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.

February the 26th, 2023 - The plan for next year is to finally bring in the much talked about ETIAS. The ETIAS is not a visa but a travel authorisation which should take a mere few minutes. Who will need an ETIAS to enter Croatia?

First things first, let's have a look at some ETIAS facts

An ETIAS is not a visa but a travel authorisation, and it is currently not in operation, so applications cannot yet be made.

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 such nations) who do not require a visa to enter the EU will be required to obtain an ETIAS for short-term stays in the EU, with some exceptions and caveats that I'll list a bit later on.

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.

How do you apply for an ETIAS?

ETIAS applications will be processed in a mere few minutes in the vast majority of cases. In rare cases, the process may take longer. It can take either four days, which can be extended to two weeks should you be asked to provide more information, or even up to a month (30 days) if you need to have an interview. Such cases will be exceptionally rare, but it is still wise to apply for your ETIAS long before your scheduled trip through either the ETIAS app or website. 

Here's what you'll need to provide when you apply.

You'll be emailed with confirmation of your application and this email will contain a unique application number. You'll then receive another email with the result of your application once it has been processed successfully. In the very rare event of your application being refused, you'll be told why and also given the chance to appeal the decision. Find out more about that here.

What if you want to enter Croatia in 2024 and you're stateless?

If you don't hold the citizenship of any country, you'll still need to have an ETIAS to enter Croatia as of 2024 if you hold a travel document issued by the Republic of Ireland or any of these countries.

Who won't need an ETIAS to enter Croatia in 2024?

If you hold the citizenship of any of the countries requiring ETIAS, you don't need one yourself in order to enter. 

If you hold a residence permit issued by the authorities of any of the countries which would otherwise require an ETIAS, you do not need one yourself to enter Croatia.

If you're a citizen of Monaco, the Holy See, the Republic of Ireland, San Marino or Andorra, you do not need an ETIAS to enter Croatia.

If you're a British citizen protected by the Withdrawal Agreement, you do not need an ETIAS. This also includes any family members protected under the same Agreement. Both British nationals who have rights afforded to them by the Withdrawal Agreement and their family members (who do not necessarily have to be British) can reside in the country of their registered residence and travel to all other countries which would otherwise require an ETIAS without one, but they must have documents (such as residence permits) to prove their status with them.

If you're a stateless person (a person with no citizenship), a refugee or a person who doesn't hold the citizenship of any country and you reside in any of the European countries otherwise requiring ETIAS and you hold a valid travel document issued by that country.

If you hold a national long-term visa, a uniform visa or a local border traffic permit, or if you hold a service, special or diplomatic biometric passport.

Can you apply for an ETIAS for other people?

Yes, you can.

You'll need to sign a declaration of representation when doing so via the app or the website, as will the person you're making the application for. Only one declaration per traveller will be permitted.

One ETIAS per person will be the rule, therefore family or group applications won't be possible. It is up to you to make sure that all of the data is correct when making the application, and then again when you receive your decision by email.

Caveats

British nationals are no longer EU citizens. They will require an ETIAS to enter Croatia or any other country requiring ETIAS travel authorisation for 90 days in any 180 days (short-term stay) given that the United Kingdom is a European country which has visa-exempt access to the EU. The only exceptions to this are those who are beneficiaries of the Withdrawal Agreement and who can prove it, as stated above. British Withdrawal Agreement residence permit holders will not require an ETIAS to enter Croatia or any other EU country otherwise requiring it of British nationals who are not holders of the aforementioned residence permit.

Nationals of neighbouring non-EU countries such as Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina will need to have an ETIAS to enter Croatia, ending the easy passage in and out of Croatia for holders of Bosnia and Herzegovina citizens that has been enjoyed for many years. Croatian citizens living in Bosnia and Herzegovina and those with Croatian residence permits are exempt.

Being approved for an ETIAS doesn't automatically guarantee you entry into the country you're travelling to. That is ultimately up to the border guard. 

You must use the passport you used as part of your ETIAS application when you arrive at the Croatian border as the authorisation is linked to that particular travel document. You will be refused entry into the country upon arrival at the border if you present a different document to the one used to make the application.

For more, make sure to check out our dedicated travel section.

February 4, 2022 - Croatia is touted as being one of the best places to retire, with plenty to offer including an agreeable climate, rich culture, relatively low cost of living, and affordable healthcare. But how can retirees, especially 3^rd country nationals, gain the right to live long-term in Croatia?

In this article, I briefly walk you through the different types of long-term permits the Croatian government currently offers and provide deeper insights into those that are the most applicable to retirees.

All information presented here is from the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) which regulates the stay of foreigners in Croatia.

Can I get permanent status to stay long-term?

The short answer is, yes, but for anything longer than 1-year, it becomes increasingly complicated.

