Since 1 July 2013, as a Member State of the European Union, the Republic of Croatia has been applying the common visa policy of the Union related to the common visa regime, implying direct application of the following legal instruments:
Pursuant to the Decision of the Croatian Government of 22 July 2014, it was determined that all foreigners who are holders of valid Schengen documents, as well as those who hold visas and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania, do not need an additional (Croatian) visa for Croatia.
Aliens holding:
• a single visa (C) valid for the territory of all Schengen States, valid for two or more entries;
• visas with limited territorial validity (LTV), issued to the holder of a travel document not recognized by one or more, but not all Schengen States, valid for the territory of the countries recognizing that travel document, valid for two or more entries;
• long-stay visas (D) for stays longer than 90 days, issued by one of the Member States of the Schengen area;
• residence permits issued by one of the Schengen Member States,
• visas valid for two or more entries, and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania
do not require a transit visa, or for an intended stay in Croatia not exceeding 90 days in each period of 180 days.
Also, citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, who are holders of valid Schengen visas with limited regional validity (LTV visas), and which are valid for all Member States of the Schengen area except Spain, do not need an additional (Croatian) visa for transit or entry into Croatia and short stay (up to 90 days).
A short-stay visa is an approval for:
• transit through the territory of the Republic of Croatia or stay in the territory of the Republic of Croatia for a maximum duration of 90 days in any period of 180 days,
• transit through the international transit area of the airport.
On the basis of a short-stay visa, a third-country national is not permitted to work in the territory of the Republic of Croatia.
Types of short-stay visas are:
• air-transit visa (visa A)
• short-stay visa (visa C).
Visas are issued by diplomatic missions, i.e. consular offices of the Republic of Croatia abroad, and may also be issued by a diplomatic mission, i.e. consular office of another state with which the Republic of Croatia has concluded an agreement on representation in issuing visas. The application for a short-stay visa is submitted on the prescribed form, as a rule no earlier than six months and no later than 15 calendar days before the start of the intended trip.
The application for a short-stay visa that is allowed is decided within 15 days from the day of submitting the application.
A third-country national coming on a private or business visit to a natural or legal person in the Republic of Croatia may be required to submit a letter of guarantee and/or other proof that the natural or legal person will bear the costs of the third-country national’s stay in the Republic of Croatia, including accommodation and alimony and the costs of leaving the Republic of Croatia.
A third-country national applying for a short-stay visa must prove that he or she has adequate and valid travel health insurance, and in the case of multiple entry, a signed statement on the obligation to have travel health insurance for later visits.
An extended short-stay visa is issued by the Ministry of the Interior at the request of a third-country national through the police administration or police station. Before extending the issued short-term visa, the police administration or police station is obliged to request prior consent from the Ministry of the Interior, which decides on the application within seven days. Prior to giving consent, the Ministry of the Interior shall request opinions from the Ministry in charge of Foreign Affairs and the Security Intelligence Agency, which shall be binding.
The period of validity of a short-stay visa and/or the duration of stay granted on the basis of a short-stay visa may be extended if the Ministry of the Interior considers that the holder of a short-stay visa has submitted evidence of:
1. force majeure or humanitarian reasons preventing the person from leaving the Republic of Croatia before the expiry of the period of validity or duration of the stay granted by the visa, or
2. the existence of serious personal reasons justifying an extension of the period of validity or duration of the stay.
A long-term visa is a residence permit in the territory of the Republic of Croatia for up to 30 days if a third-country national is granted a temporary stay or a residence and work permit and if the person needs a short-term visa to enter the Republic of Croatia. A long-stay visa is issued to a third-country national for one or more entries, and is issued for a period not exceeding six months.
A long-term visa is issued by a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia, with the previously obtained consent of the ministry responsible for foreign affairs.
