Why you should follow in the footsteps of these nomads and move to Croatia to brighten up your 2022

Introducing the first expats to receive the new digital nomad visa and call Croatia home

Old Town, Dubrovnik. Credit: Jimmy Huftalen

Ever thought about moving to another country? The sand, the sea, the blue skies. It’s what many dream of, especially if you’re living in the northern hemisphere.

Before August 2020, moving to another country was just a pipe dream. However, since the new digital nomad visa was announced, you can turn those dreams into reality.

A never before visa is currently being worked on globally as more and more countries jump on board with welcoming digital nomads to the country to pump the economy. The visa allows digital nomads to legally live, work and earn a tax-free income via remote working in a country that accredits the visa, changing the face of remote working.

One-way ticket to Croatia

The race to secure a visa in each country and open its doors to wide-eyed digital nomads was on, and Estonia won first place.

Estonia became the first to approve the visa and encourage digital nomads to pack up and move in June 2020. Croatia quickly became the second to announce its eagerness to welcome nomads on 1 January 2021.

With over 2000 applicants anticipating the decision on their Croatian visa, Jan De Jong, the Dutch Entrepreneur and man in charge at the forefront of the visa launch, said he is overwhelmed by the feedback.

Jan introduced the visa to the Croatian government on 11 July last year. The 36-year-old said, “I wrote an open letter on LinkedIn to the prime minister; it exploded with over 300k views, and I was invited to discuss the visa with him."

Working on the online application process, Jan said, “We’re talking about digital nomads. They shouldn’t have to queue up in front of an embassy.” The visa aims to regulate digital nomads in the country and offers complete transparency.

18 countries with the digital nomad visa The visa is now active in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Dubai, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Anguilla.

Work from anywhere!

Think about it: a laptop, margarita, and high-speed internet connection are all you need to succeed as a digital nomad. One of the first to receive the Croatian digital nomad visa was Melissa Paul, a 53-year-old American from California who has a thirst for travel and a love for Croatia.

Melissa working from home in her Croatian apartment Credit: Melissa Paul

Melissa lives in Labin, a hilltop town in Croatia located in the Istria region of the country. Melissa’s tourist visa was set to expire in January 2021, and her time in Croatia ended. Luckily for Melissa, the digital nomad visa was approved just in time, and Melissa became one of the first to apply.

“I heard about the digital nomad visa in the summer of 2020, when rumours were going around the expat and digital nomad communities.” With three days to apply, Melissa filled out the paperwork to submit her application. “It's intense and stressful but worth it to be able to live and explore this beautiful country!” said Melissa.

The only negative of the visa is that it’s non-renewable, and that definitely doesn’t qualify as a negative in any digital nomad book.

Enjoying the outdoors. Melissa’s favourite quality of Croatia. Credit: Melissa Paul

A lover of the historic sites and the nature Croatia has to offer, Melissa added, “Being able to take my laptop and go is a blessing. I can work on any bench, in the car, in the middle of an old ruin, at a cafe, or on the beach.”

Becoming a part of the community

Jess Romano, a 32-year-old in the technology sector in San Francisco, California, decided to apply for the visa with her travel partner in crime and boyfriend, Thibaud. The two were travelling Europe when the pandemic hit. Jess was also in the first group of approvals for the visa in Croatia in January 2021.

The adventurous duo who loves to live life to the fullest believed the visa was the best option to continue to allow them to safely travel and work in Europe during the pandemic. “We chose to avoid bigger cities and wanted to move to a small town on an island,” said Jess. Jess said her application experience was “fairly straightforward,” and it only took a few weeks to process.

The couple live in a quiet town on the northern coast of Jelsa, Hvar island. The town is 27km east of Hvar centre. Jess and her partner rent an apartment with a separate kitchen and balcony views, their dream Croatian home.

Housing is cheap and affordable in Croatia, an essential for digital nomads who thrive on living out of a backpack. With no plans to return to America, Jess said, “We have made great friends here and feel like we are a part of the community.”

After only being in the country for three months, Jess and her partner are besotted with their new home and stress-free, flexible lifestyle. For updates on the couple’s experience, visit their blog, Tales Traversed.

The couple enjoying the Croatian hiking trails. Credit: Jess Romano

Dreams do come true

Every British couple has had a conversation down the pub with their friends about their plans to travel the world together. Well, this couple pulled through and chose to up and leave for Croatia following the ‘work from home’ guidelines. Lisa and Kevin Macadam, a married couple in their 50s from Yorkshire, in the UK, moved to the coastal village of Novigrad, in Zadar county on the 01 March 2021 and are currently in the process of their visa applications.

The couple have visited Croatia on holiday previously and enjoyed Croatia’s beautiful beaches and social communities, an easy destination choice for them to choose as their next home.

Dog Charlie has adapted well to his new home. Credit: Lisa

The duo seized the opportunity and took their dog and cat with them in search of a warmer climate, cheap cost of living, and seaside walks. A hiking fan, Lisa discussed how her new scenic walk had stepped up its game. Trekking past waterfalls, finding mussels in the nearby harbour, and watching the beautiful seaside sunsets are all treasures of Croatia.

Scuba diving is another main attraction in Croatia. Many digital nomads stated they enjoy a deep dive after a long working day on Zoom, not your usual nine to five.

Appreciating their new home, Lisa said, “Why wait if you could move now?”

Lisa and Kevin on one of their daily scenic walks. Credit: Lisa and Kevin

To qualify for the Croatian digital nomad visa, you’ll need:

• To apply on an individual basis.

• Have a stable income and prove that you have a job outside of Croatia or are self-employed.

• Pay 590 kuna application fee (£67.22/$91.97) and 35 kuna (£3.99/$5.46) in tax stamps.

• Earn a minimum of €2,500 (£2,157.82/$389.71) a month.

• Pass a criminal background check.

• Proof of travel and health insurance.

• Proof of accommodation in Croatia.

Three areas of Croatia that you could call home. Credit: Kellie Williams