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.

Do I have to self-isolate after entering the Republic of Croatia?

Third-country nationals who are not family members of EU / EEA nationals and do not have regulated long-term stay in one of the EU / EEA Member States and travel to the Republic of Croatia from a third country for urgent personal reasons are subject to self-isolation. Self-isolation / quarantine lasts 14 days, and self-isolation / quarantine can be reduced 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 result for SARS-CoV-2.

Which documents are Croatian nationals required to show on a border crossing point when entering the Republic of Croatia if they do not have permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Croatia?

Croatian nationals and their family members who do not have Croatian citizenship do not have to provide proof that they meet the conditions for entering the Republic of Croatia. It is sufficient that they hold a passport or an identity card.

I am a foreign national and I own real estate or a vessel. Which documents am I required to show at a border crossing point to be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia?

When entering the Republic of Croatia, you have to show a title deed, a purchase contract or other documents which prove that you are the owner of real estate or a vessel, upon which you and the members of your close family will be granted entry. It is necessary to follow health supervision measures, i.e. stay in self-isolation / quarantine.

I am a foreign national, I own real estate in the Republic of Croatia and I would like to come to renovate my house. Can my wife and children accompany me?

You need to prove real estate ownership with certain documentation upon entering the Republic of Croatia. As members of your family, your wife and children may enter the Republic of Croatia with you and it is necessary to follow health supervision measures, i.e. stay in self-isolation / quarantine.

I am a citizen of a state which is not a Member State of the EU/EEA. I have a stay and work permit. May I enter in order to start working?

All foreign nationals who have been issued a stay and work permit may enter the Republic of Croatia. If the persons in question are third-country nationals who need a visa in order to enter the Republic of Croatia, they are required to obtain a visa prior to entering.

I am a national of a non-EU/EEA country. My mother passed away in the Republic of Croatia yesterday. Am I allowed to attend her funeral?

You will be allowed to attend the funeral. At the border crossing point, you have to provide proof of her death and you have to reach the location of the funeral without stopping and return to the third country immediately after the funeral. During your stay in the Republic of Croatia, you must comply with the recommendations and instructions issued by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (keeping a minimum of 1.5m distance, avoiding handshaking and close contact, using a mask indoors and similar).

I am a national of a non-EU/EEA country. I suffer from a serious disease and I have an appointment at University Hospital Centre Zagreb (KBC Zagreb, Rebro). I have all the necessary documents and the hospital invitation for the appointment. Am I allowed to enter the Republic of Croatia for the appointment?

You will be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia for serious and pressing health reasons if you provide the appropriate documents at the border crossing point. When staying in Croatia, you are obliged to stay in self-isolation if you are not staying at hospital accommodation and leaving the accommodation is possible only when going to the scheduled appointment, in compliance with all protection measures.

I am a foreign national and I have booked tourist accommodation in the Republic of Croatia. What documents am I required to have for entry into the Republic of Croatia?

Apart from presenting a negative PCR nasal and throat swab test for SARS-CoV-2 not older than 48 hours, it is necessary to present the confirmation of paid accommodation in an accommodation establishment.

The confirmation of paid accommodation in an accommodation establishment includes:

Confirmation, order, invoice for payment of accommodation of all accommodation service providers / all types of accommodation
Camp lease contract
Permanent berth contract in a nautical tourism port
Travel agency voucher etc.
Dear passengers,

In order to reduce the additional delay at the border crossing point during the collection of the data required for crossing the state border, we recommend foreign nationals who intend to stay in the Republic of Croatia to submit their data in advance via the website: https://entercroatia.mup.hr/.

I am a national of the Republic of Croatia. My common-law partner has a travel document issued by a non-EU/EEA country and he is coming to Croatia so that we can spend the holidays together with our children. Are there any obstacles to his arrival in the Republic of Croatia?

Your common-law partner and children meet the conditions for entry if, when entering the Republic of Croatia they show a document confirming that you are the mother of your common children and the certificate proving your common-law partnership.

I am a citizen of a state which is not a Member State of the EU/EEA. I have regulated stay in the Federal Republic of Germany. I would like to come to the Republic of Croatia. Do I need to meet special requirements in order to cross the border and do I need to self-isolate or present a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result?

You do not need to prove and justify the purpose of your stay, stay in self-isolation nor have a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result. Persons who have regulated stay in Members States of the EU/EEA are treated the same way as nationals of that state.

I am a national of a non-EU/EEA country. I have a flight departing from Zagreb Airport to Germany. Will I be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia so that I can reach the airport?

You will be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia for the purpose of transit across Zagreb Airport provided that you present your plane ticket. A negative SARS-CoV-2 test result is not required in the case of transit which may not last longer than 12 hours.

I am a national of a non-EU/EEA country. I plan on arriving at Zagreb Airport. Will I be allowed to travel through the territory of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Serbia?

You will be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia for the purpose of transit towards the Republic of Serbia.

I have a dual American and Croatian citizenship. My Croatian passport has expired and I am planning on arriving in Croatia by plane via Frankfurt. Will I be allowed entry into Croatia with my expired Croatian passport?

Pursuant to the existing decisions of the Civil Protection Headquarters, all Croatian nationals are allowed entry into/exit from the Republic of Croatia. Due to specific circumstances caused by the COVID-19 outbreak and taking into consideration the fact that you are a Croatian national, you will be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia even with an expired Croatian passport.

My wife is a Croatian national and I am a national of Montenegro where we have permanent residence. She will be arriving in Zagreb by plane from Frankfurt. Am I allowed to come from Montenegro to pick her up from the airport and drive her back to Montenegro?

Pursuant to the existing decisions of the Civil Protection Headquarters, the competent Croatian authorities allow transit (entry and exit on the same day) across their territory. Given the aforementioned, you will be allowed entry/transit to pick up your wife in Zagreb and return together to Montenegro.

I am a citizen of a state which is not an EU/EEA Member State. My girlfriend/boyfriend lives in Zagreb. May I come to visit him/her?

It is possible to enter the Republic of Croatia on that basis only if you are registered in a domestic partnership which needs to be proved with the proper documentation at the border crossing point (registered temporary/permanent residence at the same address, joint ownership of a real-estate etc.).

I am a citizen of a state which is not an EU/EEA Member State and I have friends living in the Republic of Croatia whom I haven’t seen in a while. May I come and visit them?

The Decision on the temporary ban on crossing the state border of the Republic of Croatia exceptionally permits arrivals because of personal urgent reasons. Considering that the situation in question involves friends, and not close family members, and taking into account the recommendations issued by the Council of the EU on restriction of all non-essential travel which are in force, visiting friends is not considered to be a personal urgent reason and still does not present a valid reason to enter the Republic of Croatia.

You can keep up with the latest guidelines and advice on the official website here. This information is also available in German and Croatian.

*This article was originally published on July 12, but is regularly updated. This shows the date of the last update.

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