In the last few years, you have probably come across the term “digital nomad.” You maybe thought that it referred to yet another poorly defined profession or a new trendy lifestyle, but people who consider themselves digital nomads live all around Croatia, the EU and the world. Since the start of the pandemic, we have seen how remote working and technology-assisted work is more than possible, which also means that there are more and more digital nomads.

Who are digital nomads?

According to the definition by the Croatian Ministry of Interior, a digital nomad is “a third-country national who is employed or performs work through communication technology for a company or his own company that is not registered in the Republic of Croatia and does not perform work or provide services to employers in the Republic of Croatia.” Naturally, this definition is a bit too specific and refers exclusively to “third-country nationals,” or citizens from countries outside of the EU. A better and more simple definition defines digital nomads as people who perform work through their laptops and smartphones from all corners of the world. All they need is an internet connection. They mostly work in the IT sector given that these jobs allow people to not be tied down to a single place and give them the opportunity to travel freely and often change their place of residence. Digital nomads are not necessarily self-employed, although that is also a possibility in professions in design and marketing.

Are there digital nomads in Croatia?

As a testament to the number of digital nomads in Croatia, the term “digital nomad” has been introduced into Croatian law due to the need for their status to be regulated by law. On January 1, 2021, a special visa for digital nomads has been introduced by the Croatian government. As we have already mentioned, this visa is only needed for citizens of “third countries,” for non-EU citizens. Temporary stay for digital nomads can be valid for up to a year, while a new application can be submitted 6 months after the expiry of temporary stay. You can find more information on the official Croatian Ministry of Interiors website.

Why Croatia?

We think it is pretty clear why many digital nomads choose Croatia as one of the countries for their temporary stay. As the first and probably most obvious reason, the beautiful Croatian nature has to be mentioned. From the Adriatic coast, to the Gorski Kotar and Lika regions, all the way to the Slavonian plains, Croatia offers a variety of different activities and moods in a relatively small area. The second most common reason why digital nomads visit Croatia is the lower standard of living compared to the rest of the EU and other developed western countries. With generally higher salaries from western countries, people can live very comfortable lifestyles in Croatia.

If you decide to visit Croatia and stay as a digital nomad, we recommend that you visit our website where you can find the perfect accommodation to make your time in Croatia as pleasant as possible.