Croatia is a bustling commercial center and one of the most visited destinations in the Balkans. A member of the EU, Croatia attracts millions of visitors for tourism, business, and study each year.
If you are not one of the nationals who are visa exempt and planning on traveling to Croatia, you need to apply for a visa. Citizens from third countries, who have valid Schengen visas and a national visa or resident permit from Bulgaria, Cyprus, or Romania, do not need a separate (Croatian) visa to enter Croatia provided they have a valid passport.
A Croatia visa may be issued for one, two, or multiple entries for the purpose of transit, tourism, business, private visitation, or other travel. The visa validity is determined by the specifications of a foreign visitor's trip to Croatia and is limited to five years.
There are 3 main types of Croatia visa depending on your purpose of the visit including:
To apply for a Croatian visa, you will have to submit several documents depending on the purpose of your trip, and your country of citizenship. The following is a list of the generally required documents for a Croatian visa application:
The application form must be completed, downloaded, and signed
Hotel reservation or employer’s home address (if accommodation is sorted out by employer)
A copy of the medical insurance certificate
Proof of payment of visa application fee
A round trip or onward ticket
• Download and fill out the application form of the visa type you want to apply for
• The application form is available in many languages, Albanian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Croatian, Russian, and English
• The applicant must download the application form and sign it before submitting it.
• Applicants should submit their downloaded and signed visa application along with the required documents to the nearest Croatian embassy, consulate, or visa application center.
• Applications can be forwarded to the closest Croatian embassy or consulate if the applicant's country does not have a Croatian embassy or consulate.
• Applications must be submitted in person unless the applicant is a minor, elderly, or disabled.
• If the applicant cannot submit their visa application in person, they may authorize another person in a legal capacity to do so on their behalf if that individual submits a copy of the applicant's passport data page and authorization letter.
• Fees for short-term visas (Visa C) and airport transit (Visa A) cost 600,00 HKN (€80 or $94).
• Fees for long-term visas (Visa D) cost 700.00 HKN (€93 or $110)
• Fees must be paid to the embassy account and the applicant should include proof of the payment.
You can apply for a Croatian visa at the Croatian embassy or consulate that is located in your country of residence or through the visa application centers.
Visa C (Short-Term Visa) takes about 15 days to process. Transit visas take about 48 hours for processing and D (Long Term Visa) takes between 60 to 90 days for processing. It is advised that applicants submit their application well in advance at least two to three weeks before their intended travel date to avoid any inconvenience.
From the day your application is received by the Croatian embassy or consulate, the processing period for a tourist visa to Croatia might last up to 15 calendar days.
The processing period may, however, can extend beyond that in rare scenarios.
Croatian visas are only valid in its territory because it is not a member of the Schengen Agreement (and for travelling to Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus).
However, Anyone from a third country who has a valid Schengen visa, as well as a national visa or resident permit from Bulgaria, Cyprus, or Romania, does not need a separate (Croatian) visa in order to enter, not exceeding 90 days in each 180-day period or for transit through Croatia.
Croatian visas can be obtained from the nearest Croatian embassy or consulate. Getting a Croatia visa is simple and seamless as you follow the steps above.
You will need to provide some documents, such as your travel itinerary, proof of accommodation in Croatia, travel insurance, and more. Be sure to check with the embassy or consulate for a complete list of requirements.
According to the law governing administrative fees, a visa costs €60. Visas for children under the age of 12 are free.
Applicants are advised to confirm the latest visa fee with their nearest diplomatic mission. Fees must be paid in cash, by bank transfer, or by credit/debit card. Postal orders are not accepted. Fees paid are non-refundable.