I noticed lots of people seams to have problems finding information about the visa system in Croatia, several people has also asked me, if they actual need a visa for travelling to Croatia, so I decided to make a small overview of the current situation. (For more detailed information you will need to check web pages of Croatian Ministry of foreign affairs and European integration) If you are still not sure after reading this, please feel free to leave comments at bottom of this page, I will then do my best to provide you with the information you are looking for.
Please note, special rules apply for guest arriving in Croatia on a cruise ship, if you are passenger on a cruise ship, you cruise company will automatically provide with visa, if necessary.
To start with you can see list of countries from which you don’t need visa for visiting Croatia …
NO NEED FOR VISA TO ENTER CROATIA
If your are citizens of one of the following countries you can visit the Republic of Croatia and stay for up to 90 days and you may of course also transit through Croatian territory:
Andorra, Argentine, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italian, Japan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Portuguese, Romania, El Salvador, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Swiss, Turkey, UK, Uruguay, USA, Vatican, Venezuela.
The exemption from the visa requirement also applies to the 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.
ACCESS WITH IDENTITY CARD
Nationals of the following states may enter the Republic of Croatia with a valid identity card or a document confirming their identity and nationality:
European Economic Area (EEA), Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican, Swiss.
VISA FOR CROATIA REQUIRED
If you are citizens of on of the below mentionrd countries you will need to apply for Visa before entering the Croatian Republic of Croatia, once you have obtain the Visa you can stay up to 90 days in the country, with a valid visa you may of course also transit the country to reach other destinations.
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Columbia, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji Islands, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyz Republic, Laos, Lebanese Republic, Liberia, Jamahiriya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Rwanda, Russia, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Yemen.
The visa requirement also applies to holders of travel documents issued in the territory of Taiwan, People’s Republic of China.
The visa requirement also applies to holders of travel documents issued in the territory of the Palestinian Authority, the entity not fully recognized as a subject in terms of international law.
The visa requirement also applies to the following holders of valid travel documents of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
- British Overseas Territories Citizens who do not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom,
- British Overseas Citizens,
- British Protected Persons, and
- British Subjects who do not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom.
The Government of the Republic of Croatia may introduce a provisional suspension of the visa regime for a certain period, for nationals of some states.
We will fly from Thailand to Italy, then take an overnight ferry from Bari (Italy) to Dubrovnik, then stay in Croatia for 7 days, hire a car for travelling, then get the train from Zagreb to Budapest, and finally fly back Thailand from Hungary.
So, if we are a holder of the short-term stay ITALY Schengen Visa, and also our purpose is tourist visiting, we do not have to apply for the Croatian Visa, do we?
Is our understanding right?
Thank you
Naseer Ahmad,
Of course you can get a tourist visa for Croatia.
For more information visit: http://www.mfa.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1615&dmid=48#pocdrz
Devendra,
Having a valid Schengen visa;
a)organised group means having a person as your travel guide (who works for a travel agency or other company) and must have proper qualifications to be a tourist guide. The group can be of only two persons as long as you have a preson as a travel guide. Also, you must have your travel itinerary from the agency where your guide works. Citizens of different countries have different conditions of entry in Croatia. You, as Indian citizen do not have to arrive on a cruise ship but must come from a Schengen member country. Not to forget you have to have a valid travel health insurance.
2)The section number 2 applies to you, as you are Indian citizen.
As well, section 2 was written so that citizens of the countries mentioned should not think that the regulation number 1 applies to them as well, it does not.
You can check for confirmation with the Croatian embassy. I assure you that they will answer the same I did. Though, I work as a border agent and I check all information in the system used at port of entries.
c)You must leave the country with the same group with whom you entered.
Rob,
Croatia has the same regulations as the Schengen member countries. As so, you are allowed to stay up to 90 days in a 180 day period. If you leave the country for a week or two it does not reset the clock, you would still be allowed to stay 90 days in a 180 day period. You can apply for a short-term stay visa. It is not expensive, and you would easily get it, as Australian citizen.
Polapat,
Your understanding is good. You do not have to apply for a Croatian visa.
Many thanks for this clarification
Thank you very much JackD. So, now I can save the Croatian VISA fee, and the difficulty of applying the Croatian VISA in Thailand.
Hi, I am holding an Indian Passport and am staying Oman on work permit. I wish to visit Croatia. What are the visa procedure? I can get Schengen visa (frequent travel to Europe).
