Croatia Temporary Stay visa requirements
Croatia has no retirement visa: retirees from outside the EU use a one-year temporary stay for other purposes, with €869.40 a month in 2026, and only property owners over 60 can renew it.
What the law asks for, what the government charges, and how the application runs. Checked against Croatia's official sources on Oct 8, 2026.
- Minimum income
- €869/mo (about $970) A pension, a bank balance or a family member's written pledge of support, equal to 60% of Croatia's average monthly net wage in the previous year (€1,449 in 2025). Aliens Act; Aliens Act amendment 2025; Means of subsistence regulation; Means regulation 2026; Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Residency
- One year; renewable for 60+ owners Aliens Act; Aliens Act amendment 2025; Means of subsistence regulation; Means regulation 2026; Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
- Government fees
- €88 (about $100) Temporary stay fee and Biometric residence permit card and Fee for issuing the residence permit card. Ministry of the Interior. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Who qualifies for the Temporary Stay visa
Croatia has no retirement visa. Retirees from outside the EU use temporary stay for other purposes: a one-year permit for people who live on a pension or savings and show a reason to stay, such as owning a home in Croatia. Only retirees over 60 who own property in Croatia, and their spouse or partner, can renew it year after year.
You need €869 (about $970) a month: a pension, a bank balance or a family member's written pledge of support, equal to 60% of Croatia's average monthly net wage in the previous year (€1,449 in 2025).
Since March 2025 a retired property owner over 60 can renew this permit, and the years spent on it count toward long-term residence, which is open after 5 years of uninterrupted temporary stay. For everyone else, time on this permit does not count.
The amount changes every year: it is 60% of the average monthly net wage of the previous year, as published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. The 2025 average was €1,449, so the 2026 figure is €869.40 a month. Social assistance payments do not count.
On a one-year permit, staying abroad for more than 30 days at a time or 90 days in total can lead to the permit being withdrawn. A trip of up to 90 days for a justified reason is allowed if you tell the police before you leave.
Owning property is a reason the permit accepts, but owning it does not by itself give you a right to stay.
Temporary Stay visa documents
Every residence permit
- Colour photograph, 3 x 3.5 cm
- Copy of a passport valid at least 3 months beyond the permit
- Proof of health insurance: private or travel health insurance for a first permit, or an EU health card or HZZO certificate where it applies
- Criminal record certificate from your home country, or from a country where you lived for more than a year just before coming, at the first application
- Foreign documents legalised and in a certified Croatian translation (English where no Croatian court interpreter is available), none older than 6 months
- Nationals who need a visa for Croatia: a health and vaccination certificate (form 18a), no older than 90 days, with the first application
Ordinance on stay; Ministry of the Interior; Ordinance amendment 2026. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
This visa
- Proof of means of at least €869.40 a month: a pension statement, a bank certificate or a family member's written pledge of support
- Proof of the purpose of your stay, such as the land registry extract for a property you own in Croatia, a stay in licensed tourist accommodation, enrolment on a Croatian language course or medical records
Ordinance on stay; Means regulation 2026; Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Temporary Stay visa fees
| Temporary stay fee, at a police administration or police station | €46 (about $50) |
| Biometric residence permit card | €32 (about $40) |
| Fee for issuing the residence permit card | €9 (about $10) |
| Faster card production, instead of the €31.85 card fee | €60 (about $70) |
Ministry of the Interior. Checked Oct 8, 2026. Lawyer and agency fees are not set by law; ask for a fixed written quote.
How the application runs
- Gather your proofA pension statement or bank certificate showing at least €869.40 a month, health insurance, a legalised and translated criminal record certificate, and proof of your reason to stay, such as a title deed.
- ApplyIf you can enter Croatia without a visa, apply at the police station for the place you will live, before your visa-free stay runs out; you may stay until the decision. Others apply at a Croatian embassy or consulate.
- Register and give biometricsReport your address to the police within 3 days of entering Croatia, pay the €46.45 stay fee, €31.85 for the card and €9.29 for issuing it, and give your fingerprints.
- Join public health insuranceWithin 8 days of approval, register with HZZO, Croatia's public health insurer, and pay the monthly contribution.
- Renew each yearApply at least 60 days before the permit expires. Renewal is open only to retirees over 60 who own property in Croatia, and their spouse or partner; anyone else must wait 6 months before applying again.
Spouses and children
A family member cannot join you through family reunification while you hold a stay for other purposes, so each person applies for a permit in their own right. The yearly renewal for retired property owners over 60 also covers their spouse, common-law partner or life partner.
Aliens Act amendment 2025. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Other ways to live in Croatia
Temporary stay of digital nomads
For people who work remotely for a company, or their own company, that is not registered in Croatia. The stay lasts up to 18 months and needs €3,622.50 a month, or €43,470 in the bank for 12 months, plus 10% of the average monthly wage for each family member. After it ends, you must wait 6 months before a new stay for other purposes or as a nomad.
Ministry of the Interior; Aliens Act amendment 2025; Means of subsistence regulation. Checked Oct 8, 2026.
Temporary Stay visa questions
Is there a retirement visa for Croatia?
No. Retirees from outside the EU use temporary stay for other purposes, a one-year permit that needs €869.40 a month in 2026 and proof of a reason to stay, such as owning a home in Croatia. Only retirees over 60 who own property in Croatia can renew it.
Can Americans retire in Croatia?
Yes, on the stay for other purposes. US citizens can enter without a visa and apply at the local police station. To stay beyond the first year you must be over 60, retired and own property in Croatia.
What documents do retirees need to move to Croatia?
A photo, a passport valid 3 months beyond the permit, health insurance, a criminal record certificate, proof of €869.40 a month such as a pension statement, and proof of your reason to stay, such as a title deed. Foreign documents must be legalised and translated into Croatian.
How much does a Croatian residence permit cost?
The government fees are €46.45 for temporary stay, €31.85 for the biometric card and €9.29 for issuing it: €87.59 in all, or €59.73 instead of €31.85 for faster card production.
