Have you ever heard so much hype about a country that you feel like you just HAVE to go!? Croatia. The name itself sounds like an oasis full of beautiful beaches, palm trees and crystal blue waters with a side of ancient history. Frankly this paradise is exactly what people from Croatia are expecting.

Croatia is very westernized European country swarming with tourists, as well as a perfect place to party by boat.

However it is also perfect place for a digital nomad wanting to get some work done combined with vacation.

Croatia has so many to offer you. 

Getting to Croatia

If you’re visiting Croatia can use car, bus, ferry or airplane.

Bus:

Buses are pretty inexpensive and service is wide and reliable.

Ferry:

This is a great option if you’re taking a trip to Italy or already working remotely. Consider taking a ferry over from Venice, Pesaro, Pescara or Bari. It’s a long route, but a great way to get some work done and take a break on a boat. There’s also lots of surrounding islands you can build into your itinerary such as Hvar, Korcula or Brac.

Airplane:

The major cities in Croatia such as Zagreb, Split, Zadar or Dubrovnik have international airports with daily direct flights from most major European cities. There are so many options, including low cost airlines flying to major Croatian airports.

As it is increasing in popularity, there are more and more direct flights being added each tourist season. It’s only a two hour flight from London, Paris or Amsterdam.

Travel in a Group:

This is a great option for people that are heading to Croatia to relax and party…not so much for the working digital nomad. There are a ton of options for a party boat week in Croatia, but we would like to highlight two popular options:

Boat rental is one of the most popular ways to see Croatia. They have the most amount of boats running and they run well into October! You can even do a well-planned one way Croatia route from Split to Dubrovnik (or vice versa!) and islands in between. Busabout also has a really popular Balkan’s trip where you spend two weeks traveling around Croatia, Montenegro and Greece. It’s perfect for travelers that wanted to see more than just one country.

The Croatia route was The Yacht Week’s original route when they first began in 2006. Since then, it’s become THE spot for a week of partying floatilla style- a lot of smaller boats that travel around together. The Yacht Week has really put Croatia on the map for American tourists and although it’s one of the more expensive options, you get awesome perks like private sunset parties.

Where to work:

We spent a lot of our time working in our airbnb in Croatia since there was no co-working close to where we stayed inside the Old Town in either Split or Dubrovnik (Dubrovnik having no co-working spaces at all). Split has four co-working spaces outside of the old town, and a great coffee shop to work right in town. Just be sure to get there early to grab a seat!

TIP: if your lodging is suffering from weak internet, and can’t find a coffee shop to work in, turn to the hotels. In most countries you will always be able to find a chain hotel that has open lobby space, a cafe, and fast internet for you to use. Just be sure to order something and add a tip. It’s a nice break from the crowds and you’ll feel luxurious for the day. We’ve found the best rooftops this way!

Dubrovnik :

A very touristic and the most popular city, but that’s not to say you still shouldn’t pay a visit if you’re in Croatia! Just be sure to stay outside the Old Town so you can live more like a local and not get stuck between floods of people. Because it’s so touristic, there are no co-working spaces available so make sure you book lodging that you like, for you may spend a lot of your days working from there. The good thing that comes with touristic places? They always have luxurious hotels that have impeccable wifi, so definetely explore your options–– who doesn’t like a rooftop workspace with a pool?

Split:

Split has a lot to offer as the second most-popular city to visit in Croatia. It’s a great place to stay and work as well as visit historic sites. Not only do they have co-working options (unlike Dubrovnik) but plenty of cafes to work in as well.

In Split, you’ll be able to divide your time quite nicely from working at one of their famous coffee shops, taking a walking tour and visit the iconic Bell Tower and Cathedrals, spend your weekends at the beach (and beach clubs), and enjoy the local nightlife at one of the Jazz lounges and nightclubs.

Visit Hvar:

Normally an island full of partying it was quite dead when I was there due to the season. Very similar to the other cities in Croatia it was filled with narrow pedestrian streets, beautiful views, and tourist shops to get souvenirs.

You can take a day trip here like I did with a tour through a local hostel, or take a ferry and spend a couple nights. I recommend just a weekend visit as finding places to work is minimal. So enjoy a nice Saturday, buy some local champagne and walk around the town!

