Digital Nomads Croatia | Are you a digital nomad who wants to spend some time working in Croatia? That’s a great idea! Why? Have you heard about the Croatian visa for digital nomads? If you haven’t - don’t worry. In this text, you’ll find out about everything you need to know about being a digital nomad in Croatia.
Digital nomads showed us a different point of view of the common misconception about traveling. Traveling doesn't have to mean spending money while making memories! Digital nomads are all about working, earning money, and then spending it – all that while living abroad! Digital technology is making it easier than ever before to work remotely. It’s also easier than before to regulate visas and organize your travel plans. Without further ado, here's what makes Croatia a great location for digital nomads!
Cost of Living & Getting There
Even though Croatia is in the European Union, the cost of living is much lower than in most EU countries. According to lonelyplanet.com, you will need anywhere between $50 (low-end) and $120 (high-end) per day. Croatia supermarkets offer various and diverse choices of groceries from all over Europe. Also, renting prices in Croatia are relatively cheap. For example, you can rent a 3 bedroom apartment in the city center for $820!
Croatia is easily approachable by flight or ground transportation. There are 9 international airports with regular commercial flights, during the entire year or while tourist season lasts. Three out of nine airports are located on the islands. Despite Croatia being a small country, picking the closest airport can save you a lot of time. This is especially important during the busy summer months when traffic on the Croatian roads can be dense.The travel costs are also quite affordable. Believe it or not, round trip from NYC to Zagreb can be booked for only $500.
Internet & Co-working Space
Finding a place with fast and reliable internet is the biggest challenge for a digital nomad. Croatia is one of the few countries in the region that boasts satisfactory internet and offers many quality co-working spaces. According to Cable.co.uk, after analyzing the average broadband speed in over 200 countries, Croatia holds 52nd place. This makes Croatia just above Thailand, which is the most popular destination for digital nomads.
With an increasing number of co-working spaces, incubators, events and conferences, the Croatian startup community is growing and becoming more and more vibrant. Coworker.com shows 20 co-working spaces in Croatia, but there is even more that they haven't listed.
IT Conferences
The Croatian IT community is pretty active! Loads of different conferences, trainings and seminars are organized by the community all over the country. For example, you could be living in the capital city Zagreb, and travel to “Adriatic AWS Innovation Days” conference in Opatija, which is located by the Adriatic sea. There are other conferences, such as The International Conference on Composite Materials Science and Technology in Cavtat.
Croatia's Digital Nomad Visa
The increasing amount of digital nomads in Croatia in recent years has urged the process of legal regulations. Therefore, Croatia is in process of introducing a digital nomad visa. This was announced by Croatia Prime Minister Andrej Plenković. This visa will allow internationals to work in Croatia if their job is independent of time and location.
Plenković wrote about digital nomad visa on his Twitter right after a meeting with a Dutch entrepreneur.
Talking with Dutch entrepreneur with address in Split, Jan de Jong, about the new Aliens Act, which is going to make Croatia one of the first countries in the world to legally regulate the stay of digital nomads.
Andrej Plenković on Twitter
Tourism
Tourism is a big deal in Croatia. In 2018, Croatia had 19.7 million tourist visitors who made 110.275 million overnight stays. It is one of the most visited locations in the Mediterranean.
The coastal part of Croatia at the Adriatic sea is not the only reason so many people opt to visit this country. Zagreb has become the heart of contemporary Croatian culture, sports, arts, and academics. But its historic value is also not left out!
During summer there is a large number of scheduled flights from the UK, Ireland, Scandinavia, Germany, France, etc. In the winter season most international flights go to Zagreb, but there are also a few routes to Split and Dubrovnik which operate all year around.
Filming sets
Speaking about film tourism, Croatia is home to many popular filming spots. You've probably heard about the beautiful coastal city of Dubrovnik. Much of that credit should be given to a popular TV Show Game Of Thrones. You can find a GOT tour at every corner of the city.
A BBC hit TV show Doctor Who, and films such as Sophie’s Choice, Mamma Mia 2, and Star Wars: The Last Jedi were also shot in Croatia. If visiting shooting locations is your cup of tea, Croatia is a perfect destination!
English proficiency
Eastern European countries generally have a high to very high English language proficiency rate. According to language training company Education First (EF), Croatia has a very high English language proficiency rate of around 63%.
This is a truly important factor if you are planning to stay in a country for more than a vacation. Especially if your visit is related to work. Keeping mind that 20 million tourist visit Croatia each season, you surely won't be facing the language barrier.
Outsourcing
Software development outsourcing is probably the main reason the Croatian IT industry is so well developed. Because of the high English proficiency of its citizens, a large IT talent pool, and cheaper living costs, Croatia has become one of the most popular destinations for companies to outsource their work. This is also true when it comes to hiring someone through a staff augmentation strategy.
Addria has got years of experience as a software development outsourcing partner! If you are looking to outsource your next project, do not hesitate to contact us! We are constantly expanding our team so feel free to reach out if you are willing to join!
Cultural similarities
Croatia has a very similar culture and work ethic compared to Western Europe or North America. But, at the same time, it’s culture has its truly unique assets. This will make your experience in Croatia diverse and different, with a just-right dose of familiarity.
Conclusion
Croatia is becoming more and more attractive to digital nomads from all over the world, and it shows no signs of slowing down! This is especially true because of the hype around the upcoming digital nomad visa.
See you there!
