How can I get a Schengen visa for Croatia?

Croatia is one of the most culturally diverse, historically rich, and naturally stunning countries in Eastern Europe. As such, it has been attracting more and more travelers from around the world in recent years. And if you too are planning a trip to “the land of a thousand islands,” you might need a Schengen visa. Fortunately, AXA’s here to help.

• Do I need a Schengen visa to visit Croatia? 
• When and where do I apply for a Type C Schengen visa to Croatia? 
• How much does a Schengen visa for Croatia cost? 
• What documents do I need to apply for a Schengen visa for Croatia? 
• Do I need travel insurance when applying for a Schengen Visa? 
• Why choose AXA Schengen Travel Insurance? 
• COVID restrictions for entering Croatia 

Do I need a Schengen visa to visit Croatia?

Croatia has been one of the 27 members of the European Union since 2013. And on January 1, 2023, the republic also became the official 27th member of the Schengen area. So today, if you aren’t a national of the Schengen area and/or the EU, you might need to have a Schengen visa to enter the country.

Who are the travelers who do not need a Schengen visa to come to Croatia (stay less than 90 days)?

1. Nationals of the Schengen area and/or European Union member countries.

2. Nationals of roughly 60 non-EU countries and territories that have signed visa exemption agreements with the EU. The more popular ones among them are Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mexico, Taiwan, the U.K., and the U.S. Citizens of these countries may, therefore, be able to travel to Croatia visa-free for short stays. They will only be required to present a biometric passport issued no more than 10 years prior to (and valid for at least 90 days after) the planned date of departure from the Schengen zone.

NOTE: Starting in 2024, nationals of countries exempt from Schengen visas will be required to apply online for travel authorization to come to Europe. They will thus have to fill out an ETIAS form (through the European Information and Authorization System).

3. Travelers who already have a visa issued by one of the member countries of the Schengen area. Under the condition that their stay in the Schengen area does not exceed 90 days per period of 180 days

Which travelers are required to apply for a visa to Croatia?

Nationals of third countries that have not signed a visa waiver agreement with the European Union (including several countries from the Maghreb, Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Russia, India, and so on). These citizens are required to apply for a Schengen visa to enter Croatia.

The most common Schengen visa for Croatia is the short-stay (or Type C) visa. It allows you to travel to and between all 27 Schengen countries — for up to 90 days — in any 180-day period from the date of entry into the Schengen zone. And if you plan to be in Croatia (and/or the Schengen zone) for more than 3 months, then you’ll need to apply for a national visa (or Type D visa).

To find out if you need a Schengen visa for Croatia, we invite you to consult the list of countries for which a Schengen visa is mandatory or not. You can also learn more about what kind of Schengen visa best suits your travel needs here.

When and where do I apply for a Type C Schengen visa to Croatia?

Your visa application should be submitted no earlier than 3 months — and no later than 2 to 3 weeks — before your departure date. You can file your application at the Croatian embassy or consulate (or with a service provider such as VFS Global) in your country of residence. . After making an appointment, you will be asked to submit your application in person. During this interview, your biometric data (fingerprints and scanned photo) will be collected and you will pay the visa application fee.

How much does a Schengen visa for Croatia cost?

A Schengen visa for Croatia will cost €80 (as the standard Schengen visa fee is universal). For children between the ages of six and twelve, the fee is €40. And children under the age can get a Schengen visa for free.

What documents do I need to apply for a Schengen visa for Croatia?

The documents required vary depending on your nationality, your country of origin, and the purpose of your trip. You should, therefore, double-check with the corresponding Croatian consulate, embassy, and/or visa application center to make sure you don’t miss anything. Meanwhile, here’s an overview of the documents generally required.

• Your passport (issued within the last 10 years, with a validity of more than 3 months after the planned date of exit from the Schengen area, and with two blank pages)

• A photocopy of the first page of your passport, as well as all pages with visas and entry and exit stamps from the Schengen area

• Residence permit (and/or resident card, if applicable)

• A short-stay Schengen visa application form* (duly completed and signed). *You can find this on the website of the Croatian representative of the country where you live and/or on the website of the corresponding service provider in charge of collecting visa applications. Alternatively, you can also fill it out online on the Croatian government's official website.

• Two recent passport photos (always in color and with a white or light gray background)

• Your itinerary (i.e., proof of reservation of the round-trip ticket)

• Proof of the purpose of the trip (i.e., a letter of invitation and guarantee (authenticated) for a private visit (family/friends) and/or for a business trip)

• Proof of accommodation in Croatia (hotel reservation, rental agreement, etc.)

• Financial documents (salary slips, bank statements, etc.) proving you can support yourself during your stay in Croatia

• Proof of socio-economic and professional stability (in order to prove the applicant's willingness to leave the Schengen area before the expiry of the requested visa)

• Travel insurance for Schengen visas*
  • *NOTE: Travel insurance is mandatory and must meet several criteria in order to be accepted with your visa application (more on that below)

• Certified parental or guardian authorization for minors

To learn more about visas in the Republic of Croatia — as well as the addresses/contact info of Croatian embassies and consulates around the world — visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Do I need travel insurance when applying for a Schengen Visa to Croatia?

Yes. As stated above, you will need travel insurance to be granted a Schengen visa — be it to Croatia or any of the other 26 Schengen states.

Your plan must have a minimum coverage of €30,000 in case of medical care, hospitalization, and/or medical repatriation. It must also be accepted by all 27 countries within the Schengen zone (i.e., not just Croatia). And it must be valid for the entire duration of the visa's validity.

Why choose AXA Schengen Travel Insurance?

AXA’s Schengen travel insurance plans are a sure way to make your Schengen visa application a lot more stress-free and bring you one big step closer to your Croatian trip. Here’s why:

• Not only do all three AXA plans (i.e., Low-Cost, Europe Travel, and Multi-Trip) meet the necessary requirements for obtaining a Schengen Visa for Croatia — they also cover you in all 27 Schengen territories (and beyond). 

• Once you’ve purchased your plan, you can download (and/or print) the necessary travel insurance certificate instantly.

• AXA’s travel insurance certificate is accepted at all Schengen embassies and consulates.

• Choosing an AXA travel insurance plan is also quick, easy, and affordable — it can all be done online and in a matter of minutes.

• There are also no age restrictions with AXA’s plans.

• AXA’s plans are refundable in most cases if your Schengen visa for Croatia is denied). We’ll only ask that you provide the appropriate documentation (i.e., an official explanation as to why your visa was refused by the relevant embassy, consulate, or visa application center).

Other Schengen countries you might be interested in

COVID restrictions for entering Croatia

Since the terms and conditions are likely to change as the COVID health situation evolves, we advise that you consult the website of the Croatian embassy of your country of residence to know what restrictions apply at the time of your departure.

You can also consult the information published on Re-Open EU (the official website of the European Union) — as it regularly updates the measures for each country of the EU and the Schengen area.

Related Articles

• Travel Insurance for Croatia
• Who needs to apply for a Schengen Visa?
• How to apply for a Schengen Visa (in general).
• What are the different types of Schengen visas?
• How to fill out a Schengen visa application form