Best for budget
Malta
Lower monthly income thresholds make this option easier to qualify for financially.
Side-by-side visa comparison
Croatia vs Malta — Digital Nomad Visa Comparison
Croatia requires $3,960/month with 18 months stay, while Malta requires $3,850/month with 12 months stay. Malta wins on budget.
Budget
Malta
Long-term
Croatia
Fastest
Malta
Feature
Croatia
Malta
Minimum Income
$3,960/month
$3,850/month
Duration
18 months
12 months
Processing Time
12 weeks
6 weeks
Application Fee
$87
$440
Tax Status
Qualifying digital nomads generally do not owe Croatian local income tax on foreign employment income.
Three-phase tax regime: Phase 1 (first 12 months) — income from authorised remote work is exempt from Maltese income tax. Phase 2 (after exemption) — authorised remote work income taxed at flat 10%. Phase 3 — any additional non-remote-work income taxed at standard progressive rates (0%–35%). Registration with Maltese tax authorities is mandatory even during the exemption period.
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
Malta
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 Malta eligibility for your nationality