INGENIOUS

You could live in a medieval coastal paradise like Dubrovnik… and for less than you think.
© RUSTAMANK/iSTOCK

Most of us would probably balk at the idea of paying a year’s rent in advance. But when it gets you residency rights in Europe… maybe even a sea view… and the entire cost is less than two months’ rent in California… it might be worth it.

Croatia is one of Europe’s hottest destinations these days. The little country sits across the narrow Adriatic Sea from Italy—with a coastline many consider just as beautiful, with a history (the Romans… the Ottomans… the Austro-Hungarian Empire) just as rich.

The “Croatian Apartment Visa,” as it’s known, requires that you find residential property in the country and prepay rent for one year. If you can prove sufficient funds to support yourself, have health insurance covering your time in Croatia, and pass a criminal background check, you can stay in Croatia indefinitely, as long as you keep prepaying your annual rent.

You don’t even have to make an appointment with the Immigration authorities. You just visit a local police station in the area where you plan to live and tell them about your plans. You’ll give them all the documentation at the same time.

You can work remotely as long as your income is foreign-sourced. You can’t work for a Croatian company or client.

Right now, a decent apartment in popular coastal destinations like Split or Dubrovnik (popularized as King’s Landing in Game of Thrones) costs as little as $370 a month. Apartments with sea views range from $850 to $1,250 a month.

That means that you could potentially spend years living in this delightful little coastal country for as little as $4,500 a year in rent.

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