Moving to Croatia: a practical guide
Croatia has become one of the most attractive EU bases for digital nomads and relocators, and its trump card over neighbouring Balkan countries is hard to overstate: it is a full member of the European Union, it uses the euro, and since 1 January 2023 it is also part of the Schengen Area. That means a single currency, no internal border checks across most of Europe, EU-standard infrastructure and a dedicated residence track for remote workers — the temporary stay for digital nomads. Add a long Adriatic coast, fast internet and a low cost of living by Western-European standards, and the appeal is clear.
This section is a practical guide to settling in on the ground. We start with the non-regulatory things everyone needs first — a SIM and internet, a bank account, housing, getting around, money and community. Documents, visas, residence permits and taxes are regulated by the state and change periodically, so for those we point you straight to the official sources (MUP, the Tax Administration and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs) rather than repeating rules that may be out of date by the time you move.
Visas, residence and taxes change — verify with the primary source
Rules for entry, the digital nomad temporary stay, residence permits, company registration and taxes in Croatia are revised periodically, and the digital-nomad income threshold is re-indexed every year. Do not rely on retellings in chats or older articles — check the terms, amounts and required documents as of the date of your move directly with the Croatian government bodies (links below).
Primary sources: the Ministry of the Interior (mup.gov.hr) for the digital nomad stay and residence, and the Tax Administration (porezna-uprava.gov.hr) for tax matters — they always carry the current version.
Settling in
SIM card & internet
Croatia has three mobile operators — A1 Croatia, Hrvatski Telekom (HT) and Telemach — all with 5G and good coverage. Prepaid and tourist SIMs are sold at operators' shops, Tisak kiosks and the major airports; as an EU country, Croatia also gives you EU roaming on the right plans. Fixed and mobile internet are fast and affordable, which makes the country a comfortable base for remote work.
Bank account
A local account is opened in person by the major banks — Zagrebačka banka, Privredna banka Zagreb (PBZ), Erste Bank and OTP banka. As a foreigner you will generally need an OIB (the Croatian personal identification number, issued by the Tax Administration), your passport and proof of address; non-residents are usually asked to show an economic link to Croatia. Accounts are held in euros. Confirm the exact document set with the branch in advance, as requirements are tightened from time to time.
Housing & rental
For the first weeks it is convenient to stay in a hotel or apartment and look for a long-term rental on the ground, after seeing the neighbourhood in person. Leases typically run 6–12 months with a deposit, often one month's rent. Prices depend heavily on city and season — the coast and Zagreb are pricier, and Adriatic towns get more expensive in summer. Check the meters, the internet speed and who pays the utilities before signing.
Getting around
Cities have cheap public transport — in Zagreb the ZET network of trams and buses covers the centre well, and trams make a car unnecessary day to day. Between cities there are frequent buses, some trains, and ferries along the coast and to the islands. For more freedom many rent a car; how that works is covered in our car-rental section.
Money (euro)
Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, so there is no separate local currency to convert — prices, salaries and rents are all in euros. Cards are accepted almost everywhere in cities and tourist areas, though it is worth keeping some cash for small shops, markets and rural areas. Being inside the eurozone also means no currency conversion when moving money from other euro accounts.
Language & community
The language is Croatian, but English is widely spoken in cities, tourist areas and among younger people, so it is easy to get by while you learn the basics. Zagreb, Split and the coastal towns have sizeable expat and digital-nomad communities, with active meetups and online groups — Croatia even runs nomad-focused events, which makes settling in and finding contacts straightforward.
In-depth guides
Detailed, non-regulatory how-tos for settling into life in Croatia — updated as things change.
- Croatia Cost of Living for Digital Nomads Croatia cost of living for digital nomads in 2026: realistic monthly budgets, rent in Zagreb and Split, insurance, eSIM and money notes.
- Croatia Digital Nomad Visa: requirements & how to apply EU, euro and Schengen, up to 18 months and 0% Croatian tax on foreign income — who qualifies, the income threshold and how to apply.
- Croatia Taxes for Foreigners: 2026 Guide Croatia taxes for foreigners in 2026: tax residency, digital nomad exemption, local income tax rates and what to verify officially.
- How to Open a d.o.o. Company in Croatia as a Foreigner Open a d.o.o. in Croatia as a foreigner: capital, registration steps, profit tax, costs and whether you need to be a resident. Verified 2026.
Services for living in Croatia
Related sections
Practical sections of the site that come in handy when relocating to Croatia:
Official sources
For documents, the digital nomad stay and taxes we point you straight to the Croatian government sites — they hold the current rules, deadlines and amounts. The income threshold and conditions are re-indexed periodically, so always confirm the figures there as of the date you apply.
- Digital nomad temporary stay and residence Ministry of the Interior (MUP)
- Taxes and income-tax treatment of nomads Tax Administration (Porezna uprava)
- Entry, visas and visa-free travel Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MVEP)
- Company registration and government services Government of Croatia (gov.hr / START)
Good to know
- Croatia is in the EU, uses the euro (since 1 January 2023) and is in the Schengen Area — its key advantage over non-Schengen Balkan neighbours.
- For tourist or scouting trips, citizens of the US, UK, Canada and Australia get 90 days of visa-free stay in any 180-day period under the Schengen rule; Ukrainians with a biometric passport also use the 90/180 visa-free regime, while Russian citizens need a Schengen visa.
- The digital nomad temporary stay is granted for up to 18 months, requires remote work for a foreign employer or clients, and a new application can be submitted only 6 months after the previous stay expires; time spent as a nomad does not count toward permanent residence.
- Croatia confirms a minimum income of about €3,622.50 per month (set at 2.5× the prior-year average net salary and re-indexed annually) plus health insurance — verify the exact current figure on mup.gov.hr before you apply.
- Income earned as a registered digital nomad from a non-Croatian employer or clients is exempt from Croatian personal income tax (Personal Income Tax Act); watch the 183-day tax-residence line and confirm details with the Tax Administration.