Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Oct 21, 2025

Croatia wants tourists to move there. These people are doing just that

Croatia wants tourists to move there. These people are doing just that

Most European countries have sealed their borders to visitors from beyond the continent, but Croatia remains open for those willing to test and quarantine. Now it's trying to attract digital nomads by making it even easier to stay long term.

While most European Union nations have kept their borders sealed against non-European visitors during the pandemic, Croatia has been welcoming arrivals from the United States and many other countries.

Summer saw it allow almost anyone to vacation on its beautiful Adriatic coastline and enjoy its stunning islands and the "Game of Thrones" city of Dubrovnik. Even now, non-EU visitors are welcome, provided they test or quarantine.

Now Croatia is making it easier for people who want to stay longer -- tweaking its immigration laws to grant one-year residency permits to remote digital workers from outside the European Union, provided they don't require tourist visas to enter.

While other destinations such as Dubai have paid a price for keeping their borders wide open, Croatia is convinced encouraging long-term tourism is a winner.

The new rules began on January 1, and the first applicants have already arrived.

On January 15, American Melissa Paul had the unexpected honor of becoming Croatia's first official digital nomad under the new law. Since then, she has been caught up in a flurry of media interviews by national dailies and television networks.

"I've actually been a remote worker for 15 years now, owning my own company, but contracting with companies all over the US, UK, and Mexico," she tells CNN.

Paul, a marketing consultant who produces websites, blog articles, newsletters and manages social media for art and design, events, wedding and hospitality businesses, had already experienced life in Croatia prior to receiving her one-year permit.

Soulful quality
Melissa Paul is Croatia's first official digital nomad.


"When I moved to Croatia, being a digital entrepreneur allowed me to continue to make a living while living and traveling around the country and Europe," she says.

Paul initially moved to Croatia with her American-Croatian husband, whose parents hail from the island of Krk. When the couple divorced, she learned she didn't have many options to continue living in Croatia as a resident. But the new law opened a window of opportunity.

She is now running her business from her kitchen table in a house in the walled hilltop town of Labin on the Adriatic peninsula of Istria, in northwestern Croatia.

"Labin has a soulful quality," she said of her new home. "From the friendly people, the large number of working artists here, as well as the mix of history, culture and modern industry. All in a beautiful, central location. It's perfect for me and I love it more every day."

European-style bureaucracy was something Paul was already familiar with, but the application process still involved a paper chase.

"I knew that the more prepared I was, the better," she says. "But there were many documents I had to provide detailing the work I do, where my clients are, and proving my company is active, I have the financial means to work independently, health insurance and a place to live. Since I have been a location-independent worker for years, this was all easy for me to provide."

Paul sees her extended stay in Croatia as an opportunity to get to know the country better and experience it firsthand, "not in a rush of days but slowly savored over months or years."

A boost for the tourist industry
Croatia offers a Mediterranean lifestyle with more than 1,000 islands.


The idea to introduce a residence permit for digital nomads was the brainchild of Jan de Jong, a Dutch entrepreneur and investor living in Croatia since 2006.

In July, he posted an open letter to Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković on LinkedIn, pointing out the potential economic perks of welcoming remote workers.

Plenković got the message and, after consultations with De Jong, relevant changes to immigration law were adopted in December 2020.

For de Jong, welcoming digital nomads as long-term tourists is a win-win.

"Croatia is a safe country with a Mediterranean lifestyle many digital nomads will find attractive," he says. "It's a very warm and welcoming country and the hospitality of the people is great.

"Then there's the climate, amazing nature and over 1,000 islands. People speak great English. Also there's good Internet and easy travel connections with the rest of Europe. Lastly, life is affordable here."

At the same time, this new potential for year-round tourism could boost struggling local economies and Croatia's tourist industry, which has been hit by the pandemic despite the open-door policy.

Locals renting out tourist accommodation and new businesses catering to digital nomads are set to cash in.

"Well-paid digital nomads will spend their income here which will be great for the services industry," says de Jong. "Also, through the VAT they pay on everything they buy, they'll be providing additional revenue."

History and resources
Split, on the Dalmatian coastline, is a popular destination for travelers.


