Visa regime

Due to incorrect or incomplete information appearing in the media lately, here are once again all of the relevant facts

Due to incorrect or incomplete information appearing in the media lately, here are once again all of the relevant facts:

·         Croatia was obliged to adapt its visa regime to the common EU visa policy three months before the entry, which was done on 1 April 2013.

·         Visas are issued within five workdays or within three workdays in emergency procedures, as in Croatian embassies so in all other embassies of the EU member states in Russia and Ukraine.

·         None of the EU member states issue visas at the border or on the internet. The internet is being used for some of the steps, but not for the entire visa issuance procedure.

·         The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and the Ministry of Tourism have conducted detailed preparations and held meetings with Russian tourist agencies to familiarize them with the new visa issuance system. That included several presentations for Croatian travel agencies and businessmen, as well as Russian tourist agencies in Moscow.

·         Visa centres have been or are being opened throughout Russia.

·         The Croatian Embassy in Moscow is taking visa applications workdays until 19.00 hours, Saturdays and holidays, and if necessary Sundays.

·         Documents and information required when submitting the visa application are the same as those required by other EU member states.

·         Travel medical insurance is not required for each person individually in case there is a group insurance.

·         Croatia cannot issue a Schengen visa as it is not part of the Schengen Area.

·         Diplomatic missions and consular post are instructed to issue multiple-entry visas due to the possibility of taking a trip to Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, or passing through the Neum Corridor.

Croatian Embassy in Moscow

·         24,057 visas issued from 1 April to 18 June (305 a day on average)

·         6436 visas were issued from 10 to 18 June alone

·         from 16 to 21 June 1000 applications from the agencies and around 250 individual applications are expected daily

·         on 17 June 1003 visas were issued

Croatian Embassy in Kiev

·         from 1 January to 18 June 6133 applications were received and 6002 visas were issued

·         from 10 to 18 June 1754 visas were issued

Russian and Ukrainian citizens have always needed a visa for entering Croatia, but during the last several years the visa regime was being suspended from April until November, which as of 1 April 2013 we are unable to implement due to the common visa policy. 

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