Croatia:Visa Requirements

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Croatia Visa Requirements Map

Croatia: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • Third-country nationals entering without a visa for short stays must carry a valid travel document accepted by Croatia at border crossing. The travel document must be valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen Area and must have been issued within the last ten years. In justified emergency cases, an exception to the three-month additional validity requirement may be applied. Persons enjoying the right of free movement under Union law may travel with a valid travel document or a valid national identity card.
  • The total short-term stay of third-country nationals in the Schengen Area may not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period. Previous stays in Schengen are included in this calculation.
  • At border control, the purpose of travel, planned stay conditions, accommodation, and the possibility of return or onward travel to the next country must be demonstrable. The traveler must have sufficient financial means to cover the duration of stay and the return or transit journey.
  • The general financial sufficiency criterion is 70 euros for each day of the planned stay. When a certified guarantee letter, a paid tour package, or similar document is submitted, the daily amount is 30 euros. If a certified guarantee letter is provided showing that the guarantor in Croatia fully assumes all costs related to the stay and departure, no further proof of personal financial means is required.
  • There must be no record in the Schengen Information System for the purpose of refusing entry, and the traveler must not pose a threat to public policy, internal security, public health, or international relations.
  • For short-stay third-country nationals covered by the Entry/Exit System, travel document information, facial image, and fingerprints of the four fingers of the right hand may be recorded at the first external border crossing. Fingerprints are not taken from children under the age of twelve; facial image is recorded regardless of age. Exceptions apply for persons holding a residence permit, long-stay visa, or another document excluded from the system.

Consular Visa Application Requirements — Short-Stay Schengen C Visa

  • The application must be made to the competent Croatian embassy, consulate, or officially authorized VFS Global application centre when Croatia is the main destination of the trip. As a rule, the application must be submitted to the competent representation in the country where the applicant legally resides. In countries where no Croatian representation or application centre exists, the application may be made to the nearest competent Croatian representation.
  • The application must be made in person. Applications of minors and persons lacking legal capacity are submitted by their legal representatives. The form must be filled out in the Latin alphabet, in capital letters, and personally signed by the applicant. The form may be filled out by hand or online. If filled out online, the form must be printed, signed, and physically submitted together with other documents.
  • The passport must have at least two blank pages for the visa. The passport must have been issued within the last ten years and be valid for at least three months after the planned date of departure from the Schengen Area. The original passport must be presented at the time of application.
  • One recent identity photograph complying with ICAO standards must be submitted. The photograph size, background color, date taken, and printed or digital file specifications are not precisely specified in the central official source. The photograph instructions of the representation or application centre where the application is made should be checked separately.
  • Fingerprints are taken during the application. Some groups of applicants are exempt from the obligation to provide fingerprints. The competent authority may request additional documents or invite the applicant for an interview if deemed necessary.
  • Travel health insurance must cover emergency medical assistance, hospitalisation, and repatriation for medical reasons or in the event of death. The insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen Area and cover the entire planned stay. The minimum coverage is 30,000 euros. For a single or double entry visa, the entire travel period must be insured; for a multiple entry visa, at least the first planned travel period must be insured.
  • Documents demonstrating the purpose of travel, stay conditions, transportation, sufficient financial means, the applicant's intention to return to the country of residence or the possibility of admission to the next country must be submitted. Flight reservation, proof of accommodation, bank account statements, employment or student documents, company documents, travel itinerary, and documents showing family ties may be requested depending on the country of residence, purpose of travel, and place of application.
  • The complete list of documents is determined according to the harmonised checklist published for the country of application and the instructions of the relevant representation. The number of months that bank account statements must cover and the fixed minimum balance required in the bank account are not universally specified in the central official source. Translation, certification, apostille, or legalisation of documents may also vary depending on the country of application and where the document was issued.
  • For private visits, a guarantee letter completed by a natural person in Croatia is required. The guarantor must have income or financial means in Croatia. The guarantee letter must be accompanied by a salary or pension document for the previous three months or a document showing sufficient bank assets. The guarantor's signature must be certified by a notary or through an accepted competent authority. The original guarantee letter remains at the representation; a copy is given to the applicant to show at border control.
  • For commercial visits, a guarantee letter issued by a legal entity in Croatia must be submitted together with a document showing the company's financial solvency or that it is not in liquidation. The letter must be signed by a person authorised to represent the company.
  • The application must be made no earlier than six months before the planned travel and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before travel. Seafarers on duty may apply no earlier than nine months in advance.
  • The basic application fee for airport transit A and short-stay C visa is 90 euros. Children under the age of twelve and other applicants covered by official exemption are exempt from the visa fee. An additional service fee is charged for applications made through VFS Global. Accepted payment methods are not precisely specified in the central official source and vary by place of application.
  • Decisions on applications are made, as a rule, within 15 calendar days. In case of detailed examination or need for additional documents, the period may be extended up to 45 days.
  • C visa may be issued for one, two, or multiple entries. The total permitted stay may not exceed 90 days in any 180-day period. The exact validity dates, number of permitted days, and number of entries are indicated on the visa sticker. The visa may be issued for tourism, business, private visit, transit, and other accepted short-term purposes; it does not in itself confer the right to work.
  • The issuance of a visa does not automatically guarantee the right to enter the country. At the border, the purpose of travel, invitation or guarantee letter, transportation and accommodation documents, sufficient financial means, and return plan may be asked again. Copies of important documents submitted with the application must be carried during travel.

