Croatian Police Publish New Official Border Guidelines, Effective July 11, 2020

July 26, 2020* - The Croatian Ministry of the Interior has updated its official border guidelines in English, German and Croatian.

INTRODUCTORY NOTES

Croatian nationals and their family members, regardless of their citizenship, are free to enter the Republic of Croatia, without the need to prove their reasons for entry, but they must present a document proving kinship with a Croatian national (e.g. birth certificate).
 
When entering the Republic of Croatia, nationals of Member States of the European Union, i.e. Schengen Member States and Member States associated with the Schengen area, as well as their family members (regardless of their residence), and third-country nationals who are long-term residents under Council Directive 2003/109/EC (of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents) and persons entitled to reside under other EU directives or national law or persons who hold national long-term visas are not required to provide any special reason for their entry (business, economic, tourist, etc.), but can enter the country under the same conditions as before the COVID-19 outbreak, although still under epidemiological control and by mandatory compliance with general and special recommendations issued by the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
This also applies to nationals of the Principality of Andorra, the Republic of San Marino, the Principality of Monaco and the Holy See.
 
THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS

1.         If foreigners do not hold the citizenship of an EU/EEA Member State or the aforementioned countries, nor have regulated stay in those countries and travel from a non-member country due to urgent personal reasons, they must prove their reason for entering the Republic of Croatia upon arriving at the border crossing point which could be:

• urgent personal reasons – it is necessary to present valid documentation for example in case of:

- going to a funeral (e.g. death certificate, obituary)
- going to a treatment or accompanying the person going to a treatment (e.g. medical call, confirmation of a scheduled medical / dental examination, doctor’s recommendation)

 

• if you are the owner or lessee (also applies to leaseholders) of real estate, movable property or seagoing vessel (ship, yacht, etc.) in the Republic of Croatia, border control at the border crossing point in the Republic of Croatia must be accompanied by presenting the documentation proving the ownership of real estate / movable property in the Republic of Croatia (e.g. title deed/contract); members of the owner’s family will be allowed to enter upon presenting a valid document from which the kinship with the owner is visible.

A quarantine/self-isolation measure with health supervision for 14 days has been determined for these persons, with the possibility of shortening its duration to 7 days, if a person gets their nose and throat swabbed at their own expense seven days after entering Croatia and receives a negative PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2.
 
2.         If foreigners who do not hold the citizenship of an EU/EEA Member State or the aforementioned countries nor have regulated stay in those countries want to enter the Republic of Croatia due to:
 

• Business reasons or economic interest of the Republic of Croatia – it is necessary to present documentation proving the business reason for visiting the Republic of Croatia or the economic interest of the Republic of Croatia, such as an invitation to a meeting of an economic entity from the Republic of Croatia, proof of a board membership, proof of ownership or co-ownership share in a company registered in the Republic of Croatia, documentation on the agreed business obligation with a natural or legal person etc.

• Tourist reasons – it is necessary to present a confirmation of paid accommodation in one of the accommodation facilities in the Republic of Croatia (lease contract or lump sum payment of a camp, permanent berth contract in a nautical tourism port, etc.) and

• Education - it is necessary to present a proof of education / studying (e.g. index, certificate of an educational institution, etc.).

 
These persons are not subject to a quarantine/self-isolation measure if they present a negative PCR result of a nasal and throat swab for SARS-Cov-2 at the border crossing point, which is not older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point).
Persons who do not present a negative PCR result are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine / self-isolation measure.

(Additional clarification of this rule: Those whose test is older than 48 hours will be allowed to enter Croatia, but they will be issued a self-isolation order and will have to be tested again locally, at their own expense. Having an expired PCR test upon arrival will allow for a shortened period of time in self-isolation pending a negative result of a local PCR test. Those who do not provide a negative PCR test upon arrival will be ordered to quarantine/self-isolate for at least 7 days prior to taking a local PCR test.) 

Passengers entering Croatia without the obligation of self-isolation shall comply with the following measures during the first two weeks of their stay in Croatia:
During the first 14 days after entering the Republic of Croatia, exits from accommodation are limited only to the necessary ones: performance of work if it is a business reason for entering the Republic of Croatia, or of necessary activities with the continuous intensified implementation of hygiene measures: https://www.hzjz.hr/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Recommendations-and-Instructions_EN-1.pdf
 
In order to shorten the procedure at the border crossing point, we advise you to fill the announcement in advance at https://entercroatia.mup.hr.

TRANSIT 

Passengers in transit may travel through the Republic of Croatia provided that it is possible to enter or transit through the neighbouring country. During transit, the shortest traffic routes should be used without undue delay, including the motorway where possible. It is necessary to leave the Republic of Croatia as soon as possible and no longer than 12 hours from the moment of entry, which will be checked by the border police.