Expats looking for long-term living in Croatia have to decide between citizenship and residency. They might not seem that different, but actually this decision has a lot of implications.
Unfortunately, many expats don’t know the difference.
Both options mean you get to stay in this beautiful European country. And there is a lot of overlap. But they each offer unique advantages and limitations in terms of rights and overall flexibility.
This guide will clear up how the two options differ and which one is best for your situation.
Understanding Dual Citizenship and Residency in Croatia
Dual Citizenship in Croatia
Dual citizenship allows you to legally hold passports from two different countries simultaneously. In this case, dual citizenship means holding both Croatian citizenship and your original nationality (i.e. in the US, Canada, etc.).
There are a tremendous number of pathways to citizenship. You can see an overview on how to become a Croatian citizen here.
Citizenship confers lifelong, irrevocable rights, granting you a Croatian passport and European Union (EU) citizenship, enabling unrestricted travel, work, and residence across all EU countries.
Learn more about the benefits of being a Croatian citizen.
Long-Term Residency in Croatia
Long-term residency allows you to live legally in Croatia for an extended period without going through the entire naturalization process.
To start on this path, you’ll first receive temporary residency permits you need to renew frequently. After five years in a row doing this, you qualify for permanent residency.
Permanent residents enjoy indefinite residency provided conditions like continuous residence are met. Unlike citizenship, residency doesn’t grant a Croatian passport or EU citizenship, but it’s easier and quicker to acquire and maintain.
There are several residency pathways exist. They all revolve around getting a D Visa, which allows you to stay in the country over the 90 days allowed by the Schengen Agreement.
Learn about the Croatian visa options.
Major Differences at a Glance
| Category | Dual Citizenship | Long-Term Residency |
| Legal Status & Permanence | Permanent, irrevocable | Conditional, renewable annually or indefinite |
| Tax Implications | Taxed as residents if living in Croatia; tax treaties apply | Same as citizens; special exemption for digital nomads |
| Healthcare Access | Immediate access, mandatory contributions | Must initially show private insurance; later enroll in public healthcare |
| EU Mobility | Full EU citizen rights | Limited to Croatia; minor facilitation to move within EU |
| Property & Business | No restrictions; minimal bureaucracy | Requires government approval; some restrictions on land |
| Civic Rights | Full voting rights; eligible for public office | No voting rights or political participation |
| Travel & Consular | Croatian passport, broad travel freedom, EU consular protection | Limited to home passport rights |
| Process & Timeline | Lengthy (8+ years), language tests, potential renunciation | Quicker initial approval (months), moderate renewals |
Comparing Dual Citizenship and Long-Term Residency
Legal Status and Permanence
Dual Citizenship gives you permanent, irrevocable residency and unconditional right to live in Croatia. Citizenship status doesn’t expire and offers maximum security, and some of your rights are not just protected by the country but by the entire EU as well.
Long-Term Residency, on the other hand, is conditional. Temporary residency permits require periodic renewal, making it the most tenuous. Permanent residency is more secure, sure, but it remains conditional on maintaining residency requirements.
Tax Implications
Citizenship itself doesn’t mandate Croatian taxation—tax residency does. Residents taxed on global income, but tax treaties with the US and Canada minimize double taxation. That being said, a digital nomad visa uniquely exempts income earned abroad for one year.
Learn more about tax liability for expats in Croatia.
Healthcare Access
Citizens of Croatia get immediate access to the country’s universal public healthcare upon residency, but this includes along with it mandatory contributions you make from your earnings.
To qualify for residency requires you are fully covered by private insurance, but later on you can typically enroll in public healthcare, enjoying similar healthcare benefits to citizens (as long as you also make contributions to the program from your earnings).
Traveling Through the EU
Becoming a citizen of Croatia grants you membership in the EU—and that serves as a motherlode of opportunity. You can live, work, and study freely across EU member states.
Long-term residency brings you close to other EU states, but travel will have the same Schengen Area limitations that it does for other non-EU nationals.
Property and Business Ownership
No restrictions on property ownership for citizens. But for residents to buy property (especially business property) requires government approval. There are particular restrictions on agricultural land.
Civic Rights
Citizens get to vote in Croatian and EU elections, and they are eligible to run for public office.
Residents, however, do not have these rights.
Process, Timeline, and Costs
So far, choosing citizenship over residency seems like a no-brainer. But here, we see why many people find residency more aligned with their needs.
The process of becoming a citizen can be lengthy (often taking more than eight years). That means you have to be highly committed, including learning the language and integrating with the culture.
Residency is easier to obtain and the renewals, though frequent and annoying in their own bureaucratic way, are straightforward enough.
If you want to live in Croatia for a long time but aren’t interested in making it your forever home, the timeline and difficulty of full citizenship probably tip the scales in favor of residency.
Making the Right Choice for You
Choose dual citizenship if you aim for full integration and unrestricted EU-wide rights. If you are deeply committed to living as a Croatian for the rest of your life, this is definitely the right choice for you.
But if you want a simpler path and plan to leave Croatia in the years to come, long-term residency is both easier and brings with it fewer obligations.
Whatever path you choose, we are here to support you.
Our experts help people make Croatia their new home—whether it’s for a year or a lifetime. Reach out today to schedule a 100% free consultation
