TRAVELLING TO CROATIA IN COVID-19 TIMES
ARE BORDERS OPEN?
Yes, Croatian borders are open but there are certain restrictions and rules in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
WHAT ARE THE RULES AND RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTERING CROATIA?
While the most detailed information on crossing the border and entering Croatia you can find on the official pages of the Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs (Police) at https://mup.gov.hr/uzg-covid/english/286212 here we bring the basic overview of those rules while please read carefully on the official link the detailed rules applicable to your specific case:
PASSENGERS TRAVELLING TO THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA FROM AN EU / EEA MEMBER STATE REGARDLESS OF THEIR CITIZENSHIP
Will be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia if they possess one of the below:
- a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate.
- a negative PCR test result or rapid antigen test result - RAT for SARS-CoV-2, where the RAT test must be listed in the Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union, published by the European Commission. If the RAT test results were made abroad, the manufacturer and/or the commercial name of the test must be visible. Otherwise, it will not be accepted as credible for entering the Republic of Croatia. The PCR test result must not be older than 72 hours and the RAT test result must not be older than 48 hours, counting from the time the test was taken until the arrival at the border crossing point;
- a certificate that they have received two doses of vaccine used in the EU Member States (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Gamaleya, Sinopharm) not older than 210 days, or a certificate that they have received one dose of the vaccine if the vaccine is administered in a single dose (Janssen/Johnson&Johnson) not older than 210 days, provided that 14 days have passed since they received the single dose;
- certificate showing that they have received the first dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or Gamaleya vaccine, on the basis of which they can enter the Republic of Croatia in the period of 22 to 42 days from receiving the vaccine, or 22 to 84 days from receiving the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine;
- certificate showing that they have recovered from COVID-19 and have received one dose of vaccine within six months from contracting the disease provided that the vaccine was administered less than 210 days from their arrival at the border crossing point;
- positive PCR test result or rapid antigen test result, confirming that the holder recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, which was performed in the previous 180 days and which is older than 11 days from the date of arrival at the border crossing point, or a medical certificate of recovery;
- or if they perform PCR testing or rapid antigen testing - RAT for SARS-CoV-2 immediately upon their arrival in the Republic of Croatia (at their own expense), with the obligation to stay in self-isolation until they obtain a negative test result. In case they cannot get tested, they have to self-isolate for ten (10) days.
THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS TRAVELLING FOR TOURIST REASONS
Will be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia if they have a certificate of paid accommodation in a hotel, camp, private renter or rented vessel and other form of tourist accommodation or are owners of houses or vessels in the Republic of Croatia upon presentation of one of the following documents:
- negative PCR test result not older than 72 hours from the moment of testing, or rapid antigen test result - RAT for SARS-CoV-2 that is included in the Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union, published by the European Commission, provided that the test result is not older than 48 hours from the moment of testing to the moment of arrival at the border crossing point
- certificate that they have received two doses of vaccine used in the EU Member States not older than 210 days, provided that 14 days have passed since they received the second dose, or a certificate that they have received one dose of the vaccine, not older than 210 days, if the vaccine is administered in a single dose (Janssen/Johnson&Johnson), provided that 14 days have passed since they received the single dose
- certificate showing that they have recovered from COVID-19 and have received one dose of vaccine within six months from contracting the virus, provided that the vaccine was administered less than 210 days ago
- a positive PCR or rapid antigen test result, referred to in paragraph III, item 1, subitem 1 of the said Decision, confirming that the holder recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, which was performed in the previous 180 days, and which is older than 11 days from the date of arrival at the border crossing point, or a certificate of recovery from COVID-19 issued by a physician
- or they will be imposed self-isolation upon arriving in the Republic of Croatia with a possibility of getting a PCR test or rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 and if they cannot get tested, they have to self-isolate for a total of 10 days.
EXCEPTION TO THE RULE FOR THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS
Passengers from the countries covered by the list of countries of the Croatian Institute of Public Health - namely passengers coming from the Republic of South Africa, Tanzania, India and Brazil - to which special epidemiological measures apply are obliged to present a negative PCR test result not older than 48 hours and they have to stay in self-isolation for 14 days. The duration of self-isolation can be shortened if the person, at the earliest on the seventh day of self-isolation, gets a PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 at their own expense in an institution authorized to conduct testing and if the test result is negative
CHILDREN UNDER TWELVE YEARS OF AGE
Children under twelve years of age traveling accompanied by a parent/guardian are exempt from the obligation to present a negative test result and to self-isolate if the parents/guardians have a valid EU Digital COVID Certificate or a negative PCR or rapid antigen - RAT test result or if they have a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 or proof of having recovered from COVID-19.
ENTER CROATIA APPLICATION
For all foreign passengers, regardless of citizenship, due to the shortening of the procedure at the border crossing, we advise you to fill in the announcement in advance via the Enter Croatia application.
Other general notes on the provision may be found here.
USEFUL LINKS:
- well presented, summarized, info on traveling to Croatia in COVID19 times https://croatia.hr/en-GB/coronavirus-2019-ncov-q-and-a
- detailed information regarding the conditions of entry into the Republic of Croatia considering temporary bans, i.e. restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 https://mup.gov.hr/uzg-covid/english/286212
- official government website for accurate information on the Coronavirus situation in Croatia and epidemiological measures in force https://www.koronavirus.hr/en
- The EnterCroatia online form allows visitors to enter all the necessary information and data prior to traveling to Croatia to ease border crossing upon entry. https://entercroatia.mup.hr/
- portal with updated travel info and Viber group https://www.total-croatia.com/covid-19-in-croatia/
If you don't feel like reading all the above and the information on the links provided contact us directly with your specific case and we will look for accurate information for you.
Sincerely,
Your Fair Wind Team