January 3, 2023 - The Croatian dream - to live in Croatia and get income from abroad. Meet the locals who are living that dream, and find out how you could, too, in a new TCN series. In the third in the series, meet Dorian Antesic, who is enjoying life on the island of Rab.

Croatia, great for a 2-week holiday, but a nightmare for full-time living unless you are very rich, so the perceived wisdom goes. The Croatian dream is to live in Croatia with a nice income from abroad, as many foreigners and remote workers do. For Croatians, if I read the comments in my recent video, Croatia is the Best Place to Live: 8 Reasons Why (see below), salaries are too low and people are forced to emigrate in search of a better life.

While there is definitely an element of truth to this, it got me thinking. The era of remote work is here, and the workplace is increasingly global, with a labour shortage for many skills. It doesn't matter if you are from Boston or Bangladesh if you have the skills, desire, and work ethic, and are able to work remotely online.  And while it is certainly true that salaries in Croatia are low, what about the opportunities that the global online marketplace offers? If foreigners can find ways to live in Paradise and work remotely, why not locals? Curious, I posted this on my Facebook and LinkedIn yesterday:

Do I know many Croats who are living in Croatia, but working remotely for international companies who would be interested in being part of a TCN interview series showcasing living in Croatia but earning online, including advice to others on how to get started? It could be an interesting series. If interested, contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Remote Croatia.

Some 15 emails - and several inspiring stories - later, and I think we have the makings of what could be a rather interesting series, Croats Living in Croatia & Earning Abroad. Next up in the series, Dorian Antesic on the island of Rab.

My name is Dorian Antešić and I come from the Island of Rab. I am a writer and analyst in the field of immigration and bitcoin. I help people figure out how to benefit from this little orange thing called "bitcoin" and how to internationalize their life through obtaining a second residence, passport, alternative investments, and similar.  

I studied finance in Rijeka, Prague, and Coimbra in Portugal. Due to my adventurous soul, I spent quite a substantial time in my early 20s traveling across Europe. As my grandma would say, I have "mrava va guzici" (literally "ants in the ass"), so I have seen and lived in a lot of places in the last 6 years. Many places, many people, and different cultures, but, at the end of the day, home called, and I answered gladly.  

 1. Many Croats are emigrating but you not only chose to stay, but managed to achieve the Croatian dream - living here and working for an international company. Tell us how you did it.

My Uni years were spent exploring Europe and working various jobs. From working as a waiter to leading NGO projects and starting my podcast. I gained a lot of work experience and got a "travel bug", so when Uni life was coming to an end, I wanted to continue the international lifestyle. 

I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I wasn't 100% sure about myself. So I let God decide for me. At the same time, I was trying to find work in a company AND find clients as a freelancer. Whatever comes first I will continue with that. After some time passed, I received two offers in the same week. One was a work offer from a big financial company in Luxembourg and the other was a freelance offer from a "remote-only" company. 

I was in a dilemma. Luxembourg company paid more (with big corporate benefits), but I would have to move and settle in Luxembourg. And the city in e-x-p-e-n-s-i-v-e.  

On the other hand, the freelance offer allowed me to work from anywhere I wanted, additionally, I could start my "adult" entrepreneurial venture. Although with a higher risk, I choose the freelance offer. It paid off. I developed a great relationship with this client and found other clients. 

2. Looking for jobs based in Croatia can be a challenging task. How challenging was it for you to get where you are today - it must have taken a lot of determination and rejection.

I was mentally prepared as I knew it would be hard work to find something that suited me well. I must have sent at least 100 proposals, with just a few interviews and responses. There were times when you got a bit down due to no results. I would hit the gym and go to the beach to relax. My friend was in a job search as well, so we encouraged each other. 

Determination paid off substantially. In my first "entrepreneur year", I managed to work with two of my business role models. I work with Sovereign Research (ex-Sovereign Man) and the bitcoin economist Saifedean Ammous. I read their books, articles, analyses and lectures during my Uni years, so I was thrilled to work and learn from them. 

3. If you can do it, presumably others can too. Are you aware of others who have had similar success, but maybe in different industries?

Yup, for sure. I studied and lived with a couple who had a similar life projector. Actually, in 2022 I spent 6 months living and traveling in Spain with two Croats from Split who work remotely. They are in engineering and marketing. When you think about it, a lot of work these days is done via a computer. Even some parts of medicine. If you can work on a computer in an office, then you can just as easily work from anywhere you want.  

Now, I don't want to be that guy who says "Remote work is everything, everyone needs to do it." No...Remote work does have its pros and cons, so it's only for some at certain times, but I would definitely recommend people think about it. It might be just the right thing for them. 

4. What is the general feeling among people in Croatia today. Is it possible to have a good life here, or is the grass greener on the other side?

