Croatia Visa Application, Visa types, Requirements & How to Apply

Filed in Visa by Careersngr Staff on December 20, 2021 • 0 Comments

Welcome to the Information about Croatia Visa – Requirements & How to Apply page. If you are here to learn more about Croatia Visa? Then you’re at the right place.

A lot of people travel to Croatia because of its highest number of UNESCO Intangible Goods of any European county.

Other Related Visas

Why Do I Need a Croatia Visa?

Because Croatia is part of the EU, nationals of other EU member states are allowed to travel to Croatia without any visa requirements.

Also, Croatia intends to join the Schengen agreement soon, and as such, many of the same visa requirements and exemptions for Schengen apply to Croatia as well.

However, citizens of the following countries do not have to apply for a Croatia visa if they are traveling for short-term purposes (up to 90 days):

Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
El Salvador
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Macau
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
New Zealand
Nicaragua
North Macedonia
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Samoa
San Marino
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Solomon Islands
South Korea
Taiwan
Timor Leste
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States of America
Uruguay
Vanuatu
Vatican City
Venezuela

If you are a Croatia visa-exempt national, you can travel to Croatia with simply your passport. However, your passport must be valid for at least three more months from the date you intend to leave the country and must have at least one blank page for the entry stamp.

Unless you are from the EU/EFTA or Switzerland, however, you cannot stay in Croatia without a visa for longer than 90 days.

What are the Croatia Visa Types?

The types of visas that Croatia offers to its foreign nationals depend on the duration and purpose of their stay:

Croatia Tourist Visa

Short-stay visas for Croatia, also known as Croatia tourist visas, are offered for tourism, medical treatment, business, or other short-term travelling purposes.

They allow the holder to stay in Croatia for a maximum duration of 90 days within a 180-day period.

Croatia short-stay visas are offered for single-, double-, or multiple-entries, which dictates the number of times you can enter, leave and re-enter Croatia.

Several non-EU countries are exempt from holding a Croatian visa for short-term purposes.

Because Croatia aims to join Schengen, its short-stay visa policy is pretty similar to that of Schengen countries.

Croatia Business Visa

The Croatia business visa is a short-stay visa, allowing the holder to travel for business-related purposes for up to 90 days. It does not allow you to work.

Croatia long-stay visas

Foreign nationals who want to stay in Croatia for longer than 90 days, will have to get a combination of the Croatia long-stay visa and a temporary residence permit. The most common Croatian long-stay visas are:

Croatia Work Visa, which allows you to live and work in Croatia. You must already have a Croatian employer before you apply for a visa as well as a work permit, which your employer has to obtain for you in Croatia. You cannot get a temporary residence permit in Croatia if you do not have a valid work permit.
Croatia Student Visa which is issued to foreign nationals who want to pursue their studies in a Croatian educational institution. Before you get a Croatia Student Visa, you must be enrolled in a Croatian educational institution.
Croatia Family Visa is for non-EU family members of Croatian citizens or legal residents who wish to join their family members in Croatia.

Croatia Visa Requirements

To apply for a visa to Croatia you must compile a document file that must contain the following documents:

A completed and signed Croatia Visa Application Form. For minors, their parent or legal guardian has to sign.
Your passport or travel document. It must have at least three blank pages and be valid for at least three months from the time you intend to depart Croatia.
A photocopy of your passport/travel document. Include all used pages as well as all visas, present or expired.
Two passport-size pictures, with the following specifications:
- Dimensions: 35mm x 45mm
- Professionally taken in a white background
- You must be centered in the picture, staring ahead with a neutral facial expression
- Glasses are not recommended. If you have to wear them, they cannot cover your eyes or face. Tinted glasses are not allowed.
- Headgear is only allowed if it’s for religious purposes. Even so, it cannot cover your face.
Proof of travel health insurance for the entire time you will be in Croatia. It must cover the duration of your stay and at least €30,000 for sudden illness, accidents, and repatriation.
Proof of accommodation in Croatia, such as a hotel reservation.
Copy of the return flight ticket or proof of ticket booking.
- Alternatively, other proof you intend to leave Croatia after the duration of your stay, such as a bus/train ticket to your country or a third country.
Proof of sufficient funds to cover the duration of your stay in Croatia.
- Bank statements for the past three months
- Letter from employer, stating your salary and position
Any additional documents which support the purpose of your trip.

Additional Requirements for Croatia Tourist Visa

When applying for a Croatia tourist visa, you must submit the following documents:

Letter of Guarantee (if you are visiting friends/family in Croatia). The letter must be certified by a Public Notary in Croatia. Your host also has to disclose proof of funds (pay slips, pension, savings) via bank statements from the past three months. They must also include a copy of their Croatian passport or residence permit, whichever is applicable.
- If you are traveling simply for tourism purposes, the Letter of Guarantee is not required.
Proof of employment status.
- If employed: Letter from your employer stating your position in the company, your salary, and the intended time you will be absent from work.
- If self-employed: Company’s registration papers and a visa request letter which is written on a paper with the company’s official letterhead.
- For students: Proof of enrollment in an educational institution.
For minors:
- Birth certificate
- A letter of consent from the parent/s or legal guardian/s allowing the minor to travel
- Copies of the parent/s’ or legal guardian/s’ passports
Depending on the country, the following documents may also be required:
- A cover letter, explaining your reason for travel and the details of your trip.
- Previous passports and visas
- Income tax returns

Additional Requirements for Business Visa

The requirements for a Croatia business visa are:

Letter of Guarantee Form, filled in and signed from the Croatian legal person/legal entity inviting you to Croatia. The letter has to be authenticated with the official seal and the signature of the company’s authorized representative. Your Guarantor must also submit proof of sufficient financial funds.
Letter of Invitation from the company inviting you in Croatia, which states the purpose and duration of your trip.
Letter from your employer stating your position in the company, your salary, and the intended time you will be absent from work and that you are taking this trip for business (if applicable)
Cover letter, written by you which explains the purpose and duration of your trip.
If self-employed: Your company’s registration papers and a business visa request letter which is written on a paper with the company’s official letterhead.
Proof of financial funds. Either in the form of your own personal bank statements or an alternate method if someone else if funding your trip (such as your employer/the inviting company).

