Best for budget
Croatia
Lower monthly income thresholds make this option easier to qualify for financially.
Side-by-side visa comparison
Croatia vs Japan — Digital Nomad Visa Comparison
Croatia requires $3,960/month with 18 months stay, while Japan requires $68,000/year with 6 months stay. Croatia wins on budget.
Budget
Croatia
Long-term
Croatia
Fastest
Japan
Feature
Croatia
Japan
Minimum Income
$3,960/month
$68,000/year
Duration
18 months
6 months
Processing Time
12 weeks
3 weeks
Application Fee
$87
$20
Tax Status
Qualifying digital nomads generally do not owe Croatian local income tax on foreign employment income.
Tax exposure depends on stay length, treaty status, and sourcing rules; shorter stays under 183 days may avoid Japanese tax in treaty-supported cases.
Dependents
No
Yes
Path to Residency
No
No
Path to Citizenship
No
No
Best for long-term
Croatia
Longer approved stay periods reduce renewal pressure and support slower relocation plans.
Fastest processing
Japan
Shorter processing windows can make this the better pick for near-term travel timelines.
Next step
Check Croatia eligibility for your nationality
Next step
Check Japan eligibility for your nationality