English 
Français The short version
- Costa Rica has the lower entry bar: €2,760 per month versus €3,622.50 for Croatia.
- Croatia grants a longer initial stay (18 months vs 12), and it is renewable.
| Criteria | Costa Rica DNV | Croatia DN |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €2,760 (better) | €3,622.50 |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) |
| Initial duration | 1 year | 18 months (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | 2 years | 18 months |
| Path to permanent residence | No | No |
| Path to citizenship | No | No |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Tax treatment | Foreign income exempt (Ley 10008 incentivos fiscales) | Foreign income exempt (Digital nomad exemption, Income Tax Act Art. 9(1)(26)) |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit), min. €46,000 | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €92 | ≈ €46.45 (better) |
| Where to apply | Online, Embassy / consulate | Online, Embassy / consulate, In country |
| Processing time | 2–3 weeks | — |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Costa Rica DNV →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Croatia DN →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Don't forget insurance
Both programs have their own health-insurance rules — we match plans against each one's published requirement, with the evidence shown.
Sources
- Government Nómadas Digitales — Dirección General de Migración y Extranjería (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Official gazette Reglamento Ley 10008 — Decreto Ejecutivo N.º 43619 (texto completo, SCIJ/La Gaceta) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Official gazette Ley N.º 10008 — texto completo (estancia de un año prorrogable) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government MUP - Temporary stay of digital nomads (English) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MUP - Privremeni boravak u svrhu boravka digitalnih nomada (Croatian) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MUP - Temporary stay of digital nomads (health insurance document requirement) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Zakon o izmjenama i dopuni Zakona o obveznom zdravstvenom osiguranju i zdravstvenoj zastiti stranaca u RH, NN 26/2021 (digital nomads exempt from compulsory HZZO registration) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o porezu na dohodak, NN 138/2020 (Art. 9(1)(26) digital nomad exemption, in force 1 Jan 2021) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Croatian Tax Administration - Determination of residency status (183-day habitual abode / permanent residence) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Zakon o izmjenama i dopunama Zakona o strancima, NN 40/2025 (Art. 61(1) 18-month duration with one extension; Art. 57(4) 6-month cooling-off) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Official gazette Zakon o strancima, NN 133/2020 (Art. 3(1)(43) digital nomad definition) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government EMN Croatia (government) - New Foreigners Act in force 1 January 2021, introduces digital nomad stay (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government MUP - Privremeni boravak digitalnih nomada (fee schedule) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10
- Government Digital Nomads Croatia - official MUP online application portal (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-10