|
Post by jakbeau on Oct 12, 2010 22:21:59 GMT 1
Hi all,
Newbie here and researching Croatia for possible retirement after seeing the American Association for Retired Persons and the web site "International Living" deem the nation a possibility for we Americans who are not wealthy.
I've been reading tons of information trying to get a dollar (euro? Kuna?) figure on what would convice Croatian authorities that I had "the means with which to support myself", since I won't be working.
I finally called the Croatian embassy in Chicago, U.S. and asked them. They didn't have a figure, but what they did say that just my desire to retire in Croatia wouldn't be a good enough reason to obtain a temporary stay permit. (I know I have 90 days tourist, but would want a year by year approach.)
Hmmmmm. So, if I don't have money to purchase a property, does that mean I'm not welcome to stay?
Your thoughts and input are greatly appreciated!
|
|
|
Post by gmh on Oct 13, 2010 8:36:31 GMT 1
Yeah, basically you're not welcome unless you buy a property or start a business or marry a local. All 3 ways are sure to drain your finances ;D If you don't speak Croatian, I suggest it's probably not the best place for you to retire anyway.
|
|
|
Post by ray51 on Oct 13, 2010 9:00:38 GMT 1
( Assuming that the questions were seriously intended and not a wind-up ) gmh is probably 100% right , for now anyway ; however , should the long-awaited Croatian entry into the EU actually materialise , then an American should automatically be freely permitted to reside in such an EU-member country , subject to certain reasonable conditions ( like : proof of sufficient capital and/or income to support oneself , medical insurance , payment of tax/es etc . ) . Any number of Americans reside , short- and long-term , all over EUrope ; property/business ownership are not the criteria , nor is a marriage to a local citizen .
Whether or not an American retired female should on such basis still choose Croatia , is a matter for a different debate .
|
|
|
Post by Ribaric on Oct 13, 2010 13:35:55 GMT 1
Hi jakbeau,
I did exactly what you are proposing with a mostly positive result although I guess it is important to understand why you want to leave the USA.
Your investigations are pretty good... Marriage: A bit drastic, it would work but not recommended unless you marry for the right reasons. Work: You don't want that and it is near impossible anyway.
Other than for a few crackpot methods (eg: being sent by the Mormons from Utah will get you a year or more) then you will have to buy a property in order to get a visa to live here. Your income must be greater than the minmum wage which I believe is about $400 per month.
I guess you are right, if you aren't going to pay some kind of tax, you will not be welcomed here. However, come on a tourist visa if you can. Come and see what life is like. It may be you'll find it is not what you hope to see ... frankly, it almost certainly won't be.
I'm happy to talk more if you want, maybe via email if that suits?
|
|
|
Post by ivetron on Oct 13, 2010 15:37:14 GMT 1
Jakbeau, you will get a lot of negativity about Croatia on this board so try to be objective. Most of that negativity IMHO seems to come from people working in Croatia, dealing with extra red tape, need for permits, slow beuracratic processes and even nosey neighbours. I think it would be much different if you simply went there to retire and didn't have to deal wiht a lot of that stuff. It's a beautiful country, costs are much less than America and your social security alone should meet the $400/mo minimum monthly income. Houses, flats and so on much cheaper on average than in the US right now, if you are in a position to buy a retirement home. And as of today, property tax is just a one time fee versus anually in the US.
|
|
|
Post by crojoe on Oct 13, 2010 18:05:11 GMT 1
Retiring in Croatia is a good choice, and I doubt many will "rubbish" that idea, but if you plan to live on a shoe string, maybe work or open a business then that’s really a whole other ball game.
About the only way you will be able to retire here is to buy a house privately, although I don't know if none EU folks can do that yet? You then will need to prove you will receive a certain amount of money each month (maybe like $800 to $1000 a month). Owning property will not permit you to work here legally. Your visa will run year by year till 5th year, then you can apply for permanent residency (must pass a language test).
Best bet is to call Croatian Embassy in Washington, and see if you can get some advice from them. Say you plan to buy property (say that first) and that you have plans to retire there. They can tell you what you need. All paperwork is sent back to Croatia. In your situation it's a bit precarious, as you won't get a long term Visa without the property, but then you wouldn't want to buy property if you can't guarantee the visa.
While there are plenty of agencies, there are a few folks on this forum that deal in property and are from abroad, with whom you might see more eye to eye on a property purchase. I can't honestly recommend any Croatian property company as all to often they just aren’t up to pare on customer service, doing the job right, and all to often it's about the big buck more then a happy customer.
You really have to come here and get a feel for the country, look at areas you might want to buy property in and live, see if you could make it here (not as a tourist).
