Digital Nomad Visa Now Available

The situation 

Effective January 1, 2021, foreign nationals can apply for a temporary stay permit without local company sponsorship. This program will particularly impact those seeking to work remotely in Croatia, a growing trend during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A closer look

• Required documentation. Applicants must submit proof of health insurance and a police clearance certificate, among other documents, as other temporary stay permit applicants.
• Working remotely. The new visa offers foreign nationals the option to reside and work remotely from Croatia for up to one year (without extensions), whereas all work permits in Croatia previously required local employer sponsorship.

 Background

• Economic recovery. Due to the unprecedented flexibility in work location that has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, Croatia seeks to attract long-term visitors and to increase local economic activity.
• Growing trend. The program opens the door to a work authorization route for a new set of foreign workers that were previously unregulated under Croatia’s immigration law. Croatia follows several other countries that have recently implemented remote work visas, including Iceland, Estonia, Georgia, Bermuda and Barbados, among other countries.
• Remote work visa warning. In countries where remote work is unregulated, workers and employers may unknowingly put themselves at risk of noncompliance with many aspects of the law, exposing them to possible fines or other penalties, depending on the country. Importantly, noncompliance with regulations could result in employers losing their rights to hire foreign labor. Additionally, this type of work arrangement may have employment or tax law impacts. It will become increasingly important as such policies are developed (and in many countries where remote work is unregulated) for employers to analyze strategies and assess risks associated with implementing and/or continuing remote work policies with a trusted immigration partner.

Looking ahead

As the non-traditional workforce grows and countries focus on post-COVID-19 economic remobilization, more governments will likely start to slowly adapt and update or implement remote work policies. Fragomen will report on related developments.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].