VISA ISSUANCE PROCEDURE

Visas shall be submitted to the:

VFS Global Visa Application Centre in Pristina
Adress: Lidhja e Prizrenit No 22, Pristina
tel: +38338411127
E-mail: info.croatiakosovo@vfshelpline.com
website: www.vfsglobal.com/Croatia/Kosovo/

Important notes and warnings:

  • Submitting a visa application, including all the required documents, does not automatically mean that the visa will be issued.
  • An issued visa is not a guarantee that a foreign citizen will be permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia. On every crossing of the border, the police may require the foreign citizen to present a photocopy of the Letter of Guarantee in case of both private and business visits, and it is therefore recommendable to carry the Letter of Guarantee, as well as the proof of having sufficient funds, in hand baggage.
  • The decision to refuse a visa, indicating reasons for such a decision, shall be delivered to the applicant in a visa refusal/annulment/revocation form.
  • A foreign citizen may file a complaint against the decision to refuse a visa through the competent Embassy/Consulate of the Republic of Croatia, within 15 days from the date of receipt of the decision on visa refusal/annulment/revocation. The complaint shall be filed in the Croatian langauge.. The fee for non-European countries is 320,00 HRK or 43 EUR, according to Section 62 of the Regulation on Administrative Fees.
  • The visa application fee is non-refundable once the application has been accepted at the Embassy/Consulate.
  • An Embassy/Consulate may invite the applicant to an additonal interview; request submission of  further documents and/or certified translation of documents.
  • Any falsification of the documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Application: to be submitted no earlier than 3 months prior to the beginning of the planned journey. Foreigners must apply for a visa prior to their entry into the Republic of Croatia, at the competent Diplomatic Mission/Consular Post. If there is no Croatian Diplomatic Mission/Consular Post in the applicant's country, application may be submitted to the nearest Croatian Diplomatic Mission/Consular Post.

Applicant's presence: a visitor is to file an application in person. Exceptionally, in case of justified reasons, a visitor may not have to file an application in person, but shall be required to personally appear at the possible request of the Embassy/Consulate.

Exceptionally, indirect application for visas can be accepted in case the application is submitted for large /larger groups who travel with the purpose of participation in cultural, sport, scientific and economic events, provided that respectable and reliable body can verify authenticity of the persons from the group.

Processing: the application will be decided on within 15 days from the date of submission of the application, and this period may be extended to 30 or 60 days for justified reasons. If the application is submitted less than 15 days prior to the planned journey, the Embassy/Consulate shall not be liable for the duration of the processing procedure.

 

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

1. On-line Visa Application Form can be filled out online at https://crovisa.mvep.hr/. Once filled out, the form is to be printed, signed by the applicant under the number 37 and at the end of the application form (or a parent or legal guardian on behalf of minors). The example of a properly completed application form can be viewed here.

2. Applicant's passport: issued within the last 10 years, with expiry date exceeding the expiry date of the requested visa by a minimum of three months, and containing at least two empty pages. Copy of all used pages of the valid passport and, if exist, of previous passports (personal information pages, pages with visas or stamps, etc.) shall be submitted.

3. Face photograph: in colour, 35x45 mm; the person is to be captured with neutral facial expression, with his/her eyes open and mouth closed. The photograph of a person, who for religious or medical reasons is wearing a head cover, must show the person's cheeks, chin and forehead.

4. Travel health insurance to cover the possible expenses related to repatriation, for health reasons, urgent medical assistance and/or urgent hospitalization, with the minimum coverage of EUR 30 000 and valid in Croatia. The insurance must remain valid during the entire stay of the visitor in Croatia.

The applicant for a multiple-entry visa must have travel health-insurance policy that covers the period of the first visit to Croatia.

5. Proof of residence: visitors staying temporarily in another state should submit a photocopy of the stay permit.

6. Means of transportation and intention to return to the country of residence: return travel ticket for airplane, bus, or boat; registration card and driver's license if travelling by car; If the person is travelling to a third country, then proof of itinerary (travel ticket, etc.).

