visa or Trade License Visa from the Czech Republic can stay in the country for up to one year, and can even extend their residency for an additional two years. In order to be eligible, applicants must be citizens of a country outside of the European Economic Area or the European Union and provide evidence that they make at least €5,727 (or $5,600) annually.
Estonia
Estonia allows non-resident foreign employees who are either self-employed or have an active job offer from a business located outside of Estonia, to be present in the country for up to twelve months. In order to be qualified to receive the Digital Nomad Visa of Estonia, applicants must provide evidence that they have earned an average of €3504 gross each month over the preceding six months before they apply.
Germany
In comparison to other European Digital Nomad Visas, the German Freelance Visa process is far more complex and its term is not as long. In order to be eligible, the applicant must be a freelancer or self-employed worker in the field of healthcare, law, taxation, business advice, science, technology, language, or communication.
Applicants must provide evidence that they have enough money to support themselves throughout their stay, usually evidenced by a bank balance of between €3,000 and €5,000. Applicants who are accepted for a visa to Germany are granted temporary residency for three months, and must convert it to a residence permit before the period is over.
Digital nomads can renew their residence permits for a maximum of three years, provided they keep fulfilling the program’s criteria. It is essential to be aware that if you have been granted the German Digital Nomad Visa, your freelance work must be registered with the tax office in Germany as opposed to the trade office. This means that you will need to provide a tax ID for tax related matters.
Hungary
The Hungary Digital Nomad Visa, known as the White Card, has a duration of one year that can be extended for an additional twelve months. Non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens from outside the European Union who can complete their job from a distance and make at least €2,000 per month are qualified for the visa.
Greece
Non-EU, non-EEA, and non-Swiss citizens who work remotely are allowed to stay in Greece for a period of up to one year thanks to the Greece Digital Nomad Visa. The visa can be renewed for an additional year beyond its expiry date and the application process is fairly simple. In order to qualify for the Digital Nomad Visa of Greece, individuals must show that they make a minimum of €3,500 net income monthly after taxes.
Iceland
In addition to the usual criteria needed to get a Digital Nomad Visa (non-EEA, non-EFTA, or non-EU citizenship and the ability to do remote work and provide for oneself during the stay), Iceland has an additional requirement. Essentially, applicants must originate from a nation that has a visa-free arrangement with Iceland. People who are eligible for the visa must show evidence of making a minimum of €6,866 (or 100,000 KR) per month.
Italy
Italy is one of the European Union countries yet to put into effect their Digital Nomad Visa. The Italian government has plans to introduce the Italy Digital Nomad Visa during the upcoming year, allowing foreign remote workers who are not from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland to move to Italy, become a resident, and start working remotely there.
Although the Digital Nomad Visa is not available yet, foreigners who want to be based in Italy can submit an application for the Italian Self-employment Visa. This visa allows them to live in the country for one year, with the potential for the period of residency to be enlarged. Applicants must provide evidence that they earned a minimum of €8,500 before taxes in the year before they applied.
Malta
The Malta Digital Nomad Visa, also known as the Nomad Residence Permit, allows people who are not Swiss, EEA, or EU citizens to live in Malta temporarily as long as they can provide services online through a secure internet connection and their job is located outside of Malta.
The Nomad Residence Permit is valid for a maximum of one year when first issued. Digital nomads can get their permits extended if they stay eligible for it. Applicants need to show evidence that they make a minimum of €2,700 gross each month in order to be eligible.
Norway
The Svalbard Digital Nomad Visa, also known as the Norwegian Digital Nomad Visa, allows overseas remote employees to reside in Svalbard and do their job from that location. Svalbard is an archipelago lying in the northernmost region of the world, between the North Pole and Norway’s mainland. It is home to a population of people.
Digital nomads can remain living in Norway indefinitely as long as they continue to work at a distance. The only requirements for people of foreign nationality to qualify are to provide evidence that they make a minimum annual income of €35,000 or more. Moreover, individuals must have at least one Norwegian client.
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