For now, just know that although there are 2 types of Permanent Residency Permits in Croatia that allow extended stays beyond 1-year, it is nearly impossible for a 3^rd country national to obtain either on arrival if you have no Croatian roots or family.

In order to stay for more than 90 days in Croatia, you must apply for a Temporary Residence Permit.

Time to get all that paperwork in order. Image: Anete Lusina/Pexels

Types of Temporary Residency Permits

According to the MUP, there are different ways for 3^rd country nationals to obtain a Temporary Residency Permit.

1. Work for a Croatian registered company
2. Study at a Croatian institute
3. Conduct scientific research
4. Humanitarian grounds
5. Be a digital nomad*
6. Start a business
7. Be a non-remunerated volunteer*
8. Other purposes (purchasing real estate)*
9. Other purposes (renting real estate)*

As of writing, these (*) options do not count towards gaining permanent residency or citizenship.

For those looking to retire, let’s briefly consider options 5-9 as the most appropriate.

The Digital Nomad Visa (point 5)

Introduced in January 2021, the Digital Nomad Visa provides a relatively straightforward way for 3^rd country nationals to stay in Croatia for an extended period.

If you’re retired but do some freelancing from time to time, this may just work for you.

Criteria for a Digital Nomad Visa include:

1. Proof that you are a digital nomad by providing documents such as company registration, freelance contracts, invoices, and payment from clients (documents should be translated into Croatian and notarized)
2. A criminal background check from your home country
3. Valid health insurance for 1-year (e.g. Cigna, Safetywings, Croatia Osiguranje)
4. Proof of sufficient monthly funds which are 2.5 times the average net salary of the previous year as published by the Croatian Bureau of Statistics (DZS). For each additional family member, the amount is increased by 10% of the average net salary
5. When this expires, you have to leave the country for 90 days before reapplying

As of October 2021, the average gross earning per employee as published by the DZS is HRK 9,597 (€1,275), while the average net earning per employee is HRK 7,140 (€948).

This means for one retiree; you need to show that you have a monthly income of HRK 17,860 (€2,367). For each additional member, it is HRK 714 (€95) more per month.

If your monthly income is irregular, you can also prove sufficient funds by showing you have a full 12 months of income in your bank account, HRK 214,320 (€28,424) for a solo retiree and HRK 222,786 (€29,545) if you are coming with a partner.

Starting a business (point 6)

Alternatively, for some retirees, starting a local business may be an ideal way to make some passive income while enjoying all that Croatia has to offer.

3^rd country retirees can gain Temporary Residency by starting a business in Croatia, but meeting the required thresholds and the additional bureaucratic requirements can be more than a full-time job in itself.

To qualify, you have to:

1. Own at least 51% of a Croatian company, or incorporate one of these business forms - obrt, j.d.o.o, or d.o.o.
2. Invest at least HRK 200,000 (€26,500) as starting capital which can be claimed for business expenses
3. You must employ yourself, as well as 3 Croatian nationals as full-time permanent staff
4. The gross salaries of all 3 of your staff have to be equal to the average gross salary of the previous year
5. Your own salary must be at least 1.5 times the average gross salary

For 3 members of staff and yourself, you’d be looking at a minimum monthly human capital cost of approximately HRK 43,186 (€5,738). Not to mention you also have to deal with taxes, health insurance and other miscellaneous paperwork.

Becoming a long-term volunteer (point 7)

Maybe starting a business is not for you, perhaps consider volunteering? According to Croatian law, long-term volunteers between the ages of 18-65 are allowed to stay for 1-year.

The requirements are as follows:

1. You have to register your stay and apply for a residence and work permit
2. The host organization (“udraga”) has to prove they will cover costs for your stay, including food, accommodation, and other necessary expenses
3. You can be given an allowance by the host organization, but you cannot be paid
4. You are not allowed to work for any other company in Croatia
5. The hosting organization must possess a third-party liability insurance policy

Under certain conditions, this permit can be renewed for a second year if approved by the host organization and relevant authorities.

Real estate in Dubrovnik. Image: Lucian Photography/Pexels

Other purposes: Investing in real estate (point 8)

Unlike other EU countries (e.g. Spain, Portugal, Greece), Croatia does not currently offer a similar investment scheme where investing a certain amount in real estate qualifies you to live indefinitely.

In the case of Croatia,

1. There is no set amount of investment required
2. You must live in the purchased residential property
3. The visa is only valid for 6 months which is extended to 9 months if you include the 3-month short-term tourist visa
4. Once your 9 months is up, you are not allowed to renew or extend the permit
5. You must wait 6 months and leave Croatia during this time before submitting a new application again

While there is no minimum investment requirement, the criteria of having to leave and resubmit an application make it difficult for retirees to settle permanently.

Other purposes: Renting real estate (point 9)

What if you’re considering the following retirement scenario: renting out your current residence that will help fund your retirement years in Croatia where you’d also rent instead of purchasing real estate?