Additional Requirements for Croatia Work Visa

The requirements for a Croatia work visa change depending on the specific type of work, but include:

Proof of health insurance, such as:
- A European Health Insurance Card
- A certificate of health insurance issued by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund
- A certificate of health insurance from a health insurance provider in your country, which states that you have access to healthcare in accordance to EU regulations
- Other private/travel health insurance if your country does not have a social security contract with Croatia.
Copy of an existing work contract.
Copy of your employer’s company registration.
Proof that a Croatian/EU citizen could not have been better suited for the job.
Proof you have the required financial means to sustain yourself for the duration of your stay.
Proof of your educational background, qualifications, and skills.

Additional Requirements for Croatia Student Visa

The requirements for a Croatia student visa are:

Proof of enrollment in a Croatian educational institution.
Proof of accommodation in Croatia.
Proof of sufficient financial means to sustain yourself while in Croatia. You must have private funds or a scholarship.
Proof of health insurance, such as:
- A European Health Insurance Card
- A certificate of health insurance issued by the Croatian Health Insurance Fund
- A certificate of health insurance from a health insurance provider in your country, which states that you have access to healthcare in accordance to EU regulations
- Private/travel health insurance if your country does not have a social security contract with Croatia.
Cover letter stating why you are applying for a Croatian student visa.
If the student is a minor:
- Birth certificate
- A letter of consent from the parent/s or legal guardian/s allowing the minor to live in Croatia for the purpose of studying
- Copies of the parent/s’ or legal guardian/s’ passports

Foreign students who want to pursue studies in a Croatian educational institution have to apply for a Croatia student visa as well as a temporary residence permit. You can apply for both at a Croatian embassy/consulate before you travel or apply for the student visa in your country and then get the residence permit at a local police department or police station after you enter Croatia.

Additional Requirements for Croatia Family Reunification Visa

To get a Croatia family visa, you must submit the following documents:

Proof of health insurance in Croatia.
Cover letter stating the reason behind your application.
Proof of family relationship the Croatian citizen/residence permit holder.

Only the following family members of Croatian citizens or legal residents can apply for family reunification:

Spouse
Common-law partner
Minor children (including adopted children)
Parents (including adoptive parents) of minors

Additional Requirements for Croatia Transit Visa

The documents needed for a Croatia transit visa application are:

Proof of onward travel, such as a visa for the next destination, a valid travel ticket etc.
For minors:
- Birth certificate
- A letter of consent from the parent/s or legal guardian/s allowing the minor to travel.

A Croatia transit visa can be issued for a single- or double-entry into Croatian territory, and in some cases, even for multiple entries. It can be issued for a maximum validity of six months.

Note:

The documents you submit have to be either in English or Croatian. If they are not they must be translated by an official translator.

Several of your documents may have to be certified (apostilled) or otherwise legalized for use in Croatia.

The Croatian authorities may ask you to submit additional documents as they see fit at any point during the application process.

How to Apply for a Croatia visa?

The application process for getting a visa for Croatia is as follows:

Complete and print the application form.
Gather the required documents.
Book an appointment.
Pay the fees.
Submit the application.
Wait for processing.

Complete and print the application form

Complete the Croatia Online Visa Application Form here. After you complete the first set of questions, you will receive a PIN and serial number. Save them because you may need them to resume your application if you cannot finish it in one sitting. Then you will have to print the application form.

Gather the required documents

When submitting a Croatia visa application, you must have several supporting documents, depending on the type of visa that you want to apply for, as explained above.

Book an appointment

Make an appointment to submit the application form along with the required documents at the Croatian embassy/consulate, visa application center, or accredited travel agency

Pay the fees

Pay the Croatia visa fee as per the requirements of the specific consulate/application center.

Submit the application

Submit the application form and documents in person on the date of your appointment. If for some reason you cannot send the documents yourself, you may send an authorized representative.

Wait for processing

Wait for the visa to be processed. The visa officers will start processing your application once you have submitted all the required documents.

If your Croatia visa application is approved, you will be notified when you can pick up your passport with the visa attached to it. You are allowed to travel to Croatia.

Croatia Visa Fees?

Croatian visa fee differs based on the embassy or consulate you are applying from.

But, if you apply through a visa application center or accredited travel agency, the fee will be higher because you also have to pay the service fee in addition to the visa fee itself.

Follow the payment instructions as specified by the agency or office where you are submitting your application.

Children under 12 years of age do not have to pay a Croatia visa fee but will be required to pay the service fee if not apply at an embassy or consulate.

Now It’s Your Turn

Now I’d like to hear from you:

Are you going to apply for Croatia Visa – Requirements, Fees & How to Apply Right Away?

Or maybe you’re ready to start searching for financial aid.

Either way, leave a comment below right now.