The Croatian digital nomad visa was established in January 2021, by adjusting Croatia’s Aliens Act in order to become one of the first countries in the world to legally regulate the stay of digital nomads.
According to Schengen Visa Info, the Digital Nomad Visa will allow internationals who are engaged in jobs independent of location and time, to work in Croatia.
As Visa Guide World explains:
- A Croatian digital nomad visa lets foreigners live in Croatian territory while working remotely as a freelancer or private business owner.
- Although it is called a digital nomad visa, it is actually more like a temporary residence permit issued for foreign freelancers.
- The Croatian digital nomad visa can be issued for a maximum of one year and cannot be extended. However, you can apply again for another visa after six months have passed since your previous digital nomad visa expired.
Benefits of the Croatian digital nomad visa
According to Visa Guide World, there are important benefits to obtaining this visa, including:
- Exemption from double taxation. As a digital nomad, you will not be required to pay additional Croatian tax if you do not work for a Croatian employer.
- Obtaining a Croatian digital nomad visa enables you to start on the path to Croatian citizenship. Individuals who reside in Croatian territory for five years become eligible for permanent residency which then enables Croatian citizenship eligibility.
History of Croatia’s Digital Nomad Visa
Prior to announcing the decision to institute the digital nomad visa, Plenkovic met with Dutch entrepreneur, Jan de Jong, who had been living in Split, Croatia, for 14 years.
De Jong had sent an open letter to the Prime Minister, calling on him to follow the example of Estonia, and establish visas for digital nomads as soon as possible.
In his letter, he pointed out that outside the tourism season many apartments remain empty in Croatia, and owners find it difficult to rent them out.
De Jong said that he believes that with a Digital Nomad Visa, digital nomads could be the new tenants of these apartments and contribute to Croatia’s economy through consumer spending.
“If we open Croatia for tourists, why not open this country for highly paid digital nomads?” De Jong asks in his letter.
Estonia’s government amended its Aliens Act in June 2020, allowing the establishment of a Digital Nomad Visa, thus becoming one of the first countries in the world to create such a visa.
According to Schengen Visa Info, Estonia’s Ministry of Interior believes that around 1,800 people could be eligible to apply for its Digital Nomad Visa per year.
According to a report by MBO Partners, in the US alone, 4.8 million independent workers describe themselves as digital nomads.
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