Travel documents

A valid passport or another travel document recognized by international agreements is required for entry into the Republic of Croatia. Citizens of certain countries may also enter with a valid identity card or another document proving the identity and citizenship of the holder.

For information on entry requirements, visa regulations and travel documents, please contact Croatian diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad or the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia:

Telephone: +385 (0)1 4569 964

E-mail: stranci@mvpei.hr, vize@mvpei.hr

Website: www.mvpei.hr

Customs regulations

Customs regulations of the Republic of Croatia are harmonized with the regulations of the European Union.

Passengers arriving from countries outside the European Union may bring in goods of a non-commercial nature in their personal luggage without paying import duties up to the following values:

• EUR 430 per passenger arriving by air or sea transport
• EUR 300 per passenger arriving by other means of transport
• EUR 150 for passengers under the age of 15, regardless of the means of transport.

Passengers entering or leaving the European Union must declare the transfer of cash in the amount of EUR 10,000 or more, or the equivalent amount in another currency or other means of payment, in accordance with applicable regulations.

Passengers who do not have their residence or habitual place of residence within the European Union may claim a VAT refund for goods purchased in Croatia if the value of goods on a single invoice exceeds EUR 100, provided that all prescribed conditions for a tax refund are met.

For additional information, please visit the official website of the Customs Administration of the Republic of Croatia: www.carina.hr

Bringing pets across the border

Pets may enter the Republic of Croatia if they meet the veterinary requirements prescribed by European Union legislation.

For non-commercial travel (up to five pets), dogs, cats and ferrets must:

• be identified with a microchip,
• be validly vaccinated against rabies,
• have an EU pet passport or an appropriate veterinary certificate (depending on the country they are coming from).

Additional requirements may apply to pets arriving from certain non-EU countries, including a rabies antibody titration test.

If an animal does not meet the prescribed requirements, entry into the Republic of Croatia may be refused, or the animal may be returned to the country of origin or placed in quarantine at the owner’s expense.

More information is available on the official websites of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Directorate for Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety.

Medical services

Hospitals and clinics are available in all larger cities, while medical practices and pharmacies can also be found in smaller towns.

Foreign tourists who are insured under compulsory health insurance in countries with which Croatia has a social security agreement do not have to pay for emergency healthcare services during their private stay in the Republic of Croatia, provided they have the appropriate certificate confirming their right to healthcare under the agreement. Healthcare services (including transportation) are provided in emergency cases under the same conditions and according to the same regulations that apply to Croatian insured persons. The same applies to participation in healthcare costs (co-payment).

Persons arriving from countries with which Croatia has no agreement, or where healthcare coverage is not provided under the agreement, must cover all healthcare costs themselves.

For additional information, please contact the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO):

Telephone: +385 (0)21 408 900 (Regional Office Split)

Website: www.hzzo.hr

Public holidays and non-working days in the Republic of Croatia

1 January – New Year’s Day

6 January – Epiphany (Three Kings’ Day)

Easter and Easter Monday

Corpus Christi (Corpus Christi Day)

1 May – Labour Day

30 May – Statehood Day

22 June – Anti-Fascist Struggle Day

5 August – Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and Croatian Veterans’ Day

15 August – Assumption of Mary

1 November – All Saints’ Day

18 November – Remembrance Day for the Victims of the Homeland War and Remembrance Day for the Victim of Vukovar and Škabrnja

25 December – Christmas Day

26 December – St. Stephen’s Day

Opening hours of shops and public services

During the tourist season, most shops are open on weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and many are also open on weekends.

Public services and business offices generally operate from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Postal services and telecommunications

Post offices are generally open on weekdays from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. In smaller towns, opening hours are usually from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., while some offices operate in two shifts.

In larger cities and tourist destinations, duty post offices are open on Saturdays and Sundays.

Telephone cards, available at post offices and newsstands, are used in all public telephones. International calls can be made directly from any telephone.

Website: www.posta.hr

In case of emergency call 112!

If you notice a natural disaster, technical or technological threat, or an accident that endangers human life and health, property or the environment, call 112. This number can be called free of charge 24 hours a day from any telephone in the Republic of Croatia.

When calling 112, you do not need to know which emergency service is responsible. You only need to provide:

• what happened,
• where it happened,
• when it happened,
• whether there are injured persons,
• what kind of injuries are involved,
• what kind of assistance is needed,
• who is calling.

By calling 112, you can request:

• emergency medical assistance,
• assistance from firefighters,
• police assistance,
• mountain rescue service assistance,
• search and rescue assistance at sea,
• assistance from other emergency services and operational forces of the civil protection and rescue system.

The 112 emergency call service is available in the following languages:

• English
• German
• Italian
• Hungarian
• Slovak
• Czech

PRACTICAL TIPS

Outdoor activities:

• Inform your family members or friends about your planned route or travel itinerary.
• Stay on marked trails and paths.
• Carry sufficient drinking water.
• Prepare appropriate clothing and footwear.
• Make sure you have a mobile phone with you.
• Follow weather forecasts and warnings.
• Use open flames carefully and in accordance with regulations.
• Do not throw cigarette butts or flammable objects into nature.

Fire safety:

• Make sure you have taken all necessary measures to prevent fires!
• Do not throw burning or flammable objects into the environment.
• Respect signs prohibiting the lighting of fires.
• Make sure that your parked vehicle does not block fire access routes or entrances.

What to do in case of fire?

• Immediately report the fire to the firefighters by calling 112.
• Use a fire extinguisher to put out an initial fire only if you do not endanger yourself or others.
• Inform people nearby about the fire.
• FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS OF FIREFIGHTERS.

REMEMBER:

Failure to comply with fire safety regulations may result in misdemeanor or criminal charges initiated by the Ministry of the Interior.

On the road

• During the tourist season, avoid traffic jams, driving on weekends and public holidays.
• Drive when you are well rested!
• Adjust your speed to road conditions and respect speed limits.
• In case of traffic congestion, be patient and carry sufficient drinking water.

At sea

• In case of an accident at sea or marine pollution, call 155 (the National Maritime Search and Rescue Centre) or 112.
• Before sailing, check the weather forecast, especially for the Adriatic Sea.
• When swimming, remain within sight of other swimmers.
• Inform your family members or friends about the approximate location of your diving activity and mark it properly in accordance with regulations.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure and use sun protection.
• Carry sufficient drinking water.

Environmental protection

• The protection of biodiversity is carried out in accordance with the applicable regulations of the European Union.
• The bathing water quality of the Croatian Adriatic Sea is very high and meets European Union standards.
• In case of environmental pollution, call 112.

Radio news and traffic information in foreign languages during the tourist season

During the tourist season, Croatian Radio broadcasts information for foreign visitors, including news, traffic updates and useful travel information in several foreign languages.

News broadcasts can be heard each day at 18:00 CET. The Voice of Croatia's radio news broadcasts with information on upcoming events, news from Croatia and abroad, culture, sports and weather.

Traffic information in Croatian and foreign languages is available through Croatian Radio and the Croatian Automobile Club (HAK), which provides up-to-date information on road conditions, traffic congestion, border crossings and ferry traffic.

For current traffic information, please visit the official website of the Croatian Automobile Club (HAK): www.hak.hr