Coaching FAQ

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Since 2013, we’ve guided thousands of people on how to move to Croatia, applying for citizenship, and how to live in Croatia like a local.

You can speak with us directly over video chat and get your questions answered during a session that is completely customized to you. Below, you can read frequently asked questions about our coaching service so you know exactly what to expect.

Use the below links to navigate the FAQ.

Who we are


Who is Expat in Croatia?

Expat in Croatia is a full-service company that guides people on living in Croatia with as much simplicity as possible. We specialize in bureaucracy, but also provide guidance on culture, language, and everything else one needs to assimilate into the Croatian community through free guides and personalized services.
 
EIC was founded in 2013 by Sara Dyson, an American who showed up in Croatia without knowing anything and without any connections. After 6 months, she fell in love with the country and launched expatincroatia.com as a free resource for anyone who wished to move to Croatia.
 
In 2018, EIC was registered as a Croatian company. In 2019, we hired our first employee. As of 2025, we have a team of 10 full-time employees scattered across Croatia, most of whom are Croatian citizens.


How can I trust you?

Over the last 12 years, we have built a strong reputation for honesty, transparency, love for Croatia, and a desire to help anyone who crosses our path.

For the first 7 years, Sara personally responded to thousands of emails, comments, and direct messages at no cost – simply because she wanted to help others love Croatia as much as she does.

You can learn more about our history here.

We are not a faceless company. We are real humans whose sole mission is to help others love Croatia because we LOVE Croatia. You can meet our team here.

Many of our clients have shared their experiences on our review page here.

Here are a few to give you a taste:

“Sara’s knowledge of Croatia is nothing short of encyclopaedic. I achieved so much more clarity in just a single session, and I would not hesitate to another if needed. Invaluable.” – Todd, United Kingdom

“My experience to date with Expat in Croatia has been terrific. The website contains a wealth of information which is vetted and updated regularly. After reviewing the website, I scheduled a consultation with Sara Dyson to discuss the process of obtaining citizenship by descent for myself and my siblings. In less than an hour Sara provided a comprehensive, detailed explanation of the process. She answered all my questions about housing, healthcare, and life in Croatia; and the references provided in a follow-up email were extremely helpful.” – Bernadette, United States,

“After months of Dr Googling we were left with some ideas but had no confidence in which process to citizenship to follow and if any of it was right. Actually at the time of our consultation the laws had changed and CAM was already on top of them. We left the consultation with a clear path to citizenship and in-depth explanation of everything we needed to do in SA before leaving. On top of this when moving to a new country you don’t know how people may react or approach you. I was apprehensive about this and CAM melted all of that away. On the facts she was professional and serious but when welcoming us, making jokes and telling us about Croatia she was so warm, kind and lifted all my fears of moving. My heart now completely lies in Croatia and we have within 2 weeks a complete plan and working on all the documents we need to gather. Every country needs an expat Croatia with such high integrity.” – MaryAnn, South Africa


Who are the Expat in Croatia coaches?

Sara Dyson, American, founder of Expat in Croatia, based in Split since 2012. Expert in bureaucracy, residence, citizenship, business, and living in Croatia as a foreigner.

Carol Anne Škorvaga, first-gen Croatian-Canadian, fluent in Croatian, raising a family near Zagreb. Deep roots in Croatian culture and expat returnee life.

Marijana Čuvalo, born in Canada to Croatian parents from Herzegovina, she grew up immersed in Croatian traditions, language, and community life within the Canadian diaspora. Both a Canadian expat and a Croatian returnee.


How long have you been coaching about Croatia?

Technically, Expat in Croatia has been coaching since the very beginning in 2013 as a free service. In 2020, we began offering paid coaching sessions. Since then, we’ve spoken with people from more than 120 countries.


Can I speak with other clients?

We keep our coaching clients private, but we do have many clients who have shared their experience with our coaching service on our reviews page here.
 
Here is a small handful, in case you don’t want to leave this page:

“We chose CAM (Carol Anne) to be our coach and found her to be the perfect “fit” for us. She has experienced everything that we will be dealing with as she moved from Canada to Croatia. We found her to be thorough, professional, personable, and smart. She is also funny and charming. We love CAM!” – Barbara, United States

“CAM was exceptional — extremely informative, professional, and friendly. We now feel solid and supported.” – Carol, Canada

“I would highly recommend Expat in Croatia to anyone who is looking to relocate to Croatia. CAM and Marijana were so approachable and knowledgeable. I am planning to relocate to Croatia in the next month and apply for the equivalent of the Digital Nomad Visa. Our session was fun, informative and exceeded my expectations. They were both so knowledgeable and easy to converse with that it was an enjoyable experience.” – Miare C., United States

“Both the Expat in Croatia team and the lawyer they referred were very knowledgeable and professional. I would definitely recommend them.”— Tamara H., United States


How our coaching service works


How do I book a session?

You may book a session using this form.
 
We typically respond within 24 hours, except for holidays and weekends. In our first contact, we will let you know how we can help in your particular situation and also give you our next available time slot.
 