National Long-Stay D Visa

  • D visa is issued for persons who have been pre-approved for temporary stay or stay and work permit in Croatia and who need a visa to enter the country. The application must be made in person to the competent Croatian representation or VFS Global centre before entry into the country. Applications of minors or persons lacking legal capacity are submitted by their legal representatives.
  • The application must be made no earlier than three months before and no later than three months after the start of validity of the temporary stay or stay and work permit.
  • The application form must be filled out in the Latin alphabet and in capital letters, and signed by the applicant. If filled out online, the form must be printed, signed, and submitted during the physical application.
  • The passport must have at least two blank pages, must have been issued within the last ten years, and must be valid for at least three months longer than the validity period of the temporary stay or work permit.
  • One recent identity photograph complying with ICAO standards must be submitted. The photograph size, background color, date taken, and technical specifications are not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • Fingerprints are taken during the application; persons covered by official exemption may not have fingerprints taken. The decision on the approved temporary stay or stay and work permit and a document showing the means of transport must be submitted.
  • For the first 30 days of stay, travel health insurance valid throughout the Schengen Area with minimum coverage of 30,000 euros must be submitted. The insurance must cover emergency medical assistance, hospitalisation, and repatriation costs.
  • The D visa fee is 93 euros. An additional service fee is applied for applications made through VFS Global. Accepted payment methods are not precisely specified in the central official source. The central official processing time for the D visa is not precisely specified.
  • D visa may be issued for one or multiple entries, with a validity of up to six months and a permitted stay of up to 30 days. The visa holder must, within 30 days from the start of validity of the visa, apply to the competent police authority to register their residence address and initiate the biometric residence card procedure.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • Airport transit A visa only permits transit through the international transit area of an airport in a Schengen country to continue to a country outside Schengen. This visa does not confer the right to enter the Schengen territory, stay at a hotel, or take a flight to another Schengen country. If exiting the transit area, changing airport, or using an intra-Schengen connecting flight is necessary, a short-stay C visa may be required.
  • The application must be made in person; a Schengen visa application form filled out in the Latin alphabet in capital letters and signed by the applicant must be submitted. If filled out online, the form must be printed and delivered during the physical application. For minor applicants, the form is submitted and signed by the legal representative.
  • The passport must contain at least two blank pages, must have been issued within the last ten years, and must be valid for at least three months after the completion of the planned transit journey.
  • One recent identity photograph complying with ICAO standards must be submitted. The photograph size and other technical specifications are not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • Fingerprints are taken during the application; an exception may apply for applicants covered by official exemption. The onward flight or other transportation reservation, a visa or equivalent document showing the right to enter the final destination country, sufficient financial means, and required travel health insurance must be submitted. Depending on the country of application, proof of legal residence and additional supporting documents may be requested.
  • The application must be made no earlier than six months before and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before the transit journey. The processing time is normally 15 calendar days; it may be extended up to 45 days in case of detailed examination or request for additional documents.
  • The airport transit A visa fee is 90 euros. Children under the age of twelve and other persons covered by official exemption do not pay the fee. If an application centre is used, an additional service fee is charged. Accepted payment methods are not precisely specified in the central official source.
Population
3,822,345(2026 est.)
Official language
Croatian; regional official languages: minority languages where legally introduced
Government type
Parliamentary republic
Continent
Europe
Capital
Zagreb
Currency
Euro
Area
56,594 km²
Phone code
+385

Croatia: Key Destinations

Zagreb, the capital and largest city, serves as Croatia's primary air and rail gateway, with its international airport connecting to major European hubs. The coastal cities of Dubrovnik and Split also feature busy airports, making them key arrival points for visitors exploring the Adriatic.

Croatia's Adriatic coastline is renowned for its crystalline waters, historic towns like Dubrovnik and Split, and over a thousand islands including Hvar, Brac, and Krk. Inland, Plitvice Lakes National Park draws millions with its cascading lakes and lush scenery, while Zagreb offers a vibrant cultural and business scene.

Many travelers begin in Dubrovnik and work northward along the coast, hopping between islands via ferries, or fly into Zagreb and drive south to the Dalmatian coast. Direct rail and bus lines connect major cities, and regional highways make cross-country road trips straightforward, with most routes linking coastal resorts to interior attractions.