Croatia Digital Nomad Temporary Stay guide

The basics

Based on the official MUP page, the Digital Nomad Temporary Stay is a temporary stay permit for third-country nationals who work through communication technology for a foreign employer or for their own company that is not registered in Croatia.

Validity

Up to a maximum of eighteen months, possibly less, per the MUP page

Stay per entry

Not stated as a per-entry figure. The permit is granted for the period approved, up to eighteen months

Where you apply

Online through the MUP digital nomad portal, or at a Croatian embassy or consulate, or a police administration or station, depending on whether you need a visa to enter Croatia

Fee

The MUP page lists 46.45 EUR for granting temporary stay, 9.29 EUR for the biometric residence permit administrative fee and 31.85 EUR for the biometric residence card (59.73 EUR for the accelerated procedure)

Who it's for

The MUP page defines a digital nomad as a third-country national, meaning a non EU/EEA/Swiss citizen. Whether you need a visa to enter Croatia varies by nationality, and this affects where you apply.

• Employed by, or doing work through communication technology for, a company not registered in Croatia.
• Working through your own company that is not registered in Croatia.
• Not performing work or providing services to employers in Croatia.
• Close family members of a digital nomad who has been granted temporary stay may join them through a separate family reunification procedure. Family applications submitted before the digital nomad has been granted temporary stay are rejected, per the MUP page.

How to apply

The MUP page says the application can be submitted online. It is forwarded to the police administration or station for your intended place of stay, and you receive an automatic confirmation. A case worker may later request more documents. In-person applications use Form 1a.

• If you need a visa to enter Croatia: apply at a Croatian diplomatic mission or consular office. If the stay is approved, you obtain a long-term D visa. An application submitted at a police administration or station by someone who needs a visa is rejected, per the MUP page.
• If you need a visa and apply online while already in Croatia (for example on a Schengen short-stay visa C), the MUP page says you may stay only within the visa's validity and permitted days. You have no right to stay until the decision becomes enforceable.
• If you hold a valid biometric residence permit or long-term D visa from another Member State, the MUP page says you may not need to obtain a long-term D visa and may register your residence at the police after approval.
• If you do not need a visa: you can apply in person at a Croatian embassy or consulate, or at the competent police administration or station if you are legally residing in Croatia. You may remain in Croatia until the decision becomes enforceable.

Documents

Copies of documents should be in Croatian or English, per the MUP page. The page lists the following.

Monthly means threshold

The MUP page states a current minimum of 3,622.50 EUR per month, increased by 10% of the average monthly net salary for each additional family member or partner. The amount is revised, so check the page before applying.

• Passport copy. Its validity must be three months longer than the intended stay.
• Proof of health insurance for the planned period in Croatia. Travel or private insurance must cover Croatia.
• Proof of purpose: a statement from the employer or applicant, plus either an employment or service contract with a foreign employer, or registration of your own company with the relevant bodies and proof that you do the work through it.
• Proof of means of subsistence: a bank statement showing the total amount for the intended stay, or a bank statement showing regular income at the required monthly amount, or at least six months of payslips at the required monthly amount. Files must be clearly labelled PDFs of up to 2MB.

Stay and extensions

Per the MUP page, if temporary stay is granted for less than 18 months, you may apply for an extension no later than 60 days before the current stay expires. That extension is granted for a maximum of 6 months. Extensions are filed in person at the police administration or station for your place of temporary residence.

The page also says a new application can be submitted 6 months after a previous temporary stay expires. The sources do not state whether an extension is possible after a full 18-month grant, or what the extension fee is.

Things to confirm

• Whether a long-term D visa fee or a service fee applies. The MUP page does not state them.
• Whether a criminal record certificate, accommodation proof or photographs are required. The MUP page does not list them.
• Processing times. Sources reviewed do not give an official figure.
• The current income threshold and full document list, directly at mup.gov.hr, since the amount is revised.
• Entry is at the discretion of the border officer. Whether you need a visa to enter Croatia depends on your nationality.

Sources

Every claim above comes from these pages. Higher tiers carry more authority. How we tier sources.