New Croatian Regulations Allow Digital Nomads to Stay for Three Years

Key Highlights:

• Croatia now permits digital nomads to live and work in the country for up to three years under revised rules.

• Between January and September 2024, 824 applications were submitted for Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa.

• Russians and Ukrainians have filed the most applications for this visa since 2022.

• Changes to the Aliens Act, effective mid-March 2024, allow non-EU nationals to apply for extended temporary residence permits under the Digital Nomad Visa program.

Croatia Extends Digital Nomad Visa Stay to Up to Three Years

Digital nomads now have the opportunity to stay in Croatia for significantly longer periods, thanks to recent changes to the Aliens Act. As of March 2024, non-EU citizens can apply for a temporary residence permit valid for up to 18 months, with the option to extend it once, allowing a total stay of up to three years.

The revised policy also enables family members of digital nomads to join them in Croatia.

Previously, digital nomads could remain in Croatia for a maximum of 12 months, with an optional six-month extension. The new law doubles the potential duration of stay, making the country even more appealing for remote workers.

“The digital nomad program is designed as a tourist promotion of the Republic of Croatia, and in this way, digital nomads who want to extend their stay in Croatia beyond the existing 12 months are enabled to do so.”
— Croatian Ministry of the Interior

Rules on Extensions and Eligibility

Under the new rules:

• Those who initially apply for less than 18 months can only request an extension of up to six additional months.

• The full 18 + 18 month stay is only available to those who originally requested the maximum period.

Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa allows remote workers employed by or running companies outside Croatia to legally live and work in the country.

Application Statistics & Leading Nationalities

The popularity of Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa remains strong. In the first nine months of 2024, the Ministry of the Interior received 824 applications, of which 342 were approved.

Since 2022, the majority of applications have come from:

• Russia (105 approved in 2024)

• Ukraine (88 approved)

• Followed by the United States (51) and the United Kingdom (12)

As of September 30, 2024, 629 digital nomads were living in Croatia on valid temporary residence permits.

The uptick in applications from Russian and Ukrainian nationals follows the onset of the conflict in Ukraine, highlighting Croatia’s role as a safe and appealing destination for remote work.