Table of Contents

Overview of Croatia

The 27th (and newest) Schengen state, Croatia’s acceptance into the Schengen area is set to increase visitors to the small Balkan country, which has already in recent years become one of Europe’s fastest growing tourist destinations. More affordable and accessible than neighboring “must see” destinations but equally historic and beautiful, Croatia offers some of the most picturesque coastline in Europe. Its stunning beaches on the Adriatic Sea draw swimmers, sun seekers, and sailors who delight in exploring its plethora of inlets, islands, and coastal towns. Not-to-miss destinations also include Zagreb, Croatia’s Roman-era capital and center for arts and culture, and Dubrovnik—its iconic, walled city (and the dramatic setting for popular international television and film productions). Croatia is a democratic country which takes the euro. Its population of just under 4 million speaks Croatian. 

Croatia Schengen Visa Eligibility

Schengen visa eligibility for Croatia includes third country nationals from the following states, who are excluded from visa-free entry to Croatia/the Schengen area, and are therefore eligible to apply for a Schengen visa to Croatia.  

1.     AFGHANISTAN

53.   LAOS

2.     ALGERIA

54.   LEBANON

3.     ANGOLA

55.   LESOTHO

4.     ARMENIA

56.   LIBERIA

5.     AZERBAIJAN

57.   LIBYA

6.     BAHRAIN

58.   MADAGASCAR

7.     BANGLADESH

59.   MALAWI

8.     BELARUS

60.   MALDIVES

9.     BELIZE

61.   MALI

10.   BENIN

62.   MAURITANIA

11.   BHUTAN

63.   MONGOLIA

12.   BOLIVIA

64.   MOROCCO

13.   BOTSWANA

65.   MOZAMBIQUE

14.   BURKINA FASO

66.   NAMIBIA

15.   BURMA/MYANMAR

67.   NAURU

16.   BURUNDI

68.   NEPAL

17.   CAMBODIA

69.   NIGER

18.   CAMEROON

70.   NIGERIA

19.   CAPE VERDE

71.   NORTH KOREA

20.   CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC

72.   OMAN

21.   CHAD

73.   PAKISTAN

22.   CHINA

74.   PAPUA NEW GUINEA

23.   COMOROS

75.   PHILIPPINES

24.   CONGO

76.   QATAR

25.   COTE D’IVOIRE

77.   RUSSIA

26.   CUBA

78.   RWANDA

27.   DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

79.   SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE

28.   DJIBOUTI

80.   SAUDI ARABIA

29.   DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

81.   SENEGAL

30.   ECUADOR

82.   SIERRA LEONE

31.   EGYPT

83.   SOMALIA

32.   EQUATORIAL GUINEA

84.   SOUTH AFRICA

33.   ERITREA

85.   SOUTH SUDAN

34.   ETHIOPIA

86.   SRI LANKA

35.   FIJI

87.   SUDAN

36.   GABON

88.   SURINAME

37.   GAMBIA

89.   SWAZILAND

38.   GHANA

90.   SYRIA

39.   GUINEA

91.   TAJIKISTAN

40.   GUINEA-BISSAU

92.   TANZANIA

41.   GUYANA

93.   THAILAND

42.   HAITI

94.   TOGO

43.   INDIA

95.   TUNISIA

44.   INDONESIA

96.   TURKEY

45.   IRAN

97.   TURKMENISTAN

46.   IRAQ

98.   UGANDA

47.   JAMAICA

99.   UZBEKISTAN

48.   JORDAN

100.VIETNAM

49.   KAZAKHSTAN

101.YEMEN

50.   KENYA

102.ZAMBIA

51.   KUWAIT

103.ZIMBABWE

52.   KYRGYZSTAN

 

Third party nationals from the following entities/territories are also required to apply for a Schengen visa: KOSOVO and the PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY.

Required Documents for Croatia Visa

Before you submit the below basic required documents, which are required for your Croatia Schengen visa, find out if your application destination requires translations of them into either Croatian or English (if they are presented in another language). 

  • Valid passport
  • Passport-sized photos
  • Application form 
  • Fingerprints (biometric data)
  • Travel medical insurance
  • Visa fee
  • Materials related to your trip:
    • Reason for visit
    • Where you will stay (accommodation)
    • How you will fund your trip (finances)
    • Proof that you will leave Croatia before your visa becomes invalid/expires. This is often in the form of a paid roundtrip plane ticket (proof of return).