Travel with other travelers

Besides the floating festival, otherwise known as Yacht Week, there are some less partying options for digital nomads. Busabout, is a great option that gives you more flexibility and has a hop-on-hop-off model. They have a lot of different destinations and transportation, including Croatia. I like to think of it as a hostel on a boat. It’s for 14 days rather than a week, 30 people on the boat as opposed to 6.

The other companies include Med Sailors, Sail Croatia and Go Croatia Sail. The most important thing is to decide what kind of experience you want, for how long, and what your budget is.

Charter a boat

Depending on your budget and number of people you’re traveling with, this is a great option. There are many sites like Samboat and Zizoo where you can pick anything from a small motor boat for the day to a catamaran and sailboat with a skipper and cabins.

It’s kind of like airbnb for boats, so it’s recommended to book in advance. Depending on the size and kind, you will need a boating license, which you can obtain in Croatia. If you already have a boating license from your home country, they accept some and not others, so be sure to do your homework.

If you want to sit back and relax and not worry about having a license at all, I’d opt for hiring a skipper. Although this option may be more expensive, if you have a big group it could be a great way to have a private boat tour of the islands.

Take a day trip

The great thing about Split is that it makes for a great home base. The islands, Krka National Park or the Plitvice Lakes National Park are not too far away.

Montenegro is also a popular destination from Dubrovnik and is easily accessible by car! In fact, many travelers actually prefer Montenegro to the touristy Croatia. If you’re based out of Split, you can easily take a day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina and see the beautiful sites in Mostar.

Although they make for great day trips, I highly recommend spending more than just one day in Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Croatia in a nutshell: 

Currency: Croatian Kuna (HRK) 1kn = $0.15 USD AND Euro.

Languages: Croatian (English is widely spoken)

Population: 4.1 million

Religion: Majority Catholic

Tipping: waitstaff 10%, taxis 0

Getting around: Very walkable cities, Uber is also available

Foods to try:

• Black risotto, black & white truffles, octopus salad, whole roasted lamb, grilled sardines, dry-cured ham, local cheese, fritule doughnuts, local beer, fresh fish
• Burek – (baked pastries filled with cheese or meat) starting from 12 kuna to 20 kuna, these are hearty and delicious. You MUST try one while in Croatia (and most likely more afterwards!)
• Soparnik – a thin double-crust pizza filled with spinach or blitva (chard) for 10 to 12 kuna
• Pizza – range from 10 to 50 kuna depending on ingredients and you can find really good ones at Italian pizzerias
• Viska pogaca, a type of pie from the island of Vis with anchovies, onion and tomato for approx 25 to 30 kuna. Another must try Croatian delicacy!
• Cevapi or Cevapcici – grilled beef and pork rolls with onions served in a thin bun called lepinja, together with ajvar (a relish of red peppers, with garlic). Mouth watering and really cheap – prices varying greatly based on the number you’re ordering.

Price: Because it’s a popular destination, it’s not the cheapest. Travelers will often pay more than locals because of it being so touristy. Backpackers should plan on spending €75/$85 a day with a mid-range budget being €150/$165 a day (this includes lodging, meals, alcohol and tours)

Safety: Croatia is a very westernized country, it’s definitely safe. But as always when you’re traveling keep your belongings close to you. It is very touristy, and heavy tourism brings petty theft. I got my sunglasses swiped from me on the Riva Promenade while capturing ice cream photos and have 100% put the blame on myself.

Digital Nomad Communities: Digital Nomads Croatia

Temporary stay of digital nomads

A DIGITAL NOMAD IS a third-country national (this means a non EU/EEA/Swiss citizen) who is employed or performs work through communication technology for a company or his own company that is not registered in the Republic of Croatia and does not perform work or provide services to employers in the Republic of Croatia.

Temporary stay is granted for up to a year (possibly even less) and it cannot be extended. A new application for regulating a stay of digital nomads can be submitted 6 months after the expiry of the previously granted temporary stay of digital nomads.

Close family members of a digital nomad who has been granted temporary stay in the Republic of Croatia may join them in the Republic of Croatia (see temporary stay for the purpose of family reunification). 

This includes “common law marriage” partners (non married couples who have been together for longer than 3 years in a childless couple, and shorter if they have a child together). Proof must be provided that they have been together for at least 3 years, through a statement, joint rental agreements, witness statements and other supporting documentation that clearly shows your long term relationship.

