English 
Français The short version
- Germany grants a longer initial stay (36 months vs 18), and it is renewable.
- Only Germany offers a direct path to permanent residence on this permit.
- Tax treatment differs: Croatia — foreign income exempt; Germany — standard resident taxation. Tax outcomes depend heavily on personal circumstances.
| Criteria | Croatia DN | Germany Freelance |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum income / month | €3,622.50 | No fixed threshold |
| Income basis | Mixed (salary, freelance or savings) | Freelance income |
| Initial duration | 18 months | 3 years (better) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Maximum total stay | 18 months | No fixed limit |
| Path to permanent residence | No | Yes (better) |
| Path to citizenship | No | Yes |
| Family inclusion | Yes | Yes |
| Working for local clients | Not allowed | Allowed |
| Tax treatment | Foreign income exempt (Digital nomad exemption, Income Tax Act Art. 9(1)(26)) | Standard resident taxation |
| Health insurance | Required (explicit) | Required (explicit) |
| Insurance duration required | Full visa period | Full visa period |
| Application fee | ≈ €46.45 (better) | ≈ €100 |
| Where to apply | Online, Embassy / consulate, In country | Embassy / consulate, In country |
| Processing time | — | — |
Green values mark the objectively better number in that row.
Full guide
Croatia DN →
Requirements, application steps, insurance and sources.
Full guide
Germany Freelance →
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 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
- Government Visa for freelance business — Make it in Germany (Federal Government) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Government Visa for self-employed business — Make it in Germany (fees, health insurance) (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15
- Official gazette Residence Act (AufenthG) §21 — official English translation (opens in a new tab) accessed 2026-06-15