Croatia

Source: European Union/Re-open EU

02.10.2020

Entry Rstrictions

Citizens of EU+ countries, as well as their family members, are allowed to enter Croatia without restrictions.

EU+ comprises EU Member States plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City State and the Republic of San Marino.

EU+ nationals as well as their family members (regardless of their residence), third-country nationals who are long-term residents under Council Directive 2003/109/EC, and persons entitled to reside under other EU directives or national law, or who hold national long-term visas, can enter the country under the same conditions as before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Third country nationals are still subject to restrictions: they can enter Croatia for business or tourism reasons only.

Travelling from Croatia or returning to Croatia

Croatian citizens are allowed to return to the Republic of Croatia without any additional requirements or special measures.

Mandatory Travel Documentation

Before entering the country, all travellers must complete the EnterCroatia form

Transit

In general, all passengers may travel through Croatia provided that they enter or transit through a neighbouring country. During transit, the shortest traffic routes should be used without undue delay. It is necessary to leave Croatia as soon as possible and no longer than 12 hours from the time of entry. After approving entry, the border police will check whether transit travellers have left Croatian territory within 12 hours. As a rule, the transit through Croatia can only serve to enable entry into a neighbouring country.

Third-country nationals coming from outside the EU and Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein

If foreigners who do not hold the citizenship of an EU/EEA Member State nor have regulated stay in those countries, want to enter Croatia for tourism, it is necessary to present a confirmation of paid accommodation (lease contract or lump sum payment of hotel/camp, permanent berth contract in a nautical tourism port, etc.). These persons are not subject to a 14 day quarantine / self-isolation measure if they present a negative PCR result of a nasal and throat swab for SARS-Cov-2 at the border crossing point, which is not older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point). If third-country nationals have a test older than 48 hours when entering Croatia, they will be allowed to enter Croatia, however, they will be obligated to self-isolate and re-test themselves in Croatia at their own expense. Persons who do not present a negative PCR result are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine / self-isolation measure.

In addition, all travellers are advised to fill out the form on theENTERCROATIA website. Individual requests for border-crossing and requirements can be communicated in advance via e-mail to uzg.covid@mup.hr and will be addressed in the shortest possible timeframe.

Recommendations and instructions for crossing the state border

Latest information on lifting travel restrictions on Croatian borders

28.08.2020

Travelling to Croatia
Travelling from EU countries is allowed without restrictions.

Travelling from Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, as well as Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City State and the Republic of San Marino, is allowed without restrictions.

Travelling from Croatia or returning to Croatia
Croatian citizens are allowed to return to the Republic of Croatia without any additional requirements or special measures.

Rules and Exceptions
All EU/EEA nationals, as well as their family members (regardless of their residence), third-country nationals who are long-term residents under Council Directive 2003/109/EC, and persons entitled to reside under other EU directives or national law, or who hold national long-term visas, can enter the country under the same conditions as before the COVID-19 outbreak. This also applies to nationals of the Principality of Andorra, the Republic of San Marino, the Principality of Monaco and the Holy See.

All travellers are required to fill out the form available at the EnterCroatia web-page.

Third country nationals still have some restrictions in place: they can enter for business or tourism related reasons only.

If foreigners who do not hold the citizenship of an EU/EEA Member State nor have regulated stay in those countries, want to enter Croatia for tourism, it is necessary to present a confirmation of paid accommodation (lease contract or lump sum payment of hotel/camp, permanent berth contract in a nautical tourism port, etc.). These persons are not subject to a 14 day quarantine / self-isolation measure if they present a negative PCR result of a nasal and throat swab for SARS-Cov-2 at the border crossing point, which is not older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point). If third-country nationals have a test older than 48 hours when entering Croatia, they will be allowed to enter Croatia, however, they will be obligated to self-isolate and re-test themselves in Croatia at their own expense. Persons who do not present a negative PCR result are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine / self-isolation measure.

In addition, all travellers are advised to fill out the form on the ENTERCROATIA website. Individual requests for border-crossing and requirements can be communicated in advance via e-mail to uzg.covid@mup.hr and will be addressed in the shortest possible timeframe.

Mandatory Travel Documentation
Before entering the country, all travellers must complete the EnterCroatia form.

Links to relevant national sources
Recommendations and instructions for crossing the border
Lifting travel restrictions on Croatian borders

Driving abroad

Source: https://reopen.europa.eu/en/map/HRV

Compulsory quarantine or self-isolation for travellers arriving from specific countries

Required 14-day quarantine or self-imposed isolation, list of countries and exemptions available on the website of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

End date: not available

Further information: http://www.mvep.hr/en/info-servis/press-releases/coronavirus-control-str...

Temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times

Croatia has notified a temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times for the drivers of vehicles engaged in goods transport. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006. It will apply to those drivers involved in domestic and international freight transport of carriage of products consisting of life and health, such as the distribution of food and related industries, including the distribution of fuels, the transport of raw materials, food for life and animal life, the transport of medicines and medical equipment, the distribution of equipment to hospitals and other public institutions.

Start date: 18.03.2020

End date: 16.04.2020

Remarks from the International Road Transport Union

30.06.2020

As of 7 May, the requirement for international goods drivers to quarantine upon arrival does not apply anymore.

As of 11 May, citizens from Slovenia, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany and Poland, can enter Croatia without restrictions and without having to prove the reasons for their travel. Citizens from other EU countries can enter Croatia, provided they are able to prove the reason for their travel. More information can be found here.

As of 16 May, Goods drivers transiting through Croatia must only use the motorways. In case the driver crosses the border on secondary roads, he must take the shortest route to the motorway to successfully conclude his transit through the country. Stopping at rest areas is allowed with the obligation of observing physical distancing, both indoor and outdoor.

As of 10 June, maritime border crossing points have been reopened.

On 24 June, the Croatian government announced new measures to contain the spread of the virus. As of 00:00 of 25 July, masks are compulsory on public transport (both for passengers and drivers); passengers not complying with the provision will not be allowed to take the public transport. More information on rules applying to public transport operations can be found here and here.

The government has also set out a special regime for some people entering Croatia: individuals coming from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Serbia and North Macedonia, have to self-isolate for 14 days upon entering the country. The measure does not apply to passengers transiting through Croatia. People transiting through Croatia, to reach a neighbouring country, must check the Ministry of Interior website to learn whether they are eligible to enter Croatia. Once travelling, people must have evidence of their status and eligibility to enter that country before Croatia can permit their entry for transit.

Non-EU/EEA nationals are banned from entering Croatia until 30 June. Transport workers are exempt from this provision.

Source: Croatian government

20.04.2020

On 18 April, the Croatian Government took the decision to abolish the convoy method for transit operations in Croatia.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia

31.03.2020

Commercial road transport

According to the latest exchange (25 and 26 March) with the Croatian authorities, the current situation is the following:

· There are no limitations to transit at the border crossings when using green lanes, as defined by the European Commission communication(see Annex 1 and the green lanes map). Green lanes are open for both transit (in convoys of 50 trucks) and the unloading of trucks in Croatia;

· With regards to the paper documents, Croatia is following the European Commission communication on the implementation of green lanes in order to demonstrate their flexibility;

· Convoys are formed on the Slovenian border crossings with Austria and Italy. For goods in transit, they continue driving in convoy across the Croatian border but still within the country, up until the border of the next destination country.

· There is no convoy for goods delivered inside Croatia.

The contact point for the relevant Croatian authority is uprava.infrastruktura@mmpi.hr.

Temporary and limited relaxation of the enforcement of driving and rest times

Croatia has reported a temporary and limited relaxation in the enforcement rules regarding driving and rest times for drivers of vehicles engaged in goods transport. This relaxation is granted pursuant to Article 14(2) of Regulation (EC) No 561/2006. It applies to those drivers involved in the domestic and international freight transport of essential items, in particular those related to the distribution of food, animal feed, fuel, the transport of raw materials, medicines and medical equipment, the distribution of equipment to hospitals and other public institutions.

Start date: 18.03.2020

End date: 16.04.2020

Source: European Commission website at https://ec.europa.eu/transport/coronavirus-response_en& https://ec.europa.eu/transport/sites/transport/files/temporary-relaxation-drivers-covid.pdf.

General information for travellers

There is a compulsory 14-day quarantine or self-isolation measure in place for travellers arriving from specific countries(list available here; Italian citizens included).

The following are exempt from the implementation of this measure:

· Healthcare professionals, healthcare researchers and collaborators, experts in care for the elderly, and persons requiring urgent medical treatment;

· Cross-border workers;

· Goods carriers and other transport personnel, to the extent necessary;

· Diplomats, police officers while carrying out their duties, civil defence services and teams, international organisation staff and international military personnel while carrying out their duties;

· Passengers in transit.

The above mentioned exempt persons will be subject to the instructions and measures adopted by the CIPH.