APPLYING FOR TEMPORARY STAY

You can submit the application online. It will be forwarded to the competent police administration/station according to the location of your intended stay in the Republic of Croatia. 

You will receive automatic confirmation that we have received your application and will then hear later from your case worker who will review the application and may request further documentation.

The application can also be submitted to the competent authority depending on whether a third-country national is or isn’t required to hold a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia (see Information on the visa system).

IF YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD A VISA TO ENTER THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA:

If you are submitting your application in person, you can submit it abroad at the embassy or consulate of the Republic of Croatia (see list of diplomatic missions/consular posts).
We advise you to contact the competent embassy or consulate in advance for more information on potential restrictions in the work of diplomatic missions/consular posts due to the epidemiological measures in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

IF YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD A VISA TO ENTER THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA:

If you are submitting your application in person, you can submit it at the embassy or consulate of the Republic of Croatia or at the competent police administration/police station according to your temporary residence address (see the list of police administrations/police stations or you can contact the competent police administration/police station for further information on submitting your application in compliance with the epidemiological measures in force due to the COVID-19 epidemic). 

APPLICATION AND DOCUMENTATION

Copies of documents should be submitted in the Croatian or English language.

1. If you are submitting your application in person, you have to fill in Form 1a (bilingual form), or you can submit your application online.

The following should be enclosed to the application:

2. copy of a valid travel document (i.e. passport) (period of validity of a travel document must be three months longer than the period of validity of intended stay)

3. proof of health insurance for the period of time that you plan to be in Croatia (travel or private health insurance must cover the territory of the Republic of Croatia)

4. proof of purpose (a contract of employment or other document such as a signed official letter proving that the person performs work through communication technology for a foreign employer or your own company which is not registered in the Republic of Croatia), that is

● statement from the employer or third-country national (as proof that the person performs work through communication technology), and          

● contract of employment or service contract with a foreign employer, or

● copy of the registration of your own company with the relevant bodies (either tax or business court) and proof that you perform the said tasks through your own company          

5. proof of means of subsistence (money to support yourself) during your stay in the Republic of Croatia

You can submit:

– a bank statement showing you have the total amount required for the year OR

– a bank statement showing proof of regular income to the required monthly amount OR

– payslips for the last six months showing the required monthly amount 

These must be clearly labelled and submitted as a .pdf file.

Pursuant to the Regulation on the manner of calculating and the amount of means of subsistence for third-country nationals in the Republic of Croatia (Official Gazette no. 14/21), which entered into force on 13 February 2021, third-country nationals who are regulating their temporary stay as digital nomads are required to have the amount corresponding to at least 2.5 average monthly net salaries paid for the previous year, in accordance with the official data published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. 

This amount is increased by 10% of the average monthly net salary for each additional family member or life partner or informal life partner. 

Currently, the amount required on a monthly basis is a minimum of 2.870,00 EUR which can be shown through a bank statement showing proof of regular income or payslips for the last six months. 

Alternatively, if you intend to stay in the Republic of Croatia for 12 months, you can provide proof that you have a minimum of 34.440,00 EUR already available in your account.

6. proof that you have not been convicted of criminal offences from your home country or a country in which you have resided for more than one year immediately before arriving in the Republic of Croatia – this must be a legalised document (see Information on the legalization of documents). 

7. provide address in the Republic of Croatia.

When submitting your application and filling in your form, you will be required to provide your address of stay or of intended stay in the Republic of Croatia. 

This is important for determining the police administration/police station which is locally competent for processing your application. If this is the first time you are applying and you do not have an address in the Republic of Croatia, you can provide a temporary address as the address of your intended stay (hostel/hotel if you have a reservation/confirmed reservation of accommodation).

Documents attached to the application for temporay stay for digital nomads (proof of health insurance, proof of means of subsistence, proof of purpose, proof that you have not been convicted of criminal offences) must be submitted in Croatian or English (the translation into Croatian or English must be by an authorized translator) and must clearly state the currency in which funds are stated.   

