For years, moving to Croatia from the UK was a matter of a ferry ticket and a plan. Since Brexit it needs a permit, but the picture is less grim than the forums suggest: some Britons keep full rights, there are routes for remote workers and employees, and the euro, the sea and the cafés are all still there. This article is based on the Croatian authorities' pages and the UK's own guidance for British nationals.
Do British citizens still have rights in Croatia?
It depends on when you arrived. GOV.UK states that if you moved to Croatia before 1 January 2021 and have lived there legally since, you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement. The UK government advises getting the biometric residence card (dozvola boravka), and if you do not have one, applying through your local police administration. If refused you can appeal, and the card must be renewed before it expires.
If you arrive now, you are a third-country national. That does not make a move impossible; it means you need a legal basis for a stay of more than 90 days.
How long can you stay without a visa?
Up to 90 days in any 180 in the Schengen area. According to GOV.UK, time spent in Croatia on a Croatian residence permit or long-stay visa does not count towards the 90 days. Under the EU's entry-exit system, legal residents with a biometric card do not need to register; without one, you risk being wrongly flagged as an overstayer. Keep your card or permit with your passport.
Which visas and permits exist for moving to Croatia from the UK?
GOV.UK lists visas for work (including digital nomad), study, joining family and research. The practical routes for someone moving to Croatia from the UK are:
- Work. As a third-country national you need a residence and work permit, unless you hold rights from before 2021. GOV.UK says you may need a work permit or visa and that jobs may require a UK police certificate and recognition of your qualifications. Ask the Ministry of the Interior or the Croatian embassy which permit applies to your job.
- Remote work. The temporary stay for digital nomads allows up to 18 months, requires monthly income of at least 3,622.50 euros (or savings) and foreign employers or clients only. See the Croatia digital nomad visa guide.
- Family. If your spouse is an EU citizen living in Croatia, you apply for a residence card as the family member of an EU citizen.
- Study and research, with their own conditions.
After 5 years of continuous legal residence you may be eligible for permanent residency, according to GOV.UK. Croatia accepts dual citizenship with the UK.
Which route fits you depends on your job, your partner and your income, and the official pages assume you already know. Moovy can compare the routes for your profile and prepare your list of documents. It does not file permit applications; the Ministry of the Interior or a Croatian consulate decides.
Can you drive with a UK licence?
For a while. GOV.UK says a UK licence is valid for up to 12 months and cannot be renewed while you live in Croatia. To keep driving, exchange it after at least 185 days of residence and apply before the 12 months end. If your licence has expired or will expire within 6 months, you must apply for a Croatian licence, which requires theory and practical tests. A UK Blue Badge has to be returned to the issuing authority. Bringing your car brings the special vehicle tax into play, so check the current rules with the Croatian authorities before you ship it.
What should you check before moving to Croatia from the UK with family?
If your partner or children are coming with you, the permit question becomes a family one. An EU-citizen spouse changes the route, because the family member of an EU citizen can apply for a residence card. A British spouse of another British citizen needs a basis of their own, such as work, remote work or study, and the MUP page says that family members of a digital nomad can join only once the nomad's own stay has been approved: family applications filed before the nomad's approval are rejected.
Children of school age must be in school once they live in Croatia, whatever their nationality. The state school is free, and the first-year enrolment takes place in the spring for the September start; the details are in schools in Croatia for expat children. Bring school reports, with certified translations if you want the Croatian school to recognise the years already done. Pets, furniture and a car each come with their own import formalities, so list what you really plan to bring before you book a removal firm.
Finally, keep your British documents up to date. Many Croatian procedures ask for a police certificate, a birth or marriage certificate and a diploma, sometimes legalised or translated by a court interpreter. Order them in the UK before you leave, because getting them later from abroad is slower and costs more.
What about health cover?
GOV.UK states that health insurance is compulsory in Croatia. The HZZO says people with an approved temporary stay who are not insured elsewhere must register within 8 days. The UK's GHIC card is accepted for treatment that cannot wait during a temporary stay, according to the HZZO's national contact point. If the NHS funds your care through an S1, ask the HZZO how the form is registered. More in healthcare in Croatia for expats.
Can you buy a home in Croatia?
As a non-EU buyer you need the consent of the Ministry of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation, and consent is available only if your country has reciprocity with Croatia. The ministry publishes the list. Do not sign anything final before the consent is granted. The steps are in buying property in Croatia as a foreigner. GOV.UK adds that you should consult an English-speaking lawyer.
What changes for Scots, and for your money and pension?
Scottish residents are in the same position as other British citizens: the nationality that counts is British. Your pension is a separate subject. GOV.UK says to claim your UK State Pension through the UK guidance and, for a Croatian pension, to contact the Croatian Pension Insurance Institute. Croatia applies a double-taxation convention with the United Kingdom, which decides which country can tax which income, so ask the Croatian tax administration or a tax adviser if your income is a pension. For earnings from work, see working in Croatia.
The euro has been Croatia's currency since 1 January 2023, so you can compare prices directly with a euro-area country; the pound's exchange rate will matter for anything you pay from UK income. Keep a UK account for UK income and a Croatian one for daily life, and compare transfer costs.
It is also worth remembering the date at the top of the page. The GOV.UK guidance was updated on 11 December 2025, and rules for third-country nationals move more often than rules for EU citizens. A permit that was available last year may have new income or document requirements.
Which practical things should you do first?
- Choose the legal route and apply from the UK if a visa is needed.
- Once in Croatia, register your address at the local police station.
- Open a bank account (see bank account in Croatia) and, if employed, get your tax card.
- Check how tax works for you; the UK and Croatia have a double-taxation convention, and the Porezna uprava or a tax adviser can tell you which rules apply to your income.
The wider first-weeks sequence is in the guide to moving to Croatia. Moving to Croatia from the UK is still very much possible, but it is a process with a start date, a permit and a document file. Rules for third-country nationals change often; confirm each step with the Croatian embassy in London or the Ministry of the Interior.