You most certainly can but know that this route will also only entitle you to a 1-year Temporary Residency permit.

Let’s look at the additional criteria:

1. You are not allowed to work for a Croatia registered company
2. You have to sign a rental contract with the landlord and prepay a full year of rent (AirBnB, Booking.com does not count)
3. The contract has to be notarized before submission to the relevant authorities
4. At the end of your 1-year permit, you have to leave Croatia (although through anecdotal evidence, I have heard of this being extended for another year)
5. You can only reapply again 6 months after the permit expires

While rent in Croatia is relatively lower than in cities in North America, Australia, or the UK, it also comes with its own complications.

Finding a landlord who is willing to lease you an apartment year-round can be difficult as the tourist season (June - September) brings in the bulk of their income. It is not uncommon for landlords to make a full year’s rent and more, just during tourist season alone.

What would retirement in Croatia look like then?

Until the rules change, it is problematic if you intend to live out a “classic” retirement scenario.

However, now that you know what to expect, if you’re willing to take on a more dynamic approach and make Croatia a secondary home as part of your broader retirement plan, it might just be some of the best year(s) of your life.

 (€1 = HRK 7.54)

For more, check out our lifestyle section.

October the 2nd, 2021 - Croatian visa free USA travel has finally been announced after years and years of waiting. As of December the 1st this year, Croatian passport holders will no longer require visas to enter the USA, and this is more than likely to further boost trade between the two countries. That said, issues of course remain.

As Tomislav Pili/Poslovni Dnevnik writes, Croatian visa free USA travel, which, according to the US Administration, will begin in December, will improve Croatia's economic co-operation with the world's largest economy, but the main obstacle - double taxation - remains an enormous issue, as the USA is one of the few countries with which Croatia has a trade surplus.

Export growth by 13 percent

As Andrea Grubisic, a senior expert associate of the International Affairs Department of the Croatian Chamber of Commerce (HGK), explained, last year, the export of goods from Croatia to the USA amounted to a massive 521.6 million dollars, almost 13 percent more than back in pre-pandemic 2019.

Although imports from the US also increased by 5.3 percent, a surplus of 323 million US dollars was realised, which is 18.2 percent more than in the previous year. "The trend continued in the first six months of this year, so Croatian exports to the USA increased by 93.6 percent, and the surplus on the Croatian side increased by almost 53 percent," explained Grubisic. Nevertheless, the world's largest economy isn't really a particularly important trading partner for Croatia.

In the total trade of Croatia with the rest of the world, the USA ranks a mere 15th with a 1.67 percent share. In terms of exports, the United States ranks 8th with 3.06 percent, and in terms of imports, only 23rd with 0.77 percent.

When asked about the level of interest from Croatian companies in doing business "across the pond", Grubisic said that according to the Croatian Chamber of Commerce and contacts with members that are just opening over on the US market, there is interest in exporting consumer goods, including food.

"Certainly, in the last few years, the ICT sector has stood out, from which Croatian companies are increasingly showing interest in opening their subsidiaries or companies in the United States, and according to revenues from exports of services to the United States, this sector looks promising," said Grubisic.

Darinko Bago, President of Croatian Exporters, believes that the facilitation of Croatian visa free USA travel will greatly facilitate the ongoing work on this matter, and that it will also result in the conclusion of new business moves.

“This is especially true for industries that produce higher value-added goods because it eliminates administrative visa application procedures, especially if you need those documents for a larger number of employees. If we look at the experiences of other countries that have a visa free travel regime with the United States, it will undoubtedly raise economic cooperation between Croatia and the USA,'' said Bago.

''However, a much bigger obstacle to trade growth is the lack of a double taxation agreement, which is necessary if we're to achieve a higher form of co-operation with the US,'' Bago added.

Two important reasons...

"Such an agreement would be especially important for Croatia for two reasons: given that America is a technological power, it would provide easier access to technology as part of the digital transformation, and the other is that the United States is also a financial centre.

Croatia is currently ''invisible'' to American investors because they'd have to pay taxes twice on the realised profit from any of their investments, in Croatia and in the USA. That is the main reason why we have a trade surplus with the USA, because American companies are planning for the long term, and at the moment it just isn't worthwhile for them to open a branch in Croatia,'' Bago pointed out.

''It should be clarified that the announced abolition refers to B1/B2 visas that enable Croatian citizens to go to the US for travel and business,'' said Andrea Doko Jelusic, the executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Croatia.

"They're a separate category of business visas that every country, including the United States, has for occasional or longer work carried out on their territory," added Doko Jelusic.

She advised Croatian companies to focus on a specific geographical area, specific sectors, and even the size of the company they're targeting. “It's easier to do business with small and medium-sized enterprises than it is to focus on large corporations,'' concluded Doko Jelusic.

For more, check out our dedicated travel and business sections.