By: Nick Callos
With sapphire waters, a cozy Mediterranean climate, ancient walled towns, a reasonable cost of living, and an enjoyable pace of life, Croatia turns dreams into reality. It’s not a surprise that the Croatia Temporary Stay Visa, which began in 2021, has become highly sought-after among digital nomads and remote workers.
As remote work becomes increasingly common following the COVID-19 pandemic, countries around the world are improving or creating new visas for digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers, retirees and others. Croatia is among the most popular options on the long list of places offering digital nomad visas.
- Read our full guide to digital nomad visas here.
In this article, we’ll tell you all you need to know about Croatia’s Temporary Stay Visa, including:
- How to qualify
- Necessary documents
- How to apply and tips for applying
- The cost of the Croatia Temporary Stay Visa
- Who you can bring with you
Who qualifies for Croatia’s Temporary Stay Visa?
To qualify for a Temporary Stay Visa to Croatia, you must:
- Be employed through remote work with an employment, self-employment, freelance contracts, etc.
- Get a background check in your home country to demonstrate you haven’t been convicted of serious criminal offenses
- Have proof of accommodation in Croatia, such as a rental agreement
- Show you have savings or income of ~$29,500 USD per year
- Arrange travel and health insurance for the duration of your stay
Note: The income or savings requirement should be no less than HRK 17,822.50 per month. This could change, so check Croatia’s Ministry of the Interior website before applying. Also, know that exchange rates differ, so the requirement in USD income could change. As of late 2022, the minimum income requirement is equal to about ~$2,455 USD per month.
What documents do you need to apply for a Temporary Stay Visa to Croatia?
Along with the application, you must prepare and submit the following documents:
- Copy of a valid travel document (i.e. passport): The expiration date of the passport must be more than three months after the end of your desired stay.
- Proof of health insurance for your entire stay: This can also be travel insurance, but the insurance must cover Croatia.
- A proof of purpose (employment contract showing you work remotely): You need a statement from your employer or third-country national to affirm you perform work remotely using communication technology. You also must provide your employment contract or service contract with that foreign company.
- Note: If you own your own company, you must show registration of your company with your local government, as well as proof you perform tasks for that company.
- Proof of support: This can be pay stubs, bank statements, tax return documents and other evidence you have the income and/or savings to support your life while on the Temporary Stay Visa in Croatia. For income, you must show payslips from the past six months.
- Proof you have not been convicted of criminal offenses: This must be a legalized document (read more here).
- Address in Croatia: You must have a rental agreement in place.
How to apply for a Temporary Stay Visa to Croatia
The application you must fill out is Form 1a (bilingual form). You can also fill out the Croatia Temporary Stay Visa application online.
- Note that you can arrive in Croatia first before you apply for a Temporary Stay Visa. This will allow you to find the right home for your needs, as an address is necessary to complete the Temporary Stay Visa application. We actually recommend this route, even if you have to get a tourist visa first. After all, you don’t want to end up with an apartment you don’t want (read our digital nomad housing guide here). US passport holders can stay in Croatia for up to 90 days without a visa, which is ample time to handle a Temporary Stay Visa application.
How you go about applying for a Croatia Temporary Stay Visa depends on if you are required to hold a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia.
- If you need a visa to enter the country, then apply directly for a Temporary Stay Visa at an embassy or consulate of the Republic of Croatia. You can search for a Croatian embassy or consulate near you on this webpage.
- If you aren’t required to hold a visa to enter the country, you can arrive in Croatia first and then submit your application at the competent police administration station according to your temporary residence address. You can see the list of police administration stations on this webpage.
If you’d prefer to get the application complete ahead of time, without traveling first, then feel free to fill out the Croatia Temporary Stay Visa application online. You can update your residence address after arrival with the competent police station after being granted the visa. You have 3 days to submit your temporary residence address if applying after arrival in the country, and 30 days after visa approval to do so if applying from your home country.
After arrival, you also must obtain a Biometric Residence Permit from the competent police station according to your local address.
How much does the Croatia Temporary Stay Visa cost?
If you submit the application at an embassy or consulate, the costs are:
- HRK 420 for granting temporary stay
- HRK 460 for the Temporary Stay Visa
- HRK 310 for the Biometric Residence Card
That’s a total of HRK 1190 ($163 USD as of late 2022).
If you submit the application at a local police station in Croatia, the costs are:
- HRK 350 for granting temporary stay
- HRK 70 for administration fees
- HRK 240 for the Biometric Residence Card
That’s a total of HRK 660 ($91 USD as of late 2022).
Payments can be made online if submitting the application online. The relevant IBAN number and reference number for ACH payment can be found on the Ministry of Interior webpage about Temporary Stay Visas in Croatia.
Who can you bring on a Temporary Stay Visa in Croatia?
Digital nomads applying for a Temporary Stay Visa for Croatia can bring close family members. This includes:
- Spouses, children and close relatives that live with you
- Common law marriage partners who’ve been together for longer than 3 years (shorter if you have a child together). You must prove you’ve been together through witness statements, rental agreements, joint bank account statements and/or other supporting documentation.
If you bring family members, your income and/or savings requirement is increased by 10% for each additional family member. A family of four would thus need to earn 30% more than the minimum monthly income required for the visa (HRK 17,822.50 per month).
Get a Temporary Stay Visa and live and work in Croatia
Now that you know all about the Croatia Temporary Stay Visa, it’s time to apply! If you plan to apply for this digital nomad visa, feel free to start the conversation on Facebook. We’d love to hear about your experience.
Best of luck on your digital nomad adventures—we can’t wait to hear about how you’re living in Split, Zagreb or another destination in Croatia!
Wish to check out other digital nomad visas and destinations? Have a look at some of our other guides below. We’ll also have more articles on Croatia coming soon.
About the Author
Nick Callos has always had a passion for reading, writing, and discovering the new and unknown. Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Nick holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Boston College. He currently splits his time between his hometown, Chengdu, China, and the open road. A full-time travel writer, Nick hopes his work can inspire others to explore the world more deeply and enjoy the digital nomad lifestyle.
Featured image by Matthias Mullie on Unsplash
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