The Croatian government has revised the terms of the program for remote workers, making structural changes to the law on residence permits. Now digital nomads can stay in the country for up to 18 months instead of the previous 12.
However, there is a key detail that is not mentioned in most sources of information. An extension is possible only once within the total period, and not according to the “18+18” scheme. If you initially issued an annual residence permit, you can add only six months, period.
The financial threshold has become higher
The new minimum income is 3,295€ per month. It is fixed by amendments to article 12 of the Law “On Foreigners” of 2025. There are two ways to confirm it.:
- a bank statement for the last 6 months with regular receipts;
- payslips from the employer/clients for the same period.
For those who prefer a “safety cushion”, there is an option with a one-time confirmation of 40,000€ in the account.
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The rules for moving with your family have been preserved. Spouses, children, and parents can apply after the main applicant receives the visa. The validity period of the visa will be similar. Family members must provide:
- Documents translated into Croatian/English (including birth and marriage certificates).
- Health insurance is now required for every family member, including newborns.
There used to be a loophole. Nomads changed the purpose of their stay and stayed longer. A year later, the couple could switch roles. Those who attended the reunion became the main applicant, and the former nomad was transferred to a reunification visa. But since March 2024, the MUP has been blocking such schemes if it sees them as an attempt to circumvent the rules.
Practical details for those planning to move
Do not confuse the new rules with the possibility of unlimited renewal. After an 18-month stay, you must leave the country for at least 6 months. Only then can you submit a second application.
Compared to other European countries, Croatian conditions remain competitive. Portugal offers a 2-year residence permit with the possibility of extension for another 3 years, but with a more complicated procedure for obtaining it. Italy and Spain issue nomad visas with lower income requirements. If the conditions of the program are met, visas can be extended and transferred to permanent residence and citizenship. However, it is important to keep in mind that longer periods of residence lead to tax residency.
It is important to note that the Croatian authorities have not yet provided for the possibility of switching from a digital nomad visa to permanent residence and citizenship. Therefore, for nomads planning to obtain a passport of a European country, other destinations are preferred – Italy, Portugal, Spain, France.
According to statistics, Croatia issued more than 3,700 visas to digital nomads in 2024. This is 45% more than a year earlier. At the same time, after the latest changes, experts predict an increase in this flow by another 30-35% by the end of 2025.
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