Entering Croatia on a Tourist Visa: What You Need to Know

by Welcome Center Croatia | Last updated Jan 30, 2022 | Published on Jan 30, 2022

The Adriatic sea and Croatian coastline have attracted millions of tourists for decades. But, in recent years, Croatia has shown that it has more than the sea. Continental tourism is booming, and people are coming from all over the world to enjoy it. And some of them need a visa to enter this land of a thousand islands.

Since Croatia is a member of the European Union, citizens of many European and international countries do not need a visa. But if you are one of those who need it, we bring you a full guide on how to get a tourist visa to enter Croatia 2022.

Tourist Visa for Entering Croatia

Croatia has two main types of visas: short-term (a C visa) and long-term (a D visa).

A tourist visa is under the category of short-term visas. This type of visa enables you to visit Croatia for up to 90 days in 180 days, and it can be valid for up to five years.

You can fill in the application form manually or electronically. Still, it has to be submitted in person in a Croatian Embassy / Consulate or visa center or through an accredited tourist agency. The forms are available in Croatian, English, Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, and Turkish.

A visa application has to be filled in in the Latin alphabet, with capital letters, and personally signed to ensure readability.

Tourists who need a visa to enter Croatia have to hand in their applications at least 15 days before traveling. If you want to do it earlier, you can, but no more than six months prior to your journey.

Additional Documents

As can be expected, a tourist visa application needs to be submitted together with several other documents:

• Valid travel document
• The validity period of the travel document should exceed that of the visa by three months
• A travel document must be issued in the previous ten years
• A travel document must contain at least two empty pages for the visa
• A 35x45 mm color photo
• Evidence of travel health insurance
• Proof of paid visa fee
• Documents that prove:
• The purpose of the stay in Croatia
• Ensured accommodation
• Means of subsistence to cover the stay in Croatia and the return to the country of origin or a third country
• Means of transport and the intention to return to the applicant's country of origin or a third country

Letter of Guarantee

If you are invited to stay in Croatia by a natural person who is a Croatian national or the citizen of the EEA/Switzerland or third-country national, with granted residence in Croatia, who receives income or has financial means in Croatia, you also have to enclose a letter of guarantee written by the person who invited you. That will act as proof of your visit.

The guarantor also has to be present when you submit the application and the signature on the letter has to be certified.

If a legal person invites you, you must also have a letter of guarantee signed by a company's legal representative or any other body that invited you to stay.

Travel Health Insurance

To cover any medical expenses during the applicant's stay in Croatia, the authorities request that a person has a travel health insurance policy that must be valid during the whole stay in Croatia.

If you are invited to Croatia by a natural or a legal person, that person can get your medical insurance with a Croatian company on your behalf.

The sum insured can not be lower than 30,000 EUR (equivalent in Croatian national currency - HRK).

Fees for Issuing the Visa

The fee for obtaining a tourist visa in Croatia is 600,00 HRK or 80 EUR.

But some excerpts do not pay administration fees for a short-term visa:

• Family members of a Croatian national (spouse and children)
• Family members of citizens of the EEA Member States and Switzerland
• Children up to the age of 12
• Holders of diplomatic and service passports traveling in their official capacity
• Pupils, students, postgraduate students, and teachers accompanying them when they come to attend school, study, and professional training
• Researchers coming to conduct research, as provided for by the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005 to facilitate the issue by the Member States of uniform short-stay visas for researchers from third countries traveling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research
• Representatives of non-profit organizations up to the age of 25, who are to attend seminars, conferences, sport, cultural or educational events organized by non-profit organizations

Schengen Area Countries’ Visas: Are They Valid in Croatia?

Although Croatia has still not entered the Schengen zone, holders of valid dual or multiple entry Schengen visas can enter, stay and transit in or through Croatia without an additional visa. This rule is valid only for tourist purposes.

Likewise, if you hold a residence permit of Bulgaria, Cyprus, Romania, or certain other types of visa issued by a Schengen Area country, you also do not need to apply for a specific visa to enter Croatia.

Any additional information about visas in Croatia can be requested via email at vize@mvep.hr.