Online ETIAS for Croatia
The ETIAS is coming soon. We can assist in processing this document once it’s available.
Travel Document Type
ETIAS
Government Fee
USD –
Byevisa Processing Fee
USD –
Processing Time
– days
All About the Croatia ETIAS Visa
At the time of writing, this top Mediterranean destination is in the stages of joining the European Union’s Schengen Area. When this process is complete, and once the ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) travel waiver launches in late 2022, this document may be required for you to visit. To help you prepare, we’ve put together everything you need to know about the ETIAS below.
Home to dramatic coastlines, thousands of unique islands and a culture that reflects the country’s Roman, Byzantine and Venetian past, it’s no wonder that this small Balkan country is an international tourism favourite.
If you’re ready to see this gem for yourself and have started planning your Croatian adventure, then you’ve come to the right place. It’s Byevisa’s mission to provide answers to all your entry-related questions.
So, do you need a visa for Croatia? Previously, Croatia’s visa policy and the wider EU policy allowed more than 50 nationalities – the US, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada to name a few – to visit most of Europe with just a valid passport.
As of late 2022, however, when the ETIAS is due to come into effect, nationals of the current Croatia visa-free countries will have to present an approved waiver to travel for business or tourism. Designed as an increased security measure, this digital visitor permit will allow the EU to better monitor travellers who move through its borders.
Fortunately, Byevisa is here to offer you the most up-to-date information on the ETIAS and how to prepare for your next European holiday. To determine if a visa is needed for Croatia and for details on how to apply for the Croatia ETIAS, just keep reading!
Contents
Croatia Visa Requirements and Eligibility
Do you need a visa to go to Croatia? Just select your nationality in Byevisa’s easy eligibility checker tool to find out
Or, alternatively, check out our list of visa-free countries that will soon require the ETIAS below:
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brazil
Brunei Darussalam
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Dominica
El Salvador
Federated States of Micronesia
Georgia
Grenada
Guatemala
Honduras
Hong Kong
Israel
Japan
Kiribati
Macau
Malaysia
Marshall Islands
Mauritius
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Nauru
New Zealand
Nicaragua
North Macedonia
Palau
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Saint Kitts and Nevis
At present, if your nationality is exempt, you are free to enter the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. That is to say that you must spend at least 3 months outside of the Schengen bloc before entering again using this exemption scheme.
All exempt visitors must travel with a passport that is valid for at least 6 months past their date of departure from Croatia and that has been issued within the past 10 years.
However, as of late 2022, and once Croatia joins the Schengen zone, any national from the above list must apply for an ETIAS travel waiver prior to their trip. For more details about this new system, Byevisa has compiled a helpful guide on the ETIAS Travel Authorisation.
Croatia Visa Application Process
How to apply for your permit to enter this amazing Mediterranean destination depends on whether you’re eligible for the EU’s upcoming visa waiver or not. Here we explain both processes.
Application Steps for ETIAS-Eligible Countries
Applying for the Croatia ETIAS is quick and easy with Byevisa. The process is similar to the already established American ESTA and Canadian eTA systems, in that you easily apply online and receive approval via email.
To apply through Byevisa, all you need is 10 minutes, an internet connection and to take the following steps:
- Click on ‘Apply’ below, and fill out our online form.
- Pay the ETIAS official fee and Byevisa’s processing fee.
- Receive the travel waiver directly to your email inbox.
Application Steps for Other Nationalities
Alternatively, foreign nationals not included in the ETIAS-eligible list above need to apply for a Croatia tourist visa following the requirements outlined as follows:
- Hold a national passport valid at least 6 months past your travel dates and with at least 3 blank pages. This document cannot be more than 10 years old.
- Make an appointment at the embassy, consulate or authorised application centre.
- Fill in the application form online.
- Provide a letter explaining your reasons for travel and planned itinerary.
- Submit 2 colour photos with a white background (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm).
- Show proof of travel insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR (32,887.50 USD) valid for your entire stay.
- Provide proof of return or onward flights as well as proof of accommodation.
- Possess sufficient funds to cover your trip (demonstrated with 3 months of bank statements or with a letter from your employer stating your salary).
- Show proof of your work or education status.
- Submit your paperwork in person to your nearest embassy or consulate.
- Provide additional information such as fingerprints and/or an interview upon request.
Keep in mind that all documents must be presented in English or Croatian. Allow yourself plenty of time to collect these documents beforehand, as some may need to be legalised.