7. Proof of the purpose of stay in Croatia:

  • Tourist visit: certificate of a paid tourist package, booking of a hotel or other accommodation etc.;
  • Private or business visit: Letter of Guarantee in original or copy if deposited at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Zagreb
  • Visitors travelling on an invitation of a Croatian state authority, or to an international event of public interest, or to attend an event organized under the sponsorship of the Croatian Parliament, the President of the Republic of Croatia or the Government of the Republic of Croatia: Letter of Invitation;
  • Members of the immediate family of a Croatian citizen and a citizen of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland: Certificate from the Register of Births or Marriages and a photocopy of the ID card/passport of the Croatian citizen or the EEA citizen;
  • The Kosovo issueed Birth Certificate or the Marriage Certificate has to be verified by the „Apostille“ stamp by the Agency for Civil Registration of Citizens of the Republic of Kosovo.
  • For any other stays, other proofs are required.

8. Visa fee: payable when applying for a visa.

Persons exempt from visa fee:

  • Members of the immediate family of a Croatian citizen (spouse and children),
  • Members of families of citizens of EU Member States and EEA, and Switzerland who travel with them or are joining them,
  • Children up to the age of 12,
  • Holders of diplomatic and service passports travelling in official capacity,
  • Pupils, students, postgraduate students and teachers accompanying them when traveling to school, university and professional training,
  • Researchers travelling to do research as noted in Recommendation 2005/761/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 28 September 2005,
  • Visiting teachers and associates on higher educational institutions who participate in the implementation of a study program,
  • Foreign researchers who are guests by the scientific organizations for the purpose of the work on scientific research or who participate in implementing study programs,
  • Representatives of non-profit organizations up to the age of 25 travelling to attend seminars, conferences, sport, culture or educational events organized by non-profit organizations.

9. Funds available to support oneself during the stay in Croatia and to return to the state of residence or to travel to a third state: equivalent of EUR 70 per day of the planned stay in Croatia. If a visitor has a certified Letter of Guarantee from a natural or legal person from Croatia, (s)he shall present the proof of a paid tourist package or similar document, the proof that (s)he carries funds equivalent to EUR 30 per day of the planned stay in Croatia.

Exceptionally, if a visitor has a certified Letter of Guarantee from a natural or legal person from Croatia showing that the guarantor is fully accepting all the expenses related to visiting and departing from Croatia, (s)he shall be exempt from the requirement to present the proof of having sufficient funds available.

The supporting documents may include: pay slip and/or bank account statements about the balance and transactions on your bank account in the last three months, a pension slip, proof of scholarship received etc.

Visa applicant, who submits a visa application directly at the Embassy, can make the payment of the consular fee at the Raiffeisen Bank branch or directly through the e-banking system to the Embassy's account at Raiffeisen Bank.

Bank props:

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA - XK051501090000483909
CONSULAR TAXES - XK051501090001325772 
SWIFT: RBKOXKPRXXX

 

10. The applicant shall also submit an appropriate certificate of his/her social and professional status: certificate of employment, certificate of school attendance, certificate from the companies register for tradesmen etc. For minors and persons without their own resources, an authenticated certificate shall be submitted stating that a parent or other person shall cover the expenses, with a proof of the social and professional status of the person offering to cover the expenses and a proof that such a person has the resources.

11. Availability of accommodation: booking hotel, private or other accommodation, real estate title deed or lease, proof of ownership or lease of a boat etc. Accommodation can be provided by the guarantor or the inviting party if so indicated in the Letter of Guarantee or the Letter of Invitation.

12. For minors, a legal guardian shall submit the following: birth certificate verified by the „Apostille“ stamp by the Agency for Civil Registration of Citizens of the Republic of Kosovo, if the parents are the legal guardians, or the decision of the competent authority on appointing the legal guardian. If a minor is traveling without a legal guardian, (s)he must submit a notarized consent of a legal guardian that shall contain personal information of the legal guardian and the purpose, the period and length of stay in Croatia, the period for which the consent is issued, and the signature of the legal guardian.

The documents attached shall not be older than three months. Please be aware that the Embassy does not return original documents that have been submitted with the application. In order to keep the originals, please submit them together with their copies.