Croatia

1 programme · EUR · Croatian

Re-run the quiz →

Dubrovnik · red-roofed old town by the sea

Showing Croatia's requirements for British citizens. Other passports:🇺🇸 US 🇿🇦 ZA 🇨🇦 CA 🇦🇺 AU All passports

Last updated June 2026Sources:mup.gov.hr,mup.gov.hr,citizenremote.com,fragomen.com

and 9 more

Digital Nomad Permit

Official nomad visa

What this visa gets you

Visa
Entry document
Temporary residency
2 years initially, up to 2 years total
Permanent residency
Not via this programme
Citizenship
Not via this programme

Nomads report that Split and Croatia generally are more expensive than expected, especially compared to Bulgaria, Romania, or Turkey. One user noted winter apartment prices were around $700/month in a decent location near Old Town, but warned summer prices can triple. Restaurants are described as touristy and not cheap, though not outrageous either.

Nomads report that Split and Croatia generally are more expensive than expected, especially compared to Bulgaria, Romania, or Turkey. One user noted winter apartment prices were around $700/month in a decent location near Old Town, but warned summer prices can triple. Restaurants are described as touristy and not cheap, though not outrageous either.
r/digitalnomad ↗
Community members report that locals in Croatia generally have no resentment toward remote workers, unlike sentiments seen toward expats in Portugal. However, several Croatian commenters note that integration is difficult without learning the language, and nomads tend to end up socialising mainly with other foreigners. One Russian nomad in Zagreb noted bureaucracy is slow but the overall vibe is relaxed.
r/croatia ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Income requirement: 3.622,50 EUR mjesecno (najmanje 2,5 prosjecne mjesecne neto isplacene place za prethodnu godinu); alternativno usteda od 43.470,00 EUR za 12 mjeseci ili 65.205,00 EUR za 18 mjeseci
Application fee: €56
Family allowed: Yes

Nomads report the application process is handled at the local police administration office — not purely online — and can involve many trips and long queues. One user described it as 'dozens of trips' and 'hours spent in line,' though experiences reportedly vary by region. Patience with bureaucracy is a recurring theme across multiple threads.

Nomads report the application process is handled at the local police administration office — not purely online — and can involve many trips and long queues. One user described it as 'dozens of trips' and 'hours spent in line,' though experiences reportedly vary by region. Patience with bureaucracy is a recurring theme across multiple threads.
r/expats ↗r/croatia ↗
Several users mention that health insurance is a required part of the application. One nomad reports using SafetyWing travel insurance to satisfy the requirement initially (describing it as cheap but limited), and later transitioning to a more comprehensive annual policy costing roughly $2,100 for the year once approved.
r/expats ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

How do British citizens apply for the Croatia Digital Nomad Permit?

Can British citizens apply from inside Croatia?

Yes. British applicants may submit from inside Croatia.

How long does the Croatia Digital Nomad Permit really take for British citizens?

18–22 weeks (≈ 4–5 months)

Police clearance (verified)4w
Apostille (verified)4w
Consular appointment (typical)4w
Processing 8–12w (typical)8w
Post-arrival registration (typical)2w

Typical processing: 8–12 weeks. The rest is doc gathering + waiting in a queue, none of which the consulate counts.

Avoid these

What do people get wrong about the Croatia Digital Nomad Permit?

Underestimating timing by a factor of 2–3. The "60-day processing" line is real, but it's only the consulate's processing window. The door-to-door reality includes police clearance, apostille, consular appointment lead, and post-arrival registration, so most applicants land between 4 and 7 months.
Skipping or mis-formatting the apostille. Apostille is the single most cited rejection reason. Every supporting document from your home country needs an apostille from the right authority, and they expire. Don't apostille more than 4 months before submission.

