Croatia visa and entry requirements

Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs asks Schengen visa applicants for a passport issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least three months beyond the date they intend to leave the Schengen Area. The UK and Canadian governments give their citizens the same three-month rule, and the UK also the 10-year rule.

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No official source we read lists a vaccination certificate required for entry.

Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs requires Schengen visa applicants to hold travel medical insurance valid throughout the Schengen Area for the whole planned stay, with minimum cover of EUR 30,000. No official source we could read requires insurance of visa-exempt visitors; the UK government says British travellers may need to show proof of travel insurance at Croatian border control.

Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs asks Schengen visa applicants for documents on their means of travel and their intention to return home or enter a third country. The UK government says British travellers may need to show a return or onward ticket at Croatian border control.

The European Commission's table of reference amounts lists Croatia at EUR 70 per person per day, or EUR 30 for a third-country national with a certified letter of guarantee from a person or company in Croatia, proof of a tourist booking or a similar document.

• EES — Entry/Exit System (biometric registration) — Non-EU travellers arriving at a Schengen border crossing point for the first time since the EU Entry/Exit System started have a photo of their face taken and/or their fingerprints scanned. The UK government says you do not need to take any action before you arrive at the border, and that there is no cost for EES registration; the EU says the process can be quicker if you register some data in advance at self-service equipment or in a mobile app, where available. (at the border on first entry) travel-europe.europa.eu ↗(opens in a new tab)
• ETIAS — European Travel Information and Authorization System — ETIAS is the EU's new travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers to enter 30 European countries. It is not yet in operation, and no applications are being collected; the EU will announce the start date several months before launch. (before travel, once etias starts) travel-europe.europa.eu ↗(opens in a new tab)

Fine: 100 to 1,000 EUR

A short stay is the stay defined by Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code. A third-country national who is not on a short stay and has no valid temporary, long-term or permanent residence permission is staying illegally and must leave Croatia without delay. Illegal stay is a misdemeanour punished by a fine of 100 to 1,000 euro (raised by NN 40/2025 from 60 to 920 euro). A third-country national may be expelled for illegal stay. The entry and stay ban imposed by such an expulsion decision is no shorter than three months and no longer than five years.

within 24 hours of arrival. Done by the accommodation.

The legal or natural person who provides accommodation to a third-country national on a short stay must register that stay within one day of the guest's arrival. Registration is made with the police administration or police station, and can also be made electronically through a web service. If the provider is not in Croatia at the time or registration cannot otherwise be made, the third-country national must register the accommodation themselves within two days of entering Croatia or of changing accommodation. Fines: legal person 500 to 1,000 EUR, its responsible person 60 to 390 EUR, natural person 30 to 260 EUR; a traveller who fails to self-register 50 to 700 EUR.

If not done: Accommodation provider failing to register within one day: legal person 500 to 1,000 EUR, responsible person 60 to 390 EUR, natural person 30 to 260 EUR. A traveller who must register the accommodation themselves and fails to do so in time: 50 to 700 EUR.

• Tourist tax (turistička pristojba) — Paid for every night spent. The amount per person per night is decided by each county assembly (the City Assembly of Zagreb for Zagreb). Where no decision is taken, the lowest amount set by ordinance applies. Children up to 12 do not pay; persons aged 12 to 18 pay 50% less. Paid at the accommodation.

  Persons who use accommodation in a municipality or town where they do not have their residence pay a tourist tax for each night, to the accommodation provider. Foreigners pay on equal terms. The amount per person per night is decided by the county assembly (the City Assembly of Zagreb for Zagreb); without a decision, the lowest amount set by ordinance applies. Children up to 12 and persons with a disability of 70% or more, with one companion, do not pay; persons aged 12 to 18 pay 50% less.

  Exemptions: Children up to 12 years; persons with a disability of 70% or more and one companion. Persons aged 12 to 18 pay 50% less.

The EU says cash of €10,000 or more (or the equivalent) must be declared when entering or leaving the EU.

• Arriving from outside the EU, the EU's Your Europe portal lists duty-free allowances of 1 litre of spirits (or 2 litres of fortified or sparkling wine), 4 litres of still wine, 16 litres of beer and other goods worth up to €300 (€430 by air or sea). For tobacco, its indicative list says Croatia applies the lower limit of 40 cigarettes to travellers arriving by land or sea; the higher limit is 200 cigarettes.
• Between EU countries, alcohol and tobacco bought for your own use and not for resale carry no further duty, but each EU country can set guideline quantities, according to Your Europe.