Choosing Croatia as your long-term base unlocks benefits that depend on your personal situation and residency type:

• Live legally in an EU and Schengen country

• Enjoy a predictable legal system and high personal safety

• Build a long-term family base with access to healthcare and schools

• Open or run a local or international business

• Position yourself inside the European market while keeping global mobility

• Set up a pathway toward long-term residence or eventual citizenship

• Experience a calm, nature-rich lifestyle with a lower cost of living than much of Western Europe

Your exact route into Croatia depends on your passport, income structure, family status, and long-term goals.

Before choosing your residency path, it helps to understand the legal structure of “stay” in Croatia.

Short-Term Stay (up to 90/180 days)

Many nationalities can enter Croatia visa-free for 90 days in any 180-day period. This stay does not grant work rights and cannot be extended into residency unless you meet the conditions for a residence permit.

Temporary Residence (Privremeni Boravak)

This is the category most foreigners use. Temporary residence is issued for a specific purpose, such as:

• Work

• Business ownership

• Digital nomad status

• Property ownership

• Family reunification

• Study or research

Temporary residence is typically issued for up to one year at a time.

Long-Term Residence / Permanent Stay

After five years of continuous legal stay in Croatia—with no major gaps—many foreigners become eligible for permanent or long-term residence.

Citizenship by Naturalisation

After at least eight years of continuous residence and meeting integration requirements, foreigners may apply for Croatian citizenship.

This is Croatia’s most straightforward path for people who plan to work locally or for those who want to hold a key position in their own Croatian company.

You will typically need:

• A job offer or employment contract

• Proof of your qualifications or background

• A clean criminal record

• A valid travel document

• Proof of accommodation in Croatia

• Health insurance

• Evidence of sufficient financial means

This permit ties your residency to your employment and is usually issued for up to one year at a time.

Entrepreneurs can open a Croatian company (usually a d.o.o.) and apply for temporary residence as the company’s director or key employee.

This route usually requires:

• Properly registered Croatian company

• Evidence of economic activity (not a dormant company)

• A realistic business plan

• Company finances sufficient to support your income

• Sometimes hiring local staff depending on the nature of the business

This pathway is excellent for global entrepreneurs, consultants, and investors who want EU residency while maintaining international operations.

Croatia is famous for having one of Europe’s most attractive digital nomad residence options.

To qualify, you must:

• Work for a foreign company or international clients

• Not work for Croatian employers

• Show stable remote income above the required threshold

• Have valid health insurance

• Provide proof of accommodation

• Show clean criminal record documentation

This permit allows remote workers to live in Croatia long-term while working remotely for foreign entities.

Family members can join under certain conditions.

Owning livable residential property in Croatia can support a temporary residence application.

Key points:

• The property must be habitable

• You cannot work in Croatia using this permit

• You must still prove funds, insurance, and a clean background

• You apply through the police administration for the property’s region

This pathway is well-suited for retirees, seasonal residents, or people who want a legal base in Croatia without local employment.

If you have a close family member who is already a Croatian resident or citizen, you may qualify for a family reunification residence.

Eligible relationships usually include:

• Spouses

• Life partners

• Minor children

• Dependents in some circumstances

You must show proof of the relationship, accommodation, financial support, and health insurance.

Students and researchers can apply for residence based on accepted studies or academic work.

Requirements include:

• Confirmation of acceptance at a Croatian educational institution

• Proof of sufficient funds

• Valid health insurance

• Accommodation

• Clean background documentation

Residence is issued according to the academic or research program.

Regardless of the pathway, most applicants will need:

• Valid passport

• Passport-sized photographs

• Completed Croatian application forms

• Proof of accommodation

• Proof of adequate finances

• Health insurance

• Criminal background certificate

• Purpose-specific documents (work contract, company papers, title deed, marriage certificate, etc.)

Applications are submitted at Croatian consulates abroad or, in many cases, directly at police administrations within Croatia.

Your long-term legal progression typically looks like this:

1. Short-Term Stay

2. Temporary Residence (1–5 years)

3. Long-Term Residence or Permanent Stay (after 5 years)

4. Citizenship Eligibility (after 8 years of continuous stay + meeting language and integration rules)

Each stage requires proper management to avoid gaps that could reset your timeline.

Croatian residency law is technical and frequently updated. Mistakes or misunderstandings can result in:

• Rejection of your application

• Interruptions to your legal stay

• Loss of eligibility for long-term residence

• Delays that reset your future path to citizenship

Relocation Croatia manages:

• Strategy: Choosing the strongest residency route

• Documentation: Ensuring everything is correct before submission

• Company setup (if needed)

• Local registrations

• Appointments and biometric processing

• Ongoing compliance to keep your residency valid year after year

Our role is to simplify the entire process and protect your long-term goals.

A successful move to Croatia is built on the right legal foundation. If you want residency that is structured correctly from day one—and a clear long-term plan toward permanent residence or citizenship—our team is ready to help.

Book a consultation with Relocation Croatia and let us handle the entire process from strategy to approval.