A visa is a permission for foreign citizens to enter the Republic of Croatia and stay up
to 90 days or transit through the territory of the Republic of Croatia. The visa regime and the
amount of funds necessary for covering living expenses while staying in the Republic of
Croatia and for returning to the country of origin or travelling to a third country are regulated
by the Regulations adopted by the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
A foreign citizen must obtain a visa before entering the Republic of Croatia at the
competent diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia. If the Republic of
Croatia does not have a diplomatic mission / consular office in a certain country, the visa
application can be filed with the nearest Croatian diplomatic mission / consular office in
another country.
A travel visa may be issued for one, two or multiple entries into the Republic of
Croatia, for tourist, business, personal or other purposes.
A transit visa may be issued for one, two or, exceptionally, for several transits through
the territory of the Republic of Croatia, with a validity period of up to six months. On the
basis of a transit visa, a foreigner may stay in the Republic of Croatia for a period of up to five
days following each journey.
An airport transit visa is issued for one or more transits through the international
transit area of an airport, with a validity period of up to three months.
A visa in a collective travel document: a group of between 5 and 50 people can enter
with a transit visa (for one transit) or a travel visa (for one entrance and stay of up to 30 days),
provided that the members of the group enter the territory of the Republic of Croatia, stay
there and leave it as a group.
During the period between 01 April and 31 October 2010, a decision of the
Government of the Republic of Croatia to temporarily facilitate the entry of foreigners
in the Republic of Croatia is in effect on the basis of valid Schengen residence permits
and visas for foreigners who intend to visit Croatia as tourists.
Consequently, the following categories of foreigners do not require a visa for entering
the Republic of Croatia during the above-stated time period:
– holders of valid Schengen residence permits;
– holders of valid Schengen visas arriving on cruise ships sailing out of a port in one
of the Schengen states;
– nationals of the Republic of India and the People’s Republic of China, holders of
valid Schengen visas, who collectively and in an organized manner visit the Republic of
Croatia as tourists, if in possession of a valid travel health insurance and arriving from the
Schengen Area, and
– nationals of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the State of Qatar, the State of
Kuwait, the Sultanate of Oman and the United Arab Emirates, holders of valid Schengen
visas, if in possession of a valid travel health insurance.
Detailed information can be found on the following English-language website:
http://www.mfa.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1615
Who does not need a visa?
Citizens of the following countries do not require visas to enter Croatia and stay up to
90 days or pass through the territory of the Republic of Croatia:
– Principality of Andorra, Argentine Republic, Australia, Republic of Austria,
Kingdom of Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Federative Republic of Brazil, Brunei
Darussalam, Republic of Bulgaria, Canada, Republic of Chile, Republic of Costa Rica,
Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Kingdom of Denmark, Republic of Estonia, Republic of
Finland, French Republic, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of Guatemala, Hellenic
Republic, Republic of Honduras, Republic of Hungary, Republic of Iceland, Ireland, State of
Israel, Italian Republic, Japan, Republic of Korea, Republic of Latvia, Principality of
Liechtenstein, Republic of Lithuania, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Republic of Macedonia,
Malaysia, Republic of Malta, United Mexican States, Principality of Monaco, Republic of
Nicaragua, Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Kingdom of Norway, Republic of
Panama, Republic of Paraguay, Republic of Poland, Portuguese Republic, Romania, Republic
of El Salvador, Republic of San Marino, Republic of Singapore, Slovak Republic, Republic of
Slovenia, Kingdom of Spain, Kingdom of Sweden, Swiss Confederation, Republic of Turkey,
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Eastern Republic of Uruguay, United
States of America, Vatican City State, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
The exemption from the visa requirement also applies to holders of valid travel
documents issued in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s
Republic of China and in the Macao Special Administrative Region of the People’s
Republic of China.
The exemption from the visa requirement also applies to the following holders of
valid travel documents of the Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
– British Nationals (Overseas);
– British Overseas Territories Citizens who have the right of abode in the United
Kingdom, and
– British Subjects who have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
Entering Croatia with an identity card
Citizens of the following countries can enter Croatia with a valid identity card or other
form of identification which proves the person’s identity and citizenship:
– Member States of the European Economic Area
– Principality of Andorra
– Principality of Monaco
– Republic of San Marino
– Holy See (Vatican City)
– Swiss Confederation