When you have completed the application form, you will need to print it, sign it and take it, along with the other required documentation, to the embassy, consulate or application centre to be processed. This typically takes about 15 days provided there are no problems with your application.
Croatia Visa Application Form and Documents
Unlike traditional entry permits, the visa requirements for the ETIAS Croatia are quite straightforward. You do not need to upload a photo or travel itinerary as part of your online application with Byevisa.
To help you prepare, we’ve outlined all the information you should have on hand to fill in our online form:
- Personal information (name, maiden name, date & place of birth).
- Email address, where we’ll send you your valid digital visit waiver.
- Passport details.
- Citizenship information.
- Contact details (address, email and phone number).
- Point of entry (first Schengen country you will visit).
- Background questions on medical conditions and criminal history.
Once you’ve entered these details, you then select your preferred processing speed to receive your waiver. With Byevisa, you can choose between:
- Standard
- Rapid
- Highly Rapid
Then, the final step is to pay the fee and submit your application. Your details will then be checked against the EU’s security databases (EUROPOL, SIS, VIS etc) to assess your risk factors.
If no red flags are raised, then your ETIAS will be approved and sent to your inbox. If additional information is needed, then you will be contacted by email.
Fortunately, there’s no need for you to print your approved waiver, as it’s electronically linked to your passport. All you need to do is, when you go on your trip, take your passport to be scanned at customs as usual! That said, you may wish to print a copy to carry with you, just in case.
Croatia Visa Status Check
When you’ve applied for the Croatia ETIAS with Byevisa, you can click the ‘Log In’ button in our main menu and enter your contact details to enquire about your waiver’s application status. Here you can find out:
- If your application has been accepted and its expiry date.
- If your application was rejected and the reason, if provided by the European Commission.
- If your application remains pending.
If we require additional details to process your application or if some information needs correcting, we’ll contact you at the email address you provide. To maximise the probability that your application is accepted first time in a prompt manner, be sure to enter your details carefully and check them before clicking ‘Submit’.
How Much Does a Croatia Visa Cost?
If you’re applying for the ETIAS for Croatia through Byevisa, you pay the official fee of 7 EUR. In addition, you will be charged a minimal fee for us to handle the paperwork on your behalf. This fee depends on the processing speed chosen: Standard, Rapid or Highly Rapid.
Croatia Visa Fees for Non-ETIAS Entry Permits
These fees vary depending on the embassy, consulate or application centre where you apply. Moreover, we advise checking with your embassy beforehand to inquire whether they accept payment by card or money order.
Can I Enter Croatia With a Schengen Visa?
Yes. As of 2014, a Croatia visa can be substituted with Schengen travel documents, or with national visas or residence permits from Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania.
This allows eligible foreign nationals, who would otherwise require an entry permit, to visit this Balkan country for transit or tourism for up to 90 days.
To enter under this scheme, one or more of the following must apply:
- You must hold a Double or Multiple-Entry entry permit, valid for all Schengen Area Member States.
- You must be in possession of a valid residence permit, issued by a Schengen zone Member State.
- You must hold a Double or Multiple-Entry entry travel pass or residence permit for Bulgaria, Cyprus or Romania.
For more information on this scheme, please contact your corresponding Croatian embassy or consulate.
Is There a Croatia Visa on Arrival (VoA)?
No, this country currently does not have a VoA system in place. If you do not qualify for an exemption, then you must take the traditional route and apply through your nearest embassy, consulate or application centre.
More Croatia Tourist Visa Questions and Information
Please find below our FAQ section with more handy information on this beautiful Mediterranean country’s entry permits, ahead of your trip.
Meanwhile, the non-ETIAS entry permit for other nationalities is valid for 1 visit of up to 90 days.
The non-ETIAS process typically takes 15 days, unless there is a problem with your application. To be safe, we would recommend applying within 15 - 90 days of your intended date of travel.
As these 2 nationalities qualify for a Schengen entry permit, you are not eligible for the ETIAS waiver.
For both the ETIAS and the national visa, read the instructions carefully and make sure all your travel documents are up-to-date before you apply. This will greatly increase the chances of your application being approved.
If your travel document is nearing its expiration date, we would recommend renewing it beforehand to avoid any upsets to your travel.
There are 9 international airports across the country which are connected with major cities across Europe. Additionally, rail networks offer direct or transfer connections with many European countries.
For an added adventure, check out the many ferry routes that connect this country to its Mediterranean neighbour, Italy.