AFTER YOU RECEIVE NOTIFICATION ON GRANTED TEMPORARY STAY

IF YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HOLD A VISA TO ENTER THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA:

Once you are informed that your temporary stay was granted, you have to contact the embassy or consulate once again to obtain a visa to enter the Republic of Croatia or a biometric residence permit (please inquire beforehand about this possibility at the embassy/consulate). You can also submit your visa application online. All other information about visas is available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

You will have to submit an application for a Category D visa

NOTE: Third-country nationals are obligated to register their temporary residence address at a police administration/police station within 30 days from being granted temporary stay or obtaining the Category D visa, or otherwise their temporary stay will be revoked.

IF YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO HOLD A VISA TO ENTER THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA: 

You are not required to take the steps described above and you can enter the Republic of Croatia in line with the provisions of the Aliens Act.  

UPON ARRIVAL IN THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA – REGISTERING TEMPORARY RESIDENCE ADDRESS AND ISSUANCE OF A BIOMETRIC RESIDENCE PERMIT 

REGISTERING TEMPORARY RESIDENCE ADDRESS

Third-country nationals are obligated to register their temporary residence address within 3 days from their entry in the Republic of Croatia at the competent police administration/police station according to the location of their stay.

You can do this by filling in Form 16a and enclosing one of the following:

– a lease contract (with the landlord)

– a title deed

– a statement from the property owner for his/hers family members to register their residence.

This either has to be done with the landlord present or by having the documents notarised.

ISSUANCE OF A BIOMETRIC RESIDENCE PERMIT

All third-country nationals have to obtain a residence permit – biometric card (must provide photos and biometric data) in person at a police administration/police station (see more information about the rules on photo size and quality).

COSTS 

If the application is submitted at a diplomatic mission/consular post – the costs are paid when applying

● 55,74 EUR  for granting temporary stay, and

● 93,00 EUR for the long-term visa (visa D) (if you submit your visa application through the VFS visa center, you will be charged an additional fee for the service) or

● 41,14 EUR for the biometric residence card (check with the diplomatic mission/consular post about the possibility of obtaining the card).

If the application is submitted at a police administration/police station – the costs are paid after the stay is granted

● 46,45 EUR for granting temporary stay, and

● 9,29 EUR for administrative fees for the issuance of the biometric residence permit and 31,85 EUR for the biometric residence card (59,73 EUR for accelerated procedure). 

PAYMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE FEES ONLINE

ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENCE

The payment of administrative fees for temporary stay via Internet banking (46,45 EUR) is made to the state budget account, IBAN: HR1210010051863000160, model: HR64, reference number: 5002-713-OIB (OIB of the person for whom the administrative fee is being paid, if OIB has been assigned).

Persons who have not been assigned an OIB will have to enter the following reference number: 5002-713-number of a valid travel document.

IMPORTANT: a maximum of 10 numbers, and if the number initially contains zeros (0), they are omitted. NO letter marks, slashes, full stops, commas, etc. are entered.

For example, if the number of the travel document / identity card of a foreign national is AZ004586, then the reference number is: 5002-713-4586 (without letters and zeros, a maximum of ten numbers).

FOR INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS YOU WILL NEED THE BIC/SWIFT CODE WHICH IS NBHRHR2XXXX

FEES FOR BIOMETRIC RESIDENCE PERMIT

a) The payment of a fee for a biometric residence permit via Internet banking in the amount of 31,85 EUR (59,73 EUR  for accelerated procedure) is made to the state budget account, IBAN: HR1210010051863000160, model: HR65, reference number: 7005-485-OIB (OIB of the person for whom the payment is being made). 

Those who have not been assigned an OIB will have to enter the following reference number: 7005-485-RKP-case number.

b) The payment of an administrative fee for the biometric residence permit via Internet banking in the amount of 9,29 EUR is made to the state budget account, IBAN:  HR1210010051863000160, model: HR64, reference number: 5002-713-OIB.

Those who have not been assigned an OIB will have to enter the following reference number: 5002-713-number of a valid travel document.

IMPORTANT: a maximum of 10 numbers, and if the number initially contains zeros (0), they are omitted. NO letter marks, slashes, full stops, commas, etc. are entered.

FOR INTERNATIONAL PAYMENTS YOU WILL NEED THE BIC/SWIFT CODE WHICH IS NBHRHR2XXXX

Proof of online banking payment can then be sent to your case worker in the form of a .pdf document.