May 1, 2024 – Croatia finally took advantage of the digital nomad visa a few years ago and it was successful. Can we learn something from Portugal and also embrace Croatian retirement lifestyle opportunities?
Looking back four years ago to 2020, it's clear that many things will never be the same again. This year has shown us that a new approach is needed. This includes tourism, which in normal years accounts for more than 20% of Croatia's GDP. Nothing was normal in 2020.
Looking forward rather than backward, Croatia has a huge opportunity to diversify and attract high-spending travelers without making huge investments. In fact, a few simple legal changes could open the door to new types of tourism and revenue sources that are currently spent in other European countries, but in very small amounts.
We've written about the great opportunities offered by remote workers who want to combine nomadic living with a great lifestyle. Nowhere is the European lifestyle better than in Croatia. Croatia's safety, authentic experiences, great food and wine, natural beauty, affordability, accessibility, good infrastructure, and the added appeal of English speaking make Croatia a fast-growing country. It has become an ideal destination for the growing industry. We plan to expand rapidly.
There is another opportunity that countries such as Portugal are making the most of, but Croatia is not taking advantage of it at the moment. The number of visitors is much lower, but the purchasing power is much higher.
Retirement lifestyle opportunities in Croatia.
I've lost count of the number of emails I've received over the years, especially from Americans who have fallen in love with life in Croatia and really want to retire here.
But the current rules don't allow that.
A few years ago, I knew an American couple in Split who felt particularly strong ties to Croatia and went out of their way to find a way to retire here. A friend who is a spendthrift, very active in the local community and obsessed with Croatia also visits. They eventually retired in Sri Lanka.
To be clear, we are non-EU (Americans), retired, have no Croatian family connections, and are already married, so marrying a Croatian spouse is not an option. You can not. Since we are already retired, we are not necessarily keen on getting a job or starting a company. We just want to enjoy life in this beautiful country and contribute at our own expense through taxes, insurance, housing, investments, entertainment, etc. Many of us are even willing to donate our time, knowledge, and skills.
You can read more about this topic from the 2018 TCN article “Why Croatia Isn’t America’s Top Retirement Destination (But It Could Be).”
The emails and Facebook messages kept coming. Eventually, I received a message from an American retiree who desperately wanted to retire in Croatia, but had accepted the impossibility of the situation and was instead making plans for a new life in Portugal.
Last fall, I suggested to the U.S. ambassador to Croatia the idea of creating a special visa category for retirees in Croatia, like in Portugal (his mission was to encourage people to leave the U.S.). I don't know if it's meant to be allowed or not)…lol) I think this suggestion is likely to gain traction in this group because you seem to be getting things done. I love using TCN as a resource. In any case, I understand the desire to attract young entrepreneurs into the tech industry, but look at what Portugal is doing. They realize that “old money” is well spent, and that the scope of the economy is wider than you first think. There are many groups in the United States formed around the idea of retiring to Portugal. They meet in person or online. When they move, they have a circle of friends and family who want to visit them. These are people who have money to invest in real estate and lifestyle. I love Croatia, but you can only come here for 90 days, after which the welcome mat will be removed.
That's why I'm moving to Portugal, when I would be better off in Croatia. I love Croatia, especially Zadar, and I'm currently staying there on an extended visa due to the coronavirus pandemic. I plan on returning to the US on July 5th (if I can get on a plane) and making plans to move to Portugal. I wish you the best of luck! I can’t wait to watch your successful journey!
Portugal has been successful in attracting a significant number of expat retirees who enjoy a relaxed lifestyle in a warm climate, and Portugal's simplified bureaucracy helps make the decision a little easier. It seems like it is. To retire in Portugal as an EU non-national, you must:
Under Portugal's Retirement Residency Act, non-EU nationals wishing to retire in Portugal must apply for a residence permit at the Portuguese consulate in their home country before moving to Portugal. Typically, you will need to present a valid passport, proof of income, proof of health insurance, and submit to a criminal background check. Non-EU nationals will be able to obtain a temporary residence permit for five years, after which they will be able to apply for permanent residence.
There have been various initiatives and ideas to attract older, high-spending generations to Croatia, but these ideas inevitably run into bureaucratic barriers. The most interesting one a few years ago was by Nikica Gavrik, a leading eye surgeon, who drew a circle on a map of Europe 500 kilometers from the epicenter in Istria. Mr. Gavrik was surrounded by millions of European retirees receiving Western pensions, but I forget the numbers. Many countries are only a 4-5 hour drive from Croatia, and the much lower cost of living in Croatia and mild winters make Croatia a great retirement destination for at least part of the year. Ideal.
Tourism is changing and it is not healthy for Croatia to rely too much on classic sun and sea tourism. Tourism is more than just a summer vacation and embraces lesser-known options. Following the good example of the digital nomad visa set by Estonia and attracting high-spending retirees like Portugal, streamlining some aspects of Croatia's bureaucracy will create new possibilities and sources of income. can be easily cut open.
Croatia's retirement lifestyle is another of the country's great attractions, but will you take advantage of it?
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