It seems to me that Croatians are divided into two opposite categories: those who want to leave as soon as possible and those who don't even want to think about leaving. Between these two "extremes," I prefer the latter. To quote the British writer Chesterton: "Men did not love Rome because she was great. She was great because they had loved her."Any place can become a "new Rome" if people put their unconditional love and focus into it. The good Lord created an abundant world, and we have to have an abundance mindset. Opportunities are everywhere. 

Now, I don't want to moralize others that they shouldn't leave at all. People have their circumstances. Some people don't have a choice at a particular moment in their life. Everyone's life situation is specific. What I want to point out is that these two extremes aren't the only options. You can go abroad and still come back. You can explore the world if you want, but please remember where your home is. So it's not really "either to move away or stay home." You can have both. I still plan to travel internationally. I just began, but I know where to focus my determination. 

I will create a "new Rome" out of my little Island of Rab. And I am not alone in this. I have friends, and I know people who are professionals in business and IT who share the same goal. Even though they might not express their goal the same as I did, we all have the same vision of a new Rome. The vision is beautiful, but it will require a lot of work from us. And a little help from the above. 

5. Apart from corruption and nepotism, low wages are often cited as a reason to emigrate. But with the remote work revolution, as your example has shown, as well as the influx of many foreign workers to the likes of Rimac and Infobip for example, show that a good quality of life IS possible in Croatia. What are your thoughts on that?

Remote work is a gift from the above for Croatia. Before, you had to leave Croatia to have an opportunity to be in the "big league" with the top players. Now you don't have to. You can work from home and be on the same playing field as people in big cities or more developed countries. This is even more emphasized in smaller places like my Island of Rab. You don't have to move to Zagreb to find a good-paying job or clients. And you don't have to limit yourself to the tourism sector if you don't want to move from home. You can have all the benefits: be home AND work where you want. It's great!

6. What advice do you have for others who would like to stay in Croatia, but have no idea where or how to find a possible remote work job or business as you have managed to do?

Remember that it can take some effort to find what will suit you. And then start applying. As I mentioned, I have sent at least 100 proposals in my first two months of searching, with just a few responses and fewer interviews. But it paid off. Big time. Think about companies you like and visit their "Careers" site. Send your CV and motivation letter even if there isn't an active job opening. None of my clients actively searched for help when I contacted them. Use also LinkedIn. There are many job listings there. It's easy to apply through the platform, but consider that companies will receive MANY job applications. It's better to directly contact companies that you like and try to get some response. 

And just be persistent...

7. Three reasons you decided to stay in Croatia, and the one thing you would like to change in this country.

The first reason is family. This is the place where my parents are, grandparents and cousins. It's a healthy thing to raise your own family surrounded by elders and relatives. 

Secondly, it's my home. You shouldn't need a reason to love something. You love it unconditionally. Therefore, I do love my island without reason. It's the irrational people that improve things. So my duty (our duty) is to improve the place where we belong. 

Thirdly, Croatia is still a majorly Christian country with Christian values. I was not too fond of the secular value system pushed in the more "western" countries. It's a life not lived according to our creation. It's a distorted life with wrong priorities. Croatia is still relatively healthy, so if I want to raise a healthy family, this is THE place to be.  

Regarding change, I would like to have more competitive tax structures. Croatia has the "paušalni obrt" structure up to €40,000, which is solid, but I think this can be better. My job is to research global immigration and tax structures, so to give you an example, the Republic of Georgia has a tax structure of 1% tax on income up to $164,000 (around €155,000). Many foreigners in recent years have flocked to Georgia to benefit from this structure. The Croatian digital nomad visa was a success. I believe that a rise of "paušalni obrt" tax structure max cap would benefit Croatia even greater. We have everything digital entrepreneurs need PLUS our location, climate and pleasant culture.     

You can check my website at www.antesic.com and my LinkedIn profile if you want to hear more from me. 

****

Thanks Dorian, very inspiring, and congratulations on all your success.

You can follow the rest of this series in the dedicated TCN section here.

If you would like to contribute your story to this series, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Subject Remote Croatia.

****

What is it like to live in Croatia? An expat for 20 years, you can follow my series, 20 Ways Croatia Changed Me in 20 Years, starting at the beginning - Business and Dalmatia.

Follow Paul Bradbury on LinkedIn.

Subscribe to the Paul Bradbury Croatia & Balkan Expert YouTube channel.

Croatia, a Survival Kit for Foreigners is now available on Amazon in paperback and on Kindle.

ZAGREB, 2 Sept 2021 - Two agreements, worth a total of HRK 55.5 million, were signed in Rab on Thursday to upgrade port infrastructure in this town on the northern Adriatic island of the same name and in the nearby mainland town of Senj.

The first agreement concerns the award of a grant for the reconstruction of the wharf in Rab, while the second one relates to the construction of a new ramp in Senj's Stinica ferry port.

The signing ceremony was attended by Minister of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure Oleg Butković, Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds Nataša Tramišak, and local government officials.