Since Croatia does not have an Embassy here.
What is the best way to reach Zabok?
Hi to all Experts,
I have gone through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on “Visa requirement overviews” (http://www.mvpei.hr/mvp.asp?pcpid=1615&dmid=187#pocdrz), but still having a couple of doubts here.
Would appreciate if anyone can provide any info for my case.
* As a Chinese passport holder and currently working in the UK (provided with valid residence permit / work permit);
* Have a valid Schengen visa;
* Would like to travel to Croatia for a few days in early June (which falls in the published temporarily facilitate period, from 1 April to 31 October 2011);
In terms of travelling via airoplane into Croatia, does it require for Croatia visa prior travelling?
Appreciate for your answers / experience in advance.
Hello,
To JackD (author) and Croatia Expert,
I’ve sent the same question as above to the Consular officer, Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Indonesia. He replied me as follows:
“You need a visa because ferry is not cruise ship and even if you are arriving on a cruise ship you will not be able to stay overnight at the shore.
cruise ship is
a ship used to carry groups of tourists from port to port on a designated route and usually equipped to entertain them lavishly along the way
ferryboat is
a boat transport (people, vehicles, or goods) by boat across a body of water.”
Why he said like that? So sad to heard from him
Does anyone already have this experience? or
Has anyone been to Croatia by ferry without VISA yet?
Thank you,
PS: I didn’t argue both of you, but just only want to know.
Benjamim,
Visa required, except for A max stay of 90 days:
– for nationals of India provided holding normal passports
together with visa issued by a Schengen Member State
TIRGL/SCHN and a travel health insurance. Passenger must
travel as a tourist in an organised group and arrive from a
Schengen Member State.
You can get a visa at the nearest Croatian Embassy.
More information here: http://www.mfa.hr/MVP.asp?pcpid=1615
Tomas,
Visa required, except for A max stay of 90 days:
– for holders of Hong Kong (SAR China) passports;
– for nationals of China (People’s Rep.) provided holding
normal passports together with visa issued by a Schengen
Member State TIRGL/SCHN and a travel health insurance.
Passenger must travel as a tourist in an organised group
and arrive from a Schengen Member State.
Since UK is not a Schengen member state you require a visa.
Polapat,
Unfortunately, if you received that reply then you require a visa.
Sorry, I just red your question again and I misunderstood your Italian visa with Italian Residence Permit. But you will get a Croatian visa easily, as you already got your Italian one and it is not expensive. I wish you a welcome to Croatia and have a good time here.
Hello Experts,
I am the captain of a pleasure yacht coming to Croatia with a South African national aboard. She is the holder of a Schengen visa. Will this be enough to enter Croatia for 90 days? Will she also require travel health insurance?
Hi ,
I heard the news that the Kuwaitis people no need to get Visa from June to September ? Is it true !!
I am possibly joining a super yacht as a crew member once it is in Croatia.
I will be flying in from South Africa to Croatia, I will then board the yacht as crew and the yacht will spend some time in Croatia and then depart to European waters.
I have a Schengen and a Seaman’s book.
What visa will I need to enter Croatia to join my boat?
Ben,
Since she is arriving on a pleasure yacht, she requires a visa.
Schengen visa is valid for entry into Croatia only if arriving to Croatia on cruise ships with the purpose of tourist visit.
khaled,
Yes IF you are holding normal passport together with a visa issued by a Schengen Member State and a travel health insurance.
kirsty,
You will need a Travel (tourist) visa.
-Travel visa may be issued for one, two or multiple entries into the Republic of Croatia, for tourist, business, personal or other purposes. Validity period of a travel visa is up to one year.
Continuous stay or total duration of consecutive stays may not exceed 90 days in the period of 6 months, counting from the date of first entry.
Hi,
I am citizen of Ukraine and I live in Czech Republic on a basis of the permanent residence permit. I’m going to take a 1-week holiday in Croatia together with my wife and daughter (both are Ukrainians with permanent residence permit in Czech Rep). We are going to book a hotel, but travelling alone by car (not in an organized tourist group).
Do we need visas?
Thank you.
Do to some kind of bug in WP, it is not possible to add further questions /comments to this page, you may continue on this page Visa Continued – just look in the menu under USEFULL STUFF and find the menu Point VISA CONTINUED.
