Traveling to Croatia
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.
Croatia visa types
There are 3 main types of Croatia visa depending on your purpose of the visit including:
Long-term visa (visa D)
- Working visa
- Residence/Family permit
- Diplomatic
- Student/Research purposes
- EEA Member-State visa.
Short-term visa (visa C)
- Tourist visa
- Business visit visa
Airport-transit (visa A)
Croatia visa requirements
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:
Passport
- The travel document must be valid for at least three months longer than the visa validity
- Must be issued within the last ten years,
- It must have at least two blank pages for official use.
Application form
The application form must be completed, downloaded, and signed
Personal photo
- Must fulfill the 35×45 mm dimension standard
- Must be a colored photo
Accommodation
Hotel reservation or employer’s home address (if accommodation is sorted out by employer)
Medical insurance
A copy of the medical insurance certificate
Payment
Proof of payment of visa application fee
Ticket
A round trip or onward ticket
Croatia visa application
- Fill Out the Application Form
• 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. - Submit your application
• 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. - Pay Your Visa Fees
• 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.
Where to apply for Croatia visa
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.
Croatia visa processing time
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.