Once you confirm the time, you will be sent a payment link to pay by credit card. You may request an R1 invoice and pay by bank transfer if you prefer.
 
After payment is received, your time and date will be confirmed, and you’ll be provided with a meeting invite.
 
We will send a reminder of your appointment by email 24 to 48 hours before your scheduled time slot.


Why don’t you have an automatic scheduler?

Everything we do at Expat in Croatia is personal, and automatic scheduling is incredibly impersonal. We prefer a hands-on approach to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible throughout the process. This is why a real human living in Croatia will communicate with you one-on-one to book your session.
 
We want you to have complete confidence in booking a session with us, which is just not possible when booking through a robot.
 
After 6 years of coaching, we haven’t received a single complaint about this hands-on process.


What do I get?

If you are booking a session with us for the first time, you will get:

– 30-minute session over video chat with our coach
– 30-minute session with an Expat in Croatia vetted lawyer (that you can use at any time) to go over legal advice and requirements 

-PLUS-
– Follow-up email after the call with additional resources based on our conversation
– Personal introductions to vetted Croatian professionals as needed at no additional cost

If you are a repeat client, then you will get:
 
– 30-minute session over video chat with our coach
– Follow-up email after the call with additional resources based on our conversation
– Personal introductions to vetted Croatian professionals as needed at no additional cost


What is the cost?

The price varies depending on whether you are a first-time or repeat client.

The rate for first-time clients is higher because it includes 30 minutes of coaching with Expat in Croatia PLUS 30 minutes of coaching with a vetted, English-speaking lawyer.

All rates are per 30 minutes and include VAT (25% sales tax mandated by the Croatian government).

  • Sara, founder of EIC: €295 first-time / €150 repeat
  • CAM + Marijana: €195 first-time / €95 repeat

If additional time is requested, it is billed in ¼ hour increments.

We offer a 100% money back guarantee. If your session was not helpful, then you will be refunded – no questions asked.

We vet our information through hands-on, human work. This process includes extensive web research, phone calls to the government, collaboration with licensed Croatian professionals, and visits to the government.


Do you offer retainers?

Yes! You can purchase blocks of coaching time in advance, then use it for coaching over video chat or email, as you need, without expiration.
 
To use prepaid time over video chat, a minimum of 30 minutes is required. Additional time past 30 minutes will be deducted in ¼ hour increments. The video chat session will be scheduled in advance for our next available time slot.
 
To use prepaid time over email, time will be deducted in ¼ hour increments. Questions can be submitted over email, and we will respond within 48 hours if additional research is not required, excluding holidays and weekends.

You will be updated on how much time you have remaining in your retainer after each usage.


How do we meet?

Coaching sessions with Expat in Croatia coaches are done over video chat. You’ll be provided a meeting link once your session is paid and confirmed.
 
Coaching sessions with lawyers are done over WhatsApp, Zoom, or your preferred method.


Which topics can I discuss with Expat in Croatia?

All legal advice must be handled by lawyers. If you need tax advice, we can recommend a vetted tax advisor or accountant after your session.

Everything else can be discussed with an Expat in Croatia coach, including, but not limited to:

–        Culture
–        Places to live
–        Housing
–        Language
–        Healthcare
–        Operating a business
–        Experience of buying a property
–        Experience of applying for residence
–        Experience of applying for citizenship


Can I meet the Expat in Croatia coach in person?

At this time, we are not offering in-person sessions.


How quickly can I get a session?

It depends on the demand. Based on our average volume, we can usually schedule your session within 2 to 3 weeks, however, sometimes demand is higher, and there may be a wait time of 4 to 6 weeks.

Please note that our office is closed from December 24 to January 6. Here is the full holiday schedule for Croatia, during which our office is closed as mandated by the Croatian government. We also close for 3 US holidays: the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, and the day after Thanksgiving.


Who do I meet with first, Expat in Croatia or the lawyer?

You will meet with Expat in Croatia first. After your session, we will connect you with the lawyer to set up your session with them.


Cost


What is the cost?

The price varies depending on whether you are a first-time or repeat client.

The rate for first-time clients is higher because it includes 30 minutes of coaching with Expat in Croatia PLUS 30 minutes of coaching with a vetted, English-speaking lawyer.

All rates are per 30 minutes and include VAT (25% sales tax mandated by the Croatian government).

  • Sara, founder of EIC: €295 first-time / €150 repeat
  • CAM + Marijana: €195 first-time / €95 repeat

Does the cost include VAT (value-added tax)?

Yes, all of our coaching fees, including the 25% VAT mandated by the Croatian government.


Do I pay before or after the session?

All coaching sessions are prepaid and confirmed once payment is received. Payments can be made by bank transfer or credit card.


What does the coaching fee cover?