(Just notices this is my 1000th post. Never thought I had so little to say, especially on the subject of retirement. HA!)
|
|
|
Post by 3lions on Oct 14, 2010 1:45:48 GMT 1
Jakbeau, you will get a lot of negativity about Croatia on this board so try to be objective. Most of that negativity IMHO seems to come from people working in Croatia, dealing with extra red tape, need for permits, slow beuracratic processes and even nosey neighbours. I think it would be much different if you simply went there to retire and didn't have to deal wiht a lot of that stuff. It's a beautiful country, costs are much less than America and your social security alone should meet the $400/mo minimum monthly income. Houses, flats and so on much cheaper on average than in the US right now, if you are in a position to buy a retirement home. And as of today, property tax is just a one time fee versus anually in the US. ...such statements as "costs are much less than America" as per normal on here need backing up with hard data.
|
|
|
Post by ray51 on Oct 14, 2010 7:34:50 GMT 1
An ex-colleague of mine just sold a 3 years' "old" , super-modern , fully equipped , airconditioned house of 330 sq.m. , complete with all the appliances plus a double garage , remote controlled doors , electric gate , alarmed , on 2.700 sq.m. walled lot , in Colorado , after a 9 months' struggle to find a willing and able buyer : all for just under $150K ; so ? Where in Croatia could one hope to find a similar "deal" , pray ?
|
|
|
Post by Madgolfer on Oct 14, 2010 11:00:36 GMT 1
Would a long term (12 month) rental property not be suitable for obtaining a years month visa?
I know we discussed this somethime back but I cannot find the thread or the outcome.
|
|
|
Post by ivetron on Oct 14, 2010 16:03:21 GMT 1
Man, trying to help a newbie out on this board can be quite tiring.
3Lions, I am sorry I don't have hard data to please you, I didn't realize I was submitting a formal proposal here. My facts are based on what someone posted recently about monthly costs living in Istria. Once added up, they seemed very affordable, especially for one looking to retire in Croatia.
And Ray51, what does your comment, "after a 9 months' struggle to find a willing and able buyer" tell you? It's all about location and if this Colorado place was the deal of the century it would have been sold a long, long time ago. Certainly I can find a red hot deal on a new house in the middle of nowhere in Colorado or in the desert in Arizona or Nevada-there’s a housing crisis in the US and foreclosed homes everywhere. The market is saturated in these remote places. These locations hardly compare to Croatia. But if you want to compare somewhere more desirable such as the US west coast, my research suggests you can find something cheaper in Croatia AND you won’t have to pay $,2500-$4000 every year in property taxes like you do in the US.
So back to the point at hand, HELPING OUT Newbie with his question. After reading loads of posts/complaints on this board it seems pretty obvious that living and WORKING in Croatia would be a bit of a struggle. But simply retiring there, in my opinion, whether you speak good Croatian or not has a lot of upside.
|
|
|
Post by Madgolfer on Oct 14, 2010 16:07:54 GMT 1
I need to retire.
|
|
|
Post by MartinM on Oct 14, 2010 16:22:51 GMT 1
I've been here so long without a job, very little money and not much to do - I feel like I've already retired!!
|
|
|
Post by prkbrk on Oct 14, 2010 18:42:45 GMT 1
To retire in Croatia is quite simple if you follow a few rules.... the easiest is to buy a property (assuming the country you are from has a reciprocal agreement with HR on buying), demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to reside here every year, have a police clearance, go through other document processes (birth cert, health insurance, bank statement, kataster document, etc).... if you are over 60 (I think) you dont need to go through the language test for perm residency.
The govt folk i know here are so easy to deal with that it is a 'simple' process of turning up each year and getting a new visa
Sometimes folk on this board are so negative it disappoints me generally, but then I guess each to their own.
|
|
|
Post by crojoe on Oct 14, 2010 18:45:22 GMT 1
The govt folk i know here are so easy to deal with that it is a 'simple' process of turning up each year and getting a new visa
Sometimes folk on this board are so negative it disappoints me generally, but then I guess each to their own.
I wish it was just that easy. Guess you're just a likable person.
|
|
|
Post by ray51 on Oct 14, 2010 21:56:50 GMT 1
And Ray51, what does your comment, "after a 9 months' struggle to find a willing and able buyer" tell you? It's all about location and if this Colorado place was the deal of the century it would have been sold a long, long time ago. Certainly I can find a red hot deal on a new house in the middle of nowhere in Colorado or in the desert in Arizona or Nevada-there’s a housing crisis in the US and foreclosed homes everywhere. The market is saturated in these remote places. These locations hardly compare to Croatia. So then , can we take it that you personally are very au fait with Colorado ( home of Martina Navratilova and many other celebrities ) , Nevada and Arizona and therefore you are an expert as to why and how "those locations hardly compare to Croatia" ? ( Brave words , indeed ? )
|
|