Best regards, Morten / JackD
hi i am a citizen of India and am going for the first time to Croatia i would like to know if i can stay in Croatia for a time span of 5 months i.e, do i get a tourist visa valid for 6 months, please guide me because i have to book the ticket soon. reply to me at koolprince999@gmail.com.
Thank You
hi i am an indian residing in india…plz help me how i can visit monaco brief information that from where i can reach monaco
good evening, I am russian citizen with permanent residence in czech republic, do i need a visa to croatia?
I am a nigerian wishing 2 travel 2 croatia 4 tourism. How do i apply 4 visa
Thank you for all the info.
I am from Ecuador and I understand I need a visa to enter Croatia.
Nevertheless, there is no Embassy or Consulate of Croatia in my country.
Where and how should I apply for a visa?
Thank you,
Dear Croatia Border Expert,
Thank you for the good job you are doing for current traveling guild. I am Nigerian, I wish to do my holiday sometime in February, I don’t have a visa because w don’t have Croatia embassy here, and no currier is ready to pick my passport to Egypt or South Africa, I want to know if possible I can procure tourist visa at port of entry with all the Croatia visa requirements . I will appreciated your recommendation.
Thanks
Henry
I am a citizan of Qatar and carry Qatari passport. I am taking the Passage to Eastern Europe with the Viking cruise ship that leave from Bucharst, Roumania to Budapest, Hungary. The ship passes Bulgaria
Serbia and Croatia before end in Budapest. According to the schedule we will stay only 1 or 2 nights in Croatia. I have Schengen Visa and I will obtain Roumania visa from Doha – Qatar, as we have Roumanian Embassy in Doha. Do I need to obtain a visa for me and my wife to enter Croatia in this trip?
Thank you
Ibrahim Yousef Al-Jaidah
I m a nigerian wishing to visit croatia for a holiday. Hw do get the visa requirement. Pls help me 2 get d web contact
Greetings!I am a filipino currently working in taiwan.It would be a great pleasure if somebody could do me a favor sharing their thoughts on this matter,to which I wish to visit a friend in Norway for holidays{maybe 4 to 7 days}.I could file for a vacation leave but I would want to know,if I need a visa to get there,and if i need so,how can i get one?I have a contract here and i think there is no norwegian embassy in Taiwan.The truth is,I was rejected way back 2009 when I applied for a tourist visa,insufficient ties to leave the country of origin,I am separated long time ago,but since I am not annuled yet and I am going to visit a male friend,from what I understand on the rejection letter,THAT might also added for the rejection matters.But anyways,back to my inquiry,i am looking forward for your opinions and suggestions.thank you so much.I would really appreciate it.
hello sir,
my name is mitul sheth , i m indian citizen holding indian passport. i m married to croatian citizen gul in india…. can u tell me pls whts the procedure for me to get visa n stay with her in croatia…
pls do reply …
I am a Liberian living in th USA, I am in need of croatian visa to travel to Zagred next may for leadership seminar to zagred institute of management and ecomonics. kindly send me all the requirements of procedure invove.
Dear Sir,
We are a bahraini national and wish to visit Croatia as a tourists.
We will be visiting europe next month and wish to visit croatia as well.
Will it be possible to obtain the croatian visa from any european country because its not available in Bahrain?
Thanks and best regards.
Hussain
Hello. I wanted to ask, do I need visa for Croatia , if a have residence permit in Bulgaria, but I am citizen of Armenia. Can I enter Croatia with my bulgarian ID cart. Thank you!
I am a Bahraini. Can I apply for the croatia visa through the croatian embassy in Austria.
Thanks
Good day,
I am stuck. I am invited to go with my friend and his family to the Island of Brac near Croatia. We will be going from Bosnia, to Croatia and get to Brac with the ferry. Do I need to apply for A Croatian visa or a Bosnian visa? What would I need to have more?
Is there anyone that could help me with this please?
Thank you
Hi,
I am a Filipino citizen residing in the Philippines.
My partner and I are planning to go on a European tour this March. Once we get our Schengen visa we plan to take a 7-night cruise from Venice with few hours visits on the shores of Greece, Turkey and Croatia.
Do we need a visa for this short visit to Croatia?
sir
i am Pakistani National , living in MALAYSIA on dependent pass (of my child study here ) i need to visit Croatia , as a tourist , what documents i required for visa .
please give us the details of requirments
thanks