Documents

What British applicants typically submit

Documents needing an apostille (British authorities):

ACRO Police Certificate (criminal background check)

Worth knowing: As a post-Brexit third-country national, a UK citizen has visa-free Schengen short-stay access (90 days in any 180), so can either apply at a Croatian police administration after entering Croatia visa-free or apply before travel at the Croatian Embassy's VFS Global centres in London, Manchester or Edinburgh. The criminal background check is the UK ACRO Police Certificate, which must be apostilled by the FCDO Legalisation Office because Croatia is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention.

Tax

How is Digital Nomad Permit income taxed for British citizens?

Foreign-source income earned from remote work is exempt from Croatian personal income tax for the duration of the digital nomad permit. This is a statutory exemption tied to the digital nomad status, not a special reduced-rate relocation regime. The exemption covers active remote work income; passive income (capital gains, rents, dividends, pensions) and any Croatian-source income are not covered. Time on this permit does not count toward Croatian tax residency automatically, but living more than 183 days or forming a centre of vital interests can trigger residency, which requires case-by-case analysis. Family members do not automatically receive the same exemption.

Tax treaty with BritishYes

Social-security totalisationYes

Money, roughly (indicative)

Regime: Foreign income not taxed, about 0% effective tax on €60k/yr.

Croatia does not tax foreign-source income for digital-nomad permit holders, and the permit does not enrol you in the local contribution system, so there's little or no Croatian social to pay if you keep income foreign-sourced. Local income would be taxed normally.

Living comfortably to well in Split runs about €1,500–€2,100/mo for one person, incl. rent. Roughly 63% less than the same living in London, which runs about £3,400/mo (≈ €4,000).

Estimate your take-home in the tax calculator →

Worth a specialist's time. A short call before you commit usually pays for itself, especially for US citizens (FEIE/FATCA), existing UK ties, or unwinding SA tax residency.

Community members warn that the widely-reported 'no income tax' framing is misleading. Nomads note that only foreign-sourced employment income is exempt — passive income like dividends is still taxable — and that applicants must still comply with tax obligations in their home country. The US–Croatia tax treaty (signed relatively recently) is flagged as relevant context for American nomads, though its practical implications are described as still being worked out.

Community members warn that the widely-reported 'no income tax' framing is misleading. Nomads note that only foreign-sourced employment income is exempt — passive income like dividends is still taxable — and that applicants must still comply with tax obligations in their home country. The US–Croatia tax treaty (signed relatively recently) is flagged as relevant context for American nomads, though its practical implications are described as still being worked out.
r/digitalnomad ↗r/croatia ↗

Anecdotal: what nomads report, not official guidance.

Recommended for your move

FAQ

Croatia Digital Nomad Permit: common questions

Can British citizens get the Croatia Digital Nomad Permit?

Yes. The Digital Nomad Permit is open to British passport holders as non-EU nationals. The main requirement is proof of income of at least €3,623 per month.

Can I apply for the Croatia Digital Nomad Permit from inside Croatia?

Yes. British applicants may submit the Digital Nomad Permit application from inside Croatia.

Do I need an apostille for the Croatia Digital Nomad Permit?

Yes. Supporting documents issued in United Kingdom (such as your police clearance) must be apostilled by the competent United Kingdom authority before submission. Apostilles can expire, so don't obtain them more than a few months ahead of applying.

How much does the Croatia Digital Nomad Permit cost?

The government application fee is about €56. Budget separately for police clearance, apostille (if required), translations, and required health insurance.

Can I bring my family on the Croatia Digital Nomad Permit?

Yes. Spouses and dependent children can generally be included as dependants, usually with a higher combined income requirement and their own supporting documents.

What's next

Keep going

Compare with another country

See Croatia side-by-side with similar programmes.

Where you keep the most

Every country ranked by what's left after tax and living costs.

Re-run the quiz

Different answers may surface a programme you didn't consider.

Track changes

Every dated change we've logged for Croatia: income thresholds, fees, consular policy.

Expatlas provides information for orientation only and is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with official government sources and consult an immigration lawyer for your specific case.