May the 17th, 2023 - When it comes to getting your hands on a Croatian driving license (by swapping your foreign document) there are differences in the procedure an applicant must undertake with the Interior Ministry (MUP) depending on whether they hold an EEA passport or not. This edition of How to Croatia will explain further.
Citizens of the European Union and the European Economic Area
If you're the citizen of an EU (European Union) or EEA (European Economic Area) country, then getting your hands on a Croatian document is a bit easier. As with everything administrative like this, you'll need to pay a visit to the administrative police station responsible for issuing driving licenses. Unlike with residence applications, the clerk fills in the application form for a Croatian driving license and not you. You then confirm the accuracy of what the clerk has written by signing the form. Any mistakes can be highlighted and corrected before you put your signature on the application form.
In addition to signing the aforementioned form, you'll also need to provide MUP with several items:
Proof of your identity (this can be your EU/EEA passport or your Croatian biometric residence permit/ID card)
Your valid EEA/EU driving license
A photo of you that is a current representation of how you look now (35x45mm)
Proof of you having paid to lodge your application for a Croatian driving license of 20.04 euros (a fixed exchange rate which would equal 151 kuna in old money) for the application to be processed as a regular procedure
OR
Proof of you having paid for your request to be processed as an accelerated procedure (26.54 euros)
Proof of you having paid for your request to be processed as an urgent procedure (59.73 euros)
The slip you'll need to make the payment will be given to you at the administrative police station. Alternatively, this fee can be paid via Internet banking.
Caveats
You may not be required to provide the aforementioned 35x45mm photograph if you were issued with an e-ID card, a biometric passport or an e-driving license after the 4th of September, 2017, as long as your appearance hasn't dramatically altered. That said, you should still come prepared and have a photo ready anyway.
If your EEA driving license doesn't display the date of first issuance on it, you'll also need to get hold of and enclose a certificate or similar document issued by the EEA country in question which specifies the date of first issuance. If you hold a license to drive multiple forms of vehicle, you'll need to obtain and certificate/similar document for each category.
Third-country nationals (individuals who do not hold the citizenship of an EU or EEA country)
Just like with residence procedures, things get a little bit more complicated if you don't have a passport issued by an EU or an EEA country. All individuals who come from outside of the EU or EEA and who are not British nationals who have post-Brexit rights under the Withdrawal Agreement are referred to as third-country nationals.
You'll need to provide MUP with more than EU/EEA nationals do. The following documents will be required of you:
Proof of your identity (your passport or your Croatian biometric residence permit/ID card, but be ready to provide both)
Your valid non-EEA driving license
A photo of you that is a current representation of how you look (35x45mm)
A valid medical certificate (not older than six months) which confirms that you're competent to drive a vehicle
An official translation of your non-EEA driving license if it isn't clear which categories of vehicle you're licensed to drive/which categories you can be issued a Croatian driving license for
Proof of you having paid to lodge your application for a Croatian driving license of 20.04 euros (a fixed exchange rate which would equal 151 kuna in old money) for the application to be processed as a regular procedure
OR
Proof of you having paid for your request to be processed as an accelerated procedure (26.54 euros)
Proof of you having paid for your request to be processed as an urgent procedure (59.73 euros)
Caveats
You may not be required to provide the aforementioned 35x45mm photograph if you were issued with an e-ID card, a biometric passport or an e-driving license after the 4th of September, 2017, as long as your appearance hasn't dramatically altered. That said, you should still come prepared and have a photo ready anyway.
For more on moving to Croatia, living in Croatia and conquering everything from snake bites to health insurance, make sure to check out our lifestyle section which has a dedicated How to Croatia article published every Wednesday.