The Stinica project is very important for providing a transport connection to Rab, as well as between Lika-Senj and Primorje-Gorski Kotar Counties, Tramišak said.

The investment in Rab is part of a large investment project by the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure through which nearly HRK 2 billion has so far been invested in small coastal and island ports. 85% of funding for all the projects comes from the EU's Cohesion Fund and the rest from the Ministry's budget.

For more on politics, follow TCN's dedicated page.

November 29, 2020 – In untouched island landscapes, the Rab Archaeological Traces mobile application will present valuable archaeological, sacral, and ethnographic heritage dating from prehistory to the beginning of the 20th century.

As Turizam24 reports, the mobile application Rab Archaeological Traces is an upgrade of the same project, which was initiated within the Program Route 27 Neighborhoods (Programski pravac 27 susjedstava), a part of the Rijeka 2020 – European Capital of Culture project. The app will be presented online on Monday, November 30, 2020, at 2 pm on Facebook.

Starting from the idea of an open-air museum, the Rab Archaeological Traces project was developed, which presented about 30 archeological sites on the island of Rab. In the first phase of the project, which was presented to the public in June this year, three educational trails with a total length of 40 km were arranged, which connected more than 30 archaeological, sacral, and ethnographic sites hidden in untouched island landscapes.

In the second phase, an interactive mobile application was created as a kind of trail guide that combines navigation, augmented reality (virtual characters), audio and video content, various interesting facts, question marks, games, and AR photography, and has built-in statistics and a reward system.

The sites are presented at 34 info points connected by educational trails with a total length of 40 km that stretch through Kampor (Capo Fronte trail), Lopar (Epario trail), and Supetarska Draga (Frux trail) and include protected areas of the landscape. Some sites are in the archaeological strata and you will have to look for them more closely, while others impress with their structures that have defied time for centuries.

In addition to navigation and information about heritage sites themselves, the application also provides many interesting facts, legends, and stories about the island and life on the island. Virtual characters who tell historical stories, audio guides, augmented reality, learning through games, and quizzes will make your exploration of the island unforgettable.

The application works offline and is intended for hikers, cyclists, mountaineers, and all lovers of nature and cultural heritage.

It is free for end-users and can be used for individual exploration of the island, for educational purposes, and as an aid to tourist, bike, and mountain guides during guided tours.

The application was developed by the Lopar Cultural Center, Rab Public Open University, Rab Tourist Board, and Lopar Tourist Board with the expert assistance of the Institute of Archeology and the Maritime and Historical Museum of the Croatian Littoral Rijeka, and financial support from the City of Rab and Lopar Municipality.

For the latest travel info, bookmark our main travel info article, which is updated daily. 

Read the Croatian Travel Update in your language - now available in 24 languages.

Join the Total Croatia Travel INFO Viber community.

August 20, 2020 – After some audience members last year successfully saw films from boats, more attendees will be invited to watch from the waves at this weekend's Rab Film Festival

Visitors to this weekend's Rab Film Festival will have an experience as close to seafaring as it is to cinema-going. In response to epidemiological guidelines, the festival has had to think creatively about seating arrangements. And, they've decided to place over half the audience on boats.

“We rented two boats with a usual capacity of 150 people from which people can watch the films,” Rab Film Festival organiser Robert Tomić Zuber tells TCN. “Under epidemiological guidelines, we should be able to seat between 80 – 100 people across those.”

“A lot of people from Rab already have their own boat, so we invited all of them - and visitors who are here with boats - to come and watch the films for free from their own. We figured it was the safest way to approach the screenings this year.”


Some of the 2019 audience watched from boats. This year there will be even more. © Rab Film Festival

At 2019's Rab Film Festival, audience members were seated on a long pier, stretching out into the sea, flanked by a number of small boats. The screen faced out towards the open waters (main picture). “Last year we had about 200 people seated there,” says Robert. “This year it will be about 70.”

The 2020 Rab Film Festival begins at 8pm on Saturday 22 August and will this year showcase two movies. 'Current Sea' is a tense ecological documentary looking at the overfishing of Cambodian waters by intruding Vietnamese fishermen. “It's a documentary thriller, filmed by American director Christopher Smith,” Robert tells us. “The film was not premiered internationally until now. This is the first screening outside the US.”

The second film, 'Mater' by Croatian director Jure Pavlović, is described by Robert as something of a “little blockbuster here in Croatia.” A Dalmatian drama with lots of humour, the film had its world premiere at the prestigious Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival at the end of last year and was named best film from the region at the Belgrade FEST.

Rab is preparing for the tourist season with a rather large investment.

The British love affair with the island of Rab continues in The Independent, the latest feature in th British media on the Croatian coast. Rab, of course, is credited as the birth of naturist tourism in Croatian, after the skinny-dipping antics of a British royal.