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How to live in Croatia? Moving step by step

By

Nestovia

Posted in About Croatia On
You only need to spend a two-week holiday in Croatia to fall in love with its nature, the hospitality of its inhabitants and the idyllic lifestyle. And start dreaming about moving! This dream can be realized, but how? How to live in Croatia, find an apartment, deal with official matters? What does moving to Croatia involve? We give you a hint!

Moving to Croatia step by step

Making the decision to move to Croatia is easy – it is one of those interesting places that can charm you from the first visit with the diversity and beauty of nature, the hospitality of the inhabitants and the idyllic, slow lifestyle. However, in order to confirm this decision and make it with full awareness, it is worth, first of all, getting to know the point of view or opinion of Poles living here permanently, and secondly, come to Croatia for some time outside tourist season. Apart from large cities, e.g. Split and Zagreb, the image of Croatia changes a lot in autumn or winter – many attractions disappear, restaurants and clubs close, and interesting events are rare, so those looking for the bustle of social life may be a bit disappointed. If we realize that life in Croatia and holidays in Croatia look slightly different, and we accept this state of affairs, all we have to do is check the most important formal issues related to the move and pack our bags!

1. A place to live: purchasing or renting real estate

First of all, before moving to Croatia, it is best to find accommodation – from a practical and formal point of view. To obtaina residence permit in Croatia, you need the so-called proof of residencee.g. a purchase or lease agreement for an apartment or house. In Croatia, the source of income for many people is short-term rental of apartments during the holiday season. When planning to rent a property for a longer period of time, it is worth making sure that it also applies to the summer months. And if we intend to live in Croatia for a long time or permanently, it is best to buy a property. The Croatian real estate market is large and diverse, and apart from villas for several million, you can buy a slightly more modest house for even less than EUR 100,000! EU citizens buy real estate on almost the same terms as Croatians. All you need to do is apply to the Croatian tax office for an OIB number and you can conclude the transaction. In practice, in the purchase processit is best to use the services of a real estate agency, e.g. NESTOVIA, specializing in the Croatian market – the help of e.g. a translator, lawyer or surveyor will be useful. In addition to mediating the purchase of real estate in Croatia, we also help you get settled in this beautiful place!

2. Obtaining a residence permit in Croatia

Every citizen of a country belonging to the European Economic Area, i.e. also Poland, may stay in Croatia without a visa or permit for 90 days (with a valid ID card or passport). Later, you must obtain a temporary residence permit. To do this, you need to visit the population unit located at the police station and complete the appropriate application. You will need proof of residence, a valid ID, proof of health insurance and documentation of the purpose of your stay. Obtaining a permanent residence permit in Croatia is possible, but the procedure varies and is… more or less complicated – for up-to-date information, it is worth visiting, for example, the Polish embassy in Zagreb. According to the regulations, people who have the financial means to support themselves (and their families) can live in Croatia for longer than 90 days – usually, they must deposit a certain amount in the bank, at least 2,000 kuna per month.

3. Health insurance in Croatia

To start with (and not only) the EHIC card is enough, with it we can get help free of charge or for a symbolic amount (so-called participation, i.e. approx. 1-5% of the cost of the service). The cost of a basic private doctor’s visit is approximately EUR 40, and a hospital stay (without medications or, for example, surgery) is approximately EUR 65 per day. It is definitely worth purchasing additional insurance that will cover the cost of e.g. advanced treatment or medical transport to Poland. There is also public healthcare in Croatia, available to foreigners living here permanently.

4. Personal identification number: bank account, internet and others

In order to conclude any financial transaction in Croatia, you must have an OIB number – the equivalent of the Polish PESEL. Applies to both purchasing a house and mieszkania, as well as opening an account in a Croatian bank or connecting to the Internet, and, of course, taking work, vehicle registration, etc. The OIB number is obtained from the Croatian tax office, but it is also issued automatically together with the residence permit.

Life in Croatia, i.e. the Croatian language, work and cost of living in Croatia

Life in Croatia has its undoubted charms and for many foreigners, the Croatian islands, beautiful Dalmatia or even inland regions have become this paradise, the only place on earth. On the other hand, Croatia also has dark sides – you can get to know them by reading blogs and watching videos of Poles who have been living in Croatia for years and intend to stay here for the rest of their lives. The costs of living in Croatia are not the lowest, but they are not high either – current prices of food, fuel, energy and utilities can be checked on various online portals. Instead of going to a shopping mall, it is often worth going to a local bazaar, where prices are slightly lower and products come from local suppliers. Although in most larger towns we will be able to communicate effectively in English, it is worth taking care of at least the basics of learning Croatian – it may be useful especially in offices and institutions. In Croatia finding a job is difficult, but possible, especially for people with specific competences. Due to the large number of Polish tourists in Croatia, it is definitely worth getting interested in the tourism sector. Croatia is also a convenient place for remote workand offers plenty of opportunities to develop your own business (and you can come up with an idea even on your first vacation!). Beautiful landscapes, crystal clear Adriatic Sea, delicious seafood, hospitable and nice people, sun almost all year round, peace that makes time go slower – this dream is within everyone’s reach, and we invite everyone looking for their place in Croatia to visit NESTOVIA offices – we will explain, help and advise!

FAQ:

1. What do you need to do to live in Croatia? Every Pole can live in Croatia for up to 90 days without any formalities. After this time, you must obtain a residence permit – submit an application and submit proof of residence (lease or purchase agreement) and several other documents. Usually, you also need to deposit a certain amount in the bank, i.e. prove that you have the means to live. 2. What is an OIB number? The OIB number – Osobni Identifikacij Broj – is the equivalent of the Polish PESEL number. It is needed to complete most financial transactions in Croatia, e.g. purchasing a house or registering a vehicle. It is obtained at the Croatian tax office (except for persons applying for a residence permit, to whom it is granted automatically). 3. Jak kupić dom lub mieszkanie w Chorwacji? Zakup domu w Chorwacji (czy mieszkania) najlepiej zrealizować poprzez pośrednika – biuro nieruchomości specjalizujące się w chorwackim rynku, które dysponuje np: prawnikiem, geodetą i tłumaczem, a do swoich obowiązków dorzuca pomoc związaną z innymi formalnościami.

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