Published: 08.02.2021.

Temporary suspension of the routine visa services - update

In response to significant worldwide challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs temporarily suspended routine visa services at all Croatian Embassies and Consulates. Suspension does not apply to the following categories of persons: <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify"> family members of Croatian nationals;</li> </ol> <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="2"> family members of citizens of the European Union, European Economic Area and the Swiss Confederation; </li> </ol> NOTE: Family members referred to in points (a) and (b) are considered to be: - spouse, - common-law partner if the union lasts for three years or less if the stability and permanence of the union can be determined from other circumstances, - life or informal life partner, - direct descendants (sons, daughters, grandsons, granddaughters) of an EU / EEA / Swiss citizen and/or their spouse or partner under the age of 21; direct descendants over the age of 21 where they are dependent on an EU / EEA / Swiss Citizen and/or their spouse or partner; - adopted children of an EU / EEA / Swiss citizen and/or their spouse or partner under the age of 21; adopted children over the age of 21 where they are dependent on an EU / EEA / Swiss citizen and/or their spouse or partner. A family member may also be considered another family member who is in the country from which he/she comes the dependent member, a member of the household or is dependent on his/her personal care for serious health reasons. <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="3"> persons who have been granted temporary residence for the purposes referred to in Article 47 of the Aliens Act (Official Gazette of the Republic of Croatia, Nos. 130/11, 74/13, 69/17 and 46/18), or have been issued a residence and work permit in the Republic Croatia;</li> </ol> <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="4"> members of the immediate family of the persons referred to in point (c), if those persons are already in the Republic of Croatia and have been issued a residence card;</li> </ol> NOTE: The following are considered immediate family members of the persons referred to in point (c): - spouses, - common-law partner if the union lasts for three years or less if the stability and permanence of the union can be determined from other circumstances, - minor joint children of spouses and common-law partners, their minor adopted children and minor children of each of them, who have not started their own family, - parents or adoptive parents of minor children. <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="5"> healthcare professionals, healthcare researchers and experts in care for the elderly;</li> </ol> <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="6"> workers in the transport sector;</li> </ol> <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="7"> diplomats, staff of international organizations and persons invited by international organizations whose physical presence is necessary for the good functioning of those organizations, military personnel and police officers, as well as humanitarian and civil protection personnel in the performance of their duties;</li> </ol> <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="8"> passengers in transit, provided that they prove the possibility to enter the country of destination;</li> </ol> <ol style="list-style-type:lower-roman;"> <li style="text-align: justify"> seafarers;</li> </ol> <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="10"> persons travelling for study purposes;</li> </ol> <ol style="list-style-type:lower-alpha;"> <li style="text-align: justify" value="11"> persons traveling for urgent personal reasons, such as:</li> </ol> <ul> <li style="text-align: justify"> death of a family member - attendance to funeral,</li> <li style="text-align: justify"> serious and urgent health reasons provided that medical documentation and a hospital invitation is presented,</li> <li style="text-align: justify"> ownership of a real estate,</li> <li style="text-align: justify"> ownership of a vessel including lease.</li> </ul> Passengers covered by Annex I to Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction Passengers (regardless of their citizenship) coming directly from countries covered by Annex I to Council Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 of 28 January 2021 amending Recommendation (EU) 2020/912 on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction (Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, China and special administrative regions of the People’s Republic of China - Hong Kong and Macao), do not have to present a negative test result for SARS-CoV-2 nor are they subject to self-isolation if they have not been in close contact with an infected person and show no signs of disease.   At the border crossing point, the aforementioned persons, who transited to the border crossing points of the Republic of Croatia through other countries / regions without delay, should prove that they did not stay in transit areas and in that case, they will not be required to have a negative PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 not older than 48 hours nor stay in self-isolation. With reference to the aforementioned suspension of the routine visa services at Croatian Embassies and Consulates, the temporarily visa suspension does not apply to the following categories of persons: - citizens of Rwanda residing in Rwanda and who are travelling to Croatia from Rwanda; - citizens of Thailand residing in Thailand and who are travelling to Croatia from Thailand; - third country nationals (if they need an entry visa) who are long - term residents in Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea or Thailand, and who are travelling to Croatia from the aforementioned countries.

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