Croatia Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. Most non-EU/Schengen nationals need a Schengen short-stay visa to visit Croatia for tourism or business. A short-stay Schengen visa allows up to 90 days per 180-day period. EU and Schengen nationals enter Croatia visa-free. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Croatia visa at a glance
- Government fee
- The official Croatia visa fee set by the government — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Validity / stay
- 15–20 working days
- Visa types
- 3
Do you need a visa for Croatia?
Check the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, Croatia visa-exemption list for your nationality before traveling. If your nationality is not on the visa-exemption list, you need a visa.
Croatia visa types
- Schengen short-stay visa (C visa)
- Tourism, business, family visits — Up to 90 days per 180-day period
- Transit visa (A visa)
- Passing through Croatia to a third country — Per transit rules
- Airport transit visa
- Transit through Croatian airport — Up to 5 days
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Croatia depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities can enter Croatia visa-free for short stays under bilateral agreements — typically 15–90 days depending on the agreement.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist visa or visa on arrival for tourism, business, or family visits.
Documents required for a Croatia visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportSchengen short-stay visa (C visa) · 3+ months beyond intended departure, 2 blank pages.
- Completed Schengen visa application formSchengen short-stay visa (C visa) · Completed Schengen visa application form.
- Recent passport photo (35x45 mm, white background)Schengen short-stay visa (C visa) · Recent passport photo (35x45 mm, white background).
- Travel itinerarySchengen short-stay visa (C visa) · flight reservations, hotel booking.
- Proof of accommodation in CroatiaSchengen short-stay visa (C visa) · Proof of accommodation in Croatia.
- Travel medical insuranceSchengen short-stay visa (C visa) · €30,000 minimum coverage.
- Proof of financial meansSchengen short-stay visa (C visa) · bank statements.
- Employment letter or proof of ties to home countrySchengen short-stay visa (C visa) · Employment letter or proof of ties to home country.
- Valid passportTransit visa (A visa) · 3+ months beyond intended departure.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third countryTransit visa (A visa) · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa (A visa) · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
- Entry visa for the final destination if requiredTransit visa (A visa) · Entry visa for the final destination if required.
Croatia visa fees and processing time
- Processing fee
- Expedify's fee for checking, preparing, and filing your application — Expedify — fixed, shown upfront
- Government fee
- The official Croatia visa fee set by the government — The government — passed through at cost, no markup
- Total
- Processing fee + government fee — What you pay — shown before you start
- Schengen short-stay visa
- 15–20 working days
- Transit visa
- 5–10 working days
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Croatia visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the visa-exemption list for your nationality with the Croatia immigration authority.
Get the current form and checklist from the embassy or immigration authority for your country
Get the current form and checklist from the embassy or immigration authority for your country.
Gather your documents in the order requested by the checklist
Gather your documents in the order requested by the checklist.
Submit your application
online where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center.
Track your application and collect your passport when a decision is made
Track your application and collect your passport when a decision is made.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Croatia's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Croatia is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or visa-exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
- Travel medical insurance with €30,000 minimum coverage for Schengen travel.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa without a residence permit.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Croatia visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Missing travel insurance
no valid insurance with the required €30,000 coverage.
Frequently asked questions
Croatia visa questions, answered.
More for your Croatia trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.