Note: For more information on what to include in your application, including a detailed description of required materials, please see: Basic Required Documents. Please note that you may have to submit additional Croatia Schengen visa supporting documents related to your specific purpose for travelling.

Croatia Schengen Visa Fee

The standard Croatia Schengen visa fee for an adult is 80 Euros. Certain types of applicants (most students, children under 6) are exempt from all visa fees. To get a Schengen visa for Croatia, you will likely have to submit a service payment with your visa application-this is a separate cost from the visa fee. Please note that all fees are non-refundable in the case of visa rejection.

Croatia Schengen Visa

How to Apply for Croatia Visa: Steps

  • Step 1: Determine your Purpose for traveling to Croatia, which will determine the Type of visa you should apply for.
  • Step 2: Determine how many Entries to Croatia/the Schengen area you need.
  • Step 3: Gather your Required Documents.
  • Step 4: Schedule a Schengen Visa appointment (if applicable).
    • All first-time applicants for the Croatia Schengen visa need to attend a visa appointment at their local Croatian Embassy/Consulate (or visa center) in order to drop off their application, and most applicants will also need to schedule that appointment in advance.  
  • Step 5: Fill out your application 
    • Access Croatia’s online visa portal here.
    • Applicants for the Croatia Schengen visa may alternatively be directed to the universal Schengen visa form, available for download here.
    • You should print out and sign whichever application you submit (even if you apply through an online version). Note also that both applications must be written with Latin text and submitted at the Croatian Embassy/Consulate or visa center you are applying through. 
  • Step 6: Pay the application fee.
  • Step 7: Submit your Croatia Schengen visa application (at least 15 days prior to travelling, not before 6 months).
    • Different Croatian Embassies/Consulates/processing centers have different procedures for submitting applications. In almost all cases, applications must be submitted in person to the location you are applying through. When you submit your application, you will likely also be asked to submit biometric data (fingerprints). Children younger than 12 years are exempt from having their fingerprints collected (however, they will need to fulfil the photo requirement). If you have previously submitted fingerprints (within the last 59 months), you likely will not need to resubmit them.
    • Please note, after submitting your application, you may be asked to return at a later date for a personal interview to provide further information/materials related to your trip.

When to apply Croatia Schengen Visa 

Submit your application at least 15 days prior to the day you intend to travel, and no earlier than 6 months before you leave.

Where to apply for Croatia Schengen Visa

Applications for Schengen visas to Croatia should be submitted in person at either a Croatia Consulate/Embassy or a visa application center that has a relationship with Croatia.

Applicants are typically required to apply through the Croatian Embassy/Consulate in their country of citizenship or country of residence (i.e. where they live currently if different from country of citizenship).

If Croatia does not have a consular presence where you live, you may lodge your application through application destination of the Schengen state representing Croatia’s consular interests. 

Processing Time for Croatia Schengen Visa

The Croatia Schengen visa processing time is typically 15 days, although it may take up to 45 days in certain cases.

If your Croatia Visa was approved

Collect your visa and make sure the information it contains is both valid and complete.

If your Croatia Visa was denied

If you receive a Schengen visa rejection for Croatia, you have the right to appeal, provided you do so within the official timeframe (15 days post-receipt of visa rejection) and through the legitimate channel (the Croatian Embassy/Consulate through which you applied for your original visa).  

The rejection letter for your Croatia Schengen visa will contain information on how to appeal the decision. Typically, all appeal processes require the applicant to send a letter (by post) to the Croatian Division for Visas of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs detailing how in their opinion the decision is unwarranted. Appeals originally written in a language other than Croatian will need to be submitted alongside a notarized translation into Croatian (occasionally, English language appeals/translations are accepted in lieu of Croatian-language appeals). 

 The launching of the appeal process is typically predicated on payment of an appeal fee (320 KN—around 50 USD) which is, like the original Schengen visa application fee, nonrefundable in almost all cases whatsoever. 

Finally, once you obtain your Schengen Visa for Croatia, please note the following:

Your visa may be revoked if you do not notify your respective Croatian Embassy/Consulate/visa application center of any changes to your trip itinerary that occur after you have submitted your application.

Being approved for a Croatia visa does not guarantee you entry to either Croatia or the general Schengen area-you can still be refused entry to Croatia specifically and the Schengen area generally upon arrival.

Alternatively, you may have to show additional documents regarding your finances or accommodation in order to enter Croatia/the Schengen area.

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