If you are booking a session with us for the first time, you will get:
 
– 30-minute session over video chat with our coach
– 30-minute session with an Expat in Croatia vetted lawyer (that you can use at any time) to go over legal advice and requirements 

-PLUS-
– Follow-up email after the call with additional resources based on our conversation
– Personal introductions to vetted Croatian professionals as needed at no additional cost

If you are a repeat client, then you will get:
 
– 30-minute session over video chat with our coach
– Follow-up email after the call with additional resources based on our conversation
– Personal introductions to vetted Croatian professionals as needed at no additional cost
 
It takes a tremendous amount of hands-on, human work to research and vet our information that we provide during sessions. This process includes extensive web research, phone calls to the government, collaboration with licensed Croatian professionals, and visits to government offices.

It’s not something that ChatGPT can do. We must employ skilled, full-time employees who live in Croatia, and that comes with a cost.


Meeting with a lawyer


I’ve already met with Expat in Croatia for a coaching session. Can I still get a session with a lawyer?

Absolutely! You can be introduced to an Expat in Croatia vetted lawyer at any time. You can request a session during a coaching session, over email after your session, or through this form.

You may consult with a lawyer as a standalone service. If you contract with them for a service after the session, such as preparation of your citizenship application, then the consulting cost is deducted from the total cost of the service.

When you work with a lawyer we recommend, you will receive:

  • An introduction FAQ packet about working with our network of Croatian lawyers that covers just about everything you may need to know about the process, including cultural insights, working hours, and process, so you know exactly what to expect.
  • A dedicated Expat in Croatia caseworker who will follow up with you periodically throughout the process and will serve as your advocate
  • The full weight, knowledge, and experience of all the licensed professionals in the network across Croatia. Our network is made up of multiple independent law practices, but they all work together as colleagues to share and collaborate for the benefit of our clients.

Why do I need the lawyer session?

Legal advice must be provided by a licensed legal professional.


Can I forgo the lawyer session?

If you are booking with us for the first time, you will automatically get a 30-minute session with a lawyer, which you can use at any time. You do not have to use it, but it will be available to you whenever you need it.

Trust us when we say that everybody living in Croatia should have a legal advocate.


Do the lawyers speak English?

Yes, all vetted lawyers speak English as well as Croatian. They work with foreigners from all over the globe.


Do I have to pay the lawyer anything?

Once you pay the fee for an Expat in Croatia session as a first-time client, you automatically get 30 minutes with the lawyer at no additional cost.

You only need to pay the lawyer if you contract with them for a new service, such as:

  • Applying for residence
  • Applying for citizenship
  • Purchasing or selling a property
  • Opening a business
  • Preparing a contract
  • Preparing a will
  • Handling a divorce
  • Registering a foreign marriage, birth, or divorce

This list is not comprehensive. The network has specialists in immigration, property, civil, family, divorce, criminal, probate, intellectual property, and corporate law. They can handle just about anything you throw at them.


How are the lawyers vetted?

Every lawyer has been recommended through personal referrals from people we trust implicitly.

Next, they are vetted during multiple discussions and in-person meetings. Foreigners have different needs than Croatians, so we discuss those differences to gauge if they are well-suited to the task. We evaluate their level of English as well.

Through this process, we also learn about their specialties, experience, and personality, so we can match people to the lawyer best suited to handle their case.

Once they have shown a reputation for providing consistent, exceptionally professional services, they join the network in an official capacity. If at any time a lawyer shows that they cannot consistently and professionally serve our clients, they are removed from the network.


Which topics can I discuss with the lawyer?

You may discuss anything that is law-related with our lawyer network. Our lawyers are skilled in:

  • Immigration (incl. residence and citizenship)
  • Real estate
  • Probate and inheritance
  • Family law
  • Divorce
  • Criminal law
  • Corporate law

If you wish to discuss any of the following topics, then it is best suited for your conversation with an Expat in Croatia coach:

  • Culture
  • Places to live
  • Housing
  • Language
  • Healthcare
  • Operating a business
  • Experience of buying a property
  • Experience of applying for residence
  • Experience of applying for citizenship

Where are the lawyers located?

Our network consists of 15 vetted law practices in the following locations:

  • Dubrovnik
  • Island Brač
  • Island Korčula
  • Island Vis
  • Pula
  • Rijeka
  • Šibenik
  • Split
  • Trogir
  • Zadar
  • Zagreb

The lawyers in these locations also serve areas near them. For example, our Zagreb lawyers serve eastern Croatia, our Zadar lawyers serve the Lika region, our Rijeka lawyers serve the Kvarner islands, our Split lawyers serve the Dalmatian islands, and our Dubrovnik lawyers serve their respective islands.


Can I meet the lawyer in person?

Yes, absolutely! When booking a session, please let us know your location preference, and we’ll match you with someone local to you.


Will I have attorney-client privilege?

Yes, of course. All discussions with the lawyer are protected under the attorney-client privilege under Croatian law.


Ready to get started?

Save yourself the time and uncertainty of trying to navigate the ever-changing rules for living in Croatia by scheduling a private chat with us.

To schedule your personalized coaching session, complete the below form.

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