Visa Requirements for Croatian Citizens
Traveling is a great way to experience new places, new people, and new cultures.
However, traveling to a new country can be a little scary. However, this process doesn't have to be as complicated as you think.
The important thing is to apply for the right documents before your trip so that as a Croatian citizen you can go anywhere and explore different places.
Visa requirements for Croatian nationals are required documents issued by other countries to Croatian nationals.
This document gives its holder the right to enter and stay in the territory of the selected country. Depending on predetermined requirements, Croatian passport holders may or may not require a visa to enter their chosen destination. The established rules and conditions that must be observed may vary from country to country.
Before proceeding further, please note that electronic visa (eVisa), visa on arrival and traditional embassy visa are the three most popular types of visas, and these are all issued to Croatian nationals.
That is important.
Electronic visas (eVisa) and visas on arrival are typically issued for short-term visits related to leisure, recreation, work, or transit. Embassy visas, on the other hand, are issued for both short-term and long-term stays, such as working, studying, or staying abroad.
Electronic visas are the easiest way to obtain a visa as you do not need to visit an embassy. The approved e-visa will be emailed to the applicant in the form of a PDF document. Visas, on the other hand, must be applied for upon arrival at a border crossing, usually while waiting in a long queue.
According to the overall travel freedom ranking, Croatian passport holders are allowed visa-free or visa-on-arrival travel to 173 destinations abroad, putting Croatia in 16th place in the world (on the same level as Bulgaria).
In most countries where Croatian citizens can travel visa-free for short periods (15-180 days, usually 90 days), Croatian passport holders do not need to apply for a visa.
Not through embassies or electronic systems. In addition, Croats can obtain all types of visas if they travel to countries that require such documents. In certain countries, Croatian nationals may be required to apply for an embassy visa. As with most things, this can only be done in person. This is the longest and most complicated process, but don't worry, we'll explain it in detail below. This article will help Croatian passport holders understand what visa requirements they have when traveling to other countries.
Electronic visa
An e-visa is a digital version of a regular visa, but it is much easier to obtain than a regular visa.
You can apply for an e-visa completely online in just three easy steps. Several countries use electronic visa systems to facilitate travel.
List of countries that allow Croatian citizens to apply for an eVisa
- Angola
- Australia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Djibouti
- The Democratic Republic of Congo
- Egypt
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- India
- Iran
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lesotho
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Myanmar
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Russia
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- South Sudan
- Sri Lanka
- Suriname
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Vietnam
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Electronic visas allow Croats to travel abroad temporarily for short periods of time. For Croatian nationals, electronic visas are available for more than 40 countries around the world (including Egypt and Russia).
If you apply online, you do not need to visit the embassy in person. Additionally, online visa applications are much faster and easier to process, allowing you to stay in your destination country for up to 90 days at a time.
Visa on Arrival
Another type of visa is a visa on arrival as many countries allow Croatian citizens to apply for a travel permit after arrival. Its most important feature is that there are no prior requirements.
This visa is an option for travelers who do not need a visa in advance but are entering a country. International airports or other typical border crossings, including land borders, issue these documents. Multiple entries are usually allowed.
List of countries offering Visas on Arrival for Croats
- Angola
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Benin
- Cambodia
- Comoros
- Egypt
- Gabon
- Guinea-Bissau
- Iran
- Iraq
- Jamaica
- Jordan
- Kenya
- Kuwait
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- The Maldives
- Mauritania
- Mongolia
- Mozambique
- Nepal
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Papua New Guinea
- Rwanda
- Saudi Arabia
- Sierra Leone
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
Croatian citizens enjoy this privilege in more than 30 countries. If you have a Croatian passport, you will be able to obtain this type of visa in countries such as the Maldives, Lebanon and Jamaica. Having a visa on arrival is a great perk for Croatian visitors, as it saves them from having to go through all the traditional stages of registration and waiting.
Normally, applying for a visa at the border includes the following steps:
- Visit the border control checkpoint
- Request a Visa on Arrival application form
- Ensure that the form is correctly filled out and that none of the information is missing or incorrect
- Pay the visa fees
- Wait for approval
It’s important to note that these steps may vary by country. Furthermore, the country’s authorities may ask to confirm the reason for your visit.
Therefore, it is best to ensure that you have all the necessary travel documents before departure. You may need to present a valid passport, hotel reservation, return ticket and enough cash to cover expenses. The process of applying for a visa at the border can be stressful and uncertain for the unprepared.
Some countries that offer visas on arrival also offer electronic visas, which are safer and easier to obtain.
Embassy visa
This is a standard visa issued by the consulate or embassy of the country you plan to visit.
Usually appears as a stamp on a traveler's passport. It is suitable for both short and long trips.
However, unlike e-visas or visas on arrival, the process of applying for a traditional embassy visa can be more complicated.
List of countries Croats must obtain an Embassy visa to visit
- Abkhazia
- Afghanistan
- Aland Islands
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Artsakh
- Aruba
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bonaire
- British Indian Ocean Territory
- British Virgin Islands
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cameroon
- Cayman Islands
- The Central African Republic
- Chad
- China
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- The Republic of Congo
- Cook Islands
- Cuba
- Curacao
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guernsey
- Guyana
- Isle of Man
- Jersey
- Liberia
- Libya
- Mali
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Montserrat
- Namibia
- Nauru
- New Caledonia
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- North Korea
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Pitcairn Islands
- Puerto Rico
- Reunion
- Saint Barthelemy
- Saint Helena
- Saint Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Seychelles
- Sint Maarten
- Somaliland
- South Africa
- South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Svalbard and Jan Mayen
- Syria
- Thailand
- Tokelau
- Turkmenistan
- Turks and Caicos Islands
- United States
- United States Virgin Islands
- Wallis and Futuna
- Yemen
More than 80 countries require Croats to apply for visas through their embassies, including the United States, Thailand and South Africa.
Most embassy visa applicants must submit multiple documents to demonstrate the reason for their trip.
To apply for a visa, you must submit all necessary documents and information to the embassy.
In some cases, consular officers may require the applicant to undergo a visa interview or submit additional supporting documents. After paying the visa fee, visitors must wait several weeks until approval. Since some countries may require travelers to submit official documents with their application, and the entire visa application process can typically take some time, it’s a good idea to prepare for your trip in advance at least a few weeks.
Visa-free countries
Croatian passport holders can visit many countries without a visa.
In other words, Croatian citizens will be able to enter the country without having to apply for a visa.
Generally, these services are provided to tourists and people traveling for personal reasons and not for business purposes.
List of countries that offer visa exemption for Croatian citizens
- Albania
- Andorra
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Aruba
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- Brest and Grodno
- Brunei Darussalam
- Bulgaria
- Cape Verde
- The Cayman Islands
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Curacao
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Estonia
- Eswatini
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Finland
- France
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kiribati
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Macedonia
- Malaysia
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Mauritius
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Morocco
- The Netherlands
- Nicaragua
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Palau
- Palestinian Territory
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- The Philippines
- Poland
- Portugal
- Qatar
- Romania
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome and Principe
- Senegal
- Serbia
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Sint Maarten
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- The Solomon Islands
- South Korea
- Spain
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Tuvalu
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
There are over 120 countries worldwide where Croatians can travel without a visa, including Brazil and Japan, and of course, the countries of the European Union.