Mexicans Ariel Medel and Claudia Sau have been living in Split since November 2020. Soon after settling into this historical seaside city on the Dalmatian coast, they heard of the government's digital nomad plans.

Medel has been a freelance comic book artist, illustrator and graphic designer for the past 15 years. The appeal of working as a digital nomad grew as the couple made extended visits to Europe twice a year.

Mexican couple Ariel Medel and Claudia Sau says becoming digital nomads was a natural choice.


"I think becoming a digital nomad was a natural step to take, given that I love to travel and learn about other countries' culture and history, an interest that my wife shares with me," he says of their decision to apply for the permit.

The couple has already explored the capital Zagreb, where they first arrived. They then moved on to the seaside towns of Zadar, Šibenik and Pula. As for many long-term travelers, the ancient port of Split held the highest appeal.

"We decided to stay in Split because besides being a beautiful city on the coast, and having a lot of history, it's big enough to have all the resources we need without it being too big," says Medel.

From Singapore to Zagreb
Jane Tor plans to move to Croatia from Singapore after touring with her parents.


After making an extended stop in Croatia this past fall, long-term traveler Jane Tor from Singapore has hatched a plan to return in March 2021. This time, with her laptop in tow, she'll apply to stay long-term as a digital nomad.

Tor works for a tech company leading and managing projects with startups working in the education, fintech, digital marketing and travel industries.

"I arrived in Croatia the first week of October, only because I had been in Albania before that, and couldn't fly into any EU countries without going through Croatia," says Tor. "My initial plan was to stay for two weeks, which stretched out into 84 days."

She was drawn by the Croatian coastline and the opportunities for windsurfing, diving and hiking. Her enthusiasm attracted her parents, who joined her on a five-week vacation.

Together they explored the turquoise lakes and waterfalls of the national parks of Krka and Plitvice, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The coastal city of Zadar was a highlight.

"Coming from Singapore, a sunny island that's also a city state, I'm drawn to being close to the sea," she says. "I enjoy walking a lot, so walking along the sea in Zadar was awesome. You can walk for a few hours from one port to the other, ending at a sunset bar."

Though Zadar would be her preferred place to live out her digital nomad experience, Tor is scoping out a move to Zagreb.

"I liked walking around its old town in the fall and watching the colors change," she says. "And I love the local markets in every town. Going there every day to buy local produce was a nice routine. Croatia is also small enough that I can be on a quiet island within two or three hours of driving from Zagreb.

"I definitely want to explore the islands around Zadar and Split, take up kitesurfing and do more hiking."

Compared to Singapore, Tor finds Croatia less crowded and much cheaper to live in. She was also able to connect with expat communities that encourage new businesses.

"I've only met great people in Croatia, especially from the tech industry, which I'm from," she says of her first experience there.

Pros and cons
Jane Tor says she finds Croatia cheaper and less crowded than Singapore.


The pros and cons of each country looking to attract digital nomads is a hot topic on online forums.

Croatia has plenty of pluses -- it does not require nomads to pay income tax and the residence permit is valid for one year, although extensions require one to leave the country for six months.

Some, however, find the police check requirement to be an extra hassle.

Sara Dyson of Expat in Croatia offers one-on-one consulting to anyone considering a move and has seen an uptick in inquiries from digital nomads.

"The only grumble so far is that the digital nomad permit does not put people on a path to permanent residence or citizenship," she says. "But this permit is currently the best option for a third-country national to apply for residence.

"If someone still wishes to come to Croatia, this disadvantage doesn't dissuade them. If someone is considering some other country, then it is giving them pause on whether Croatia is the right choice."

