May the 10th, 2023 - What with Schengen, the EU and beyond, questions have once again arisen about the different Croatian tourist visas the country issues. ETIAS, which isn't a visa but a travel authorisation, is also due to come in next year. Let's delve a bit deeper.

ETIAS

First and foremost, as I mentioned above, an ETIAS isn't a Croatian tourist visa, it's merely a travel authorisation and the plan is for it to become operational in 2024. ETIAS approval is not the same as having a residence permit in an EU country, it is intended for short stays of 90 days or less in any 180 days only.

Nationals of the following non-EU countries (over 60 nations) who do not require visas to enter the EU will be required to obtain an ETIAS for short-term stays in the EU. This doesn't include legal residents of Croatia (who can evidence their rights with a residence permit). They will not require an ETIAS. An ETIAS will cost seven euros and be valid for multiple entries into the EU for a period of three years, or until the travel document registered to it expires, if that's sooner. In some cases, it will be free.

30 European countries will require visa-exempt nationals to have an ETIAS to enter. You can find out much more detailed information on ETIAS plans here.

Who doesn't need a visa?

Citizens of European Union or European Economic Area countries do not require a visa to enter or stay in Croatia for a period of ninety days in any 180 days. 

Legal residents of Croatia, regardless of their nationality, do not require a visa to enter or stay in Croatia. Those who hold temporary residence permits are free to stay in the country for as long as their residence permit remains valid. Those who hold permanent Croatian residence can enter and remain in Croatia indefinitely and without any conditions.

It's worth noting that there are some third-country nationals (people who do not hold the citizenship of an EU/EEA country) who can enter Croatia without a visa.

Who does need a visa?

The list of countries whose citizens do require Croatian tourist visas is extensive, so instead of listing them all individually here, I'll provide a link to a government source (from the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs). You can also do a quick check for yourself and your own citizenship/Croatian entry requirements using Wikipedia.

What types of Croatian tourist visas are issued?

Croatia issues multiple Croatian tourist visas, these are the A visa and the C visa (both of which are short-term stay Schengen visas), and the D visa, which is a Croatian national visa, issued for people on a long-term stay in the country. I'll break down the ins and outs below:

A visa 

The A visa (Croatian: Viza A/zrakoplovno tranzitna viza) is an air transit visa which facilitates either single or multiple passages through international transit areas of a Croatian airport. It remains valid from its date of issue for a period of no longer than six months (+ fifteen days).

C visa

The C visa (Croatian: Viza C/kratkotrajna viza) is a short-term stay Schengen visa issued to third-country nationals (individuals who do not hold the citizenship of an EEA member state and who require a visa) and facilitates their entry and stay in Croatia or in any other Schengen member state for a period not exceeding ninety days in any 180 day period.

What makes the C visa a little bit more interesting is the fact that it can be issued for either a single entry or for multiple entries into Croatia and for various purposes. Another interesting bit of information about the C visa is that despite the fact that it is classed as a short-term stay visa, it can remain valid for up to five years depending on your purpose of travel. These purposes are as follows:

Business

Personal stay

Transit

Tourist stay

Other types of stay

D visa

The D visa (Croatian: Viza D/dugotrajna viza), is a long-term national visa (nacionalna viza) which allows a third-country national to stay in Croatia for up to thirty days if they have already been granted temporary stay for the purposes referred to in the Croatian Law on Foreigners (zakon o strancima), or if they've already been issued with a stay and work permit, and if they are required to hold a short-stay visa in order to legally enter Croatia. Much more detailed information on the D visa can be found here.

How do I apply for a Croatian tourist visa?

Those who require visas to enter and stay in Croatia, or indeed to transit through it, must make their visa applications before entering the country.

In person

You can apply at a Croatian consulate or embassy in your country. A list of all Croatian embassies/consular posts abroad can be found here.

The rule of thumb is not to make your visa application any sooner than six months before your planned date of travel to Croatia, and no later than fifteen days before it. The general timeframe required for the authorities to give your visa application the green light (assuming all is as it should be) is fifteen days.

Online

You can apply for a Croatian tourist visa here, and find out all of the ins and outs pertaining to your particular nationality and reason for entering Croatia here. Both of these links are to official sources (the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Interior Ministry), they will also detail the documents you need to apply for a Croatian tourist visa, as well as any associated fees.

An extensive list of travel documents issued by the governments of third countries and which are accepted by Croatian border officers can be found here, and the Croatian tourist visa application forms themselves are offered in the following languages: 

Croatian

Ukrainian

Turkish

Arabic

English

Russian

Spanish

Portuguese

French

Chinese

German

Albanian

At the Croatian border in exceptional and justified circumstances

I want to preface this by saying please don't ever do this unless it is for absolutely justified reasons that you can easily prove. It just isn't worth the hassle and the border officer can simply refuse you entry if you don't have a decent reason (such as serious unforeseen, urgent circumstances) and all of the required documentation.

If you obtain a Croatian tourist visa this way, you are severely restricted in what it serves for. It will facilitate only transit or one single entry of up to fifteen days at most.

You can find a list of all of the required documentation here, as well as which Croatian borders offer this possibility as an entry option (it's very important to note that not all of them do).

How do I calculate my time spent in the Schengen zone?

If you require a Schengen visa in order to enter and spend ninety days in any 180 days in Croatia or the rest of the Schengen zone, you'll need to make sure you're accurately calculating your days. A handy calculator can be accessed by clicking here.

For more on moving to, living in and travelling to and from Croatia, make sure to keep up with our dedicated lifestyle section. An article tackling anything from a specific administrative issue to tips on renting a car or bringing your pet into the country is published every Wednesday as part of our How to Croatia series.