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
This Is How the 'Heist of the Century' Was Carried Out at the Louvre in Seven Minutes: France Humiliated as Crown with 2,000 Diamonds Vanishes
China Warns UK of ‘Consequences’ After Delay to London Embassy Approval
France’s Wealthy Shift Billions to Luxembourg and Switzerland Amid Tax and Political Turmoil
"Sniper Position": Observation Post Targeting 'Air Force One' Found Before Trump’s Arrival in Florida
Shouting Match at the White House: 'Trump Cursed, Threw Maps, and Told Zelensky – "Putin Will Destroy You"'
Windows’ Own ‘Siri’ Has Arrived: You Can Now Talk to Your Computer
Thailand and Singapore Investigate Cambodian-Based Prince Group as U.S. and U.K. Sanctions Unfold
‘No Kings’ Protests Inflate Numbers — But History Shows Nations Collapse Without Strong Executive Power
Chinese Tech Giants Halt Stablecoin Launches After Beijing’s Regulatory Intervention
Manhattan Jury Holds BNP Paribas Liable for Enabling Sudanese Government Abuses
Trump Orders Immediate Release of Former Congressman George Santos After Commuting Prison Sentence
S&P Downgrades France’s Credit Rating, Citing Soaring Debt and Political Instability
Ofcom Rules BBC’s Gaza Documentary ‘Materially Misleading’ Over Narrator’s Hamas Ties
Diane Keaton’s Cause of Death Revealed as Pneumonia, Family Confirms
Former Lostprophets Frontman Ian Watkins Stabbed to Death in British Prison
"The Tsunami Is Coming, and It’s Massive": The World’s Richest Man Unveils a New AI Vision
Outsider, Heroine, Trailblazer: Diane Keaton Was Always a Little Strange — and Forever One of a Kind
Dramatic Development in the Death of 'Mango' Founder: Billionaire's Son Suspected of Murder
Two Years of Darkness: The Harrowing Testimonies of Israeli Hostages Emerging From Gaza Captivity
EU Moves to Use Frozen Russian Assets to Buy U.S. Weapons for Ukraine
Europe Emerges as the Biggest Casualty in U.S.-China Rare Earth Rivalry
HSBC Confronts Strategic Crossroads as NAB Seeks Only Retail Arm in Australia Exit
U.S. Chamber Sues Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee
Shenzhen Expo Spotlights China’s Quantum Step in Semiconductor Self-Reliance
China Accelerates to the Forefront in Global Nuclear Fusion Race
Yachts, Private Jets, and a Picasso Painting: Exposed as 'One of the Largest Frauds in History'
Australia’s Wedgetail Spies Aid NATO Response as Russian MiGs Breach Estonian Airspace
McGowan Urges Chalmers to Cut Spending Over Tax Hike to Close $20 Billion Budget Gap
Victoria Orders Review of Transgender Prison Placement Amid Safety Concerns for Female Inmates
U.S. Treasury Mobilises New $20 Billion Debt Facility to Stabilise Argentina
French Business Leaders Decry Budget as Macron’s Pro-Enterprise Promise Undermined
Trump Claims Modi Pledged India Would End Russian Oil Imports Amid U.S. Tariff Pressure
Surging AI Startup Valuations Fuel Bubble Concerns Among Top Investors
Australian Punter Archie Wilson Tears Up During Nebraska Press Conference, Sparking Conversation on Male Vulnerability
Australia Confirms U.S. Access to Upgraded Submarine Shipyard Under AUKUS Deal
“Firepower” Promised for Ukraine as NATO Ministers Meet — But U.S. Tomahawks Remain Undecided
Brands Confront New Dilemma as Extremists Adopt Fashion Labels
The Sydney Sweeney and Jeans Storm: “The Outcome Surpassed Our Wildest Dreams”
Erika Kirk Delivers Moving Tribute at White House as Trump Awards Charlie Presidential Medal of Freedom
British Food Influencer ‘Big John’ Detained in Australia After Visa Dispute
ScamBodia: The Chinese Fraud Empire Shielded by Cambodia’s Ruling Elite
French PM Suspends Macron’s Pension Reform Until After 2027 in Bid to Stabilize Government
Orange, Bouygues and Free Make €17 Billion Bid for Drahi’s Altice France Telecom Assets
Dutch Government Seizes Chipmaker After U.S. Presses for Removal of Chinese CEO
Bessent Accuses China of Dragging Down Global Economy Amid New Trade Curbs
U.S. Revokes Visas of Foreign Nationals Who ‘Celebrated’ Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
AI and Cybersecurity at Forefront as GITEX Global 2025 Kicks Off in Dubai
DJI Loses Appeal to Remove Pentagon’s ‘Chinese Military Company’ Label
EU Deploys New Biometric Entry/Exit System: What Non-EU Travelers Must Know
Australian Prime Minister’s Private Number Exposed Through AI Contact Scraper
×