Published: 04.05.2021.

Recommendations and instructions for crossing the state border

The Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia adopted the Decision on the temporary ban and restriction of crossing the state border at the border crossings of the Republic of Croatia. However, in accordance with the guidelines of the competent authorities, exceptions have been made as follows. Passengers travelling to the Republic of Croatia from an EU / EEA member state  Passengers coming directly from the countries and / or regions of the European Union, i.e. countries and / or regions of the Schengen Area and Schengen associated countries, and <a href="https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/situation-updates/weekly-maps-coordinated-restriction-free-movement">who are currently in the so-called green list of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control</a>, regardless of their citizenship, will be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia under the same conditions as before the onset of the COVID-19 disease if they show no signs of disease and they have not been in close contact with an infected person. If the aforementioned persons transited to the border crossing points of the Republic of Croatia through other countries / regions without delay, at the border crossing point they should prove that they did not stay in transit areas and in that case, they will not be required to have proof of testing, a certificate of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 disease, proof of recovery, nor will they have to stay in self-isolation. All other passengers who come to the Republic of Croatia from EU / EEA member states / regions, and <a href="https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/covid-19/situation-updates/weekly-maps-coordinated-restriction-free-movement">which are currently not on the so-called green list of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control</a>, must present one of the following documents:   <ul> <li style="text-align: justify;"> negative PCR test or rapid antigen test - RAT* on SARS-CoV-2, where the RAT test must be listed in the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/preparedness_response/docs/covid-19_rat_common-list_en.pdf">Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union</a>, published by the European Commission. If the RAT test findings were made abroad, the manufacturer and/or the commercial name of the test must be visible and the test must be issued by a health institution / laboratory and signed / confirmed by a doctor. If otherwise, it will not be accepted as credible for entering the Republic of Croatia. The results of the above tests must not be older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point)</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> vaccination certificate for persons who received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine more than 14 days prior. Exceptionally, in the case of a vaccine received in a single dose, a certificate of receipt of a single dose if the dose was received more than 14 days before crossing the state border;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> if a person has recovered COVID-19 and has a medical certificate or a positive PCR or rapid antigen test (RAT) and has been vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine after recovery, the exemption from presenting a negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT* or self-isolation is extended until five (5) months after vaccination;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> presentation of a positive PCR or rapid antigen test, confirming that the holder recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, which was performed in the previous 180 days, and older than 11 days from the date of arrival at the border crossing point or upon presentation of a certificate of recovery issued by a physician;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> or perform PCR testing or rapid antigen testing on SARS-CoV-2 immediately upon arrival in the Republic of Croatia (at their own expense), with the obligation to stay in self-isolation until the arrival of a negative test result. If testing cannot be performed, a measure of self-isolation is determined for a period of ten (10) days.</li> </ul> The following categories are exempted from the above-mentioned obligations: <ol> <li style="text-align: justify;"> workers or self-employed persons performing essential tasks, including healthcare workers, frontier and posted workers and seasonal workers as specified in the <a href="https://mup.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/2020/COVID-19%20smjernice/CELEX_52020XC0330(03)_HR_TXT.pdf">Guidelines concerning  the exercise of the free movement of workers during COVID-19 outbreak </a>provided they do not stay in the Republic of Croatia or outside the Republic of Croatia for longer than 12 hours;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> pupils, students and interns;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> seafarers and workers in the transport sector or transport service providers, including heavy goods vehicle drivers transporting goods to be used in the national territory and those in transit only;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> diplomats, staff of international organizations and persons invited by international organizations and whose physical presence is necessary for the functioning of those organizations, military personnel and police officers, as well as humanitarian and civil protection personnel in the performance of their duties;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> persons traveling for necessary family or business reasons, including journalists in the performance of their duties;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> passengers in transit with the obligation to leave the Republic of Croatia within 12 hours from entry;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> patients traveling for necessary health reasons.</li> </ol> The provisions regarding frontier workers apply adequately to other categories of passengers who, due to the nature of their job or occupation, need to cross the state border frequently (e.g. athletes playing for clubs in a neighbouring country). Passengers who represent one of the previously mentioned exceptions are obliged to present credible documentation upon entering the Republic of Croatia in order to prove the reasons for the exemption. Citizens of EU / EEA member states as well as members of their families traveling to the Republic of Croatia from third countries, i.e. those that are not members of the EU / EEA Citizens of EU Member States (including Croatian citizens), i.e. Schengen Member States and Schengen Associated States, as well as members of their families and third-country nationals who are long-term residents under Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents and persons entitled to reside under other EU directives or national law or who have national long-term visas coming from third countries, upon entering the Republic of Croatia must present one of the following documents: <ul> <li style="text-align: justify;"> negative PCR test or rapid antigen test - RAT* on SARS-CoV-2, where the RAT test must be listed in the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/preparedness_response/docs/covid-19_rat_common-list_en.pdf">Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union</a>, published by the European Commission. If the RAT test findings were made abroad, the manufacturer and/or the commercial name of the test must be visible and the test must be issued by a health institution / laboratory and signed / confirmed by a doctor. If otherwise, it will not be accepted as credible for entering the Republic of Croatia. The results of the above tests must not be older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point);</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> vaccination certificate for persons who received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine more than 14 days prior. Exceptionally, in the case of a vaccine received in a single dose, a certificate of receipt of a single dose if the dose was received more than 14 days before crossing the state border;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> If a person has recovered COVID-19 and has a medical certificate or a positive PCR or rapid antigen test (RAT) and has been vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine after recovery, the exemption from presenting a negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT or self-isolation is extended until five (5) months after vaccination;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> presentation of a positive PCR or rapid antigen test, confirming that the holder recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, which was performed in the previous 180 days, and older than 11 days from the date of arrival at the border crossing point or upon presentation of a certificate of recovery issued by a physician;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> or perform PCR testing or rapid antigen testing on SARS-CoV-2 immediately upon arrival in the Republic of Croatia (at their own expense), with the obligation to stay in self-isolation until the arrival of a negative test result. If testing cannot be performed, a measure of self-isolation is determined for a period of ten (10) days.</li> </ul>   The exceptions to the above-mentioned obligations are the following categories: <ol> <li style="text-align: justify;"> healthcare workers, health researchers and caregivers for the elderly;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> frontier workers (as well as e.g. athletes as stated in the exceptions for passengers within the EU / EEA);</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> workers in the transport sector;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> diplomats, staff of international organizations and persons invited by international organizations and whose physical presence is necessary for the functioning of those organizations, military personnel and police officers, as well as humanitarian and civil protection personnel in the performance of their duties;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> passengers in transit, with the obligation to leave the Republic of Croatia within 12 hours from entering;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> persons travelling for study purposes;</li> <li style="text-align: justify;"> passengers travelling for necessary personal / family or business reasons or some other economic reason and do not stay in or out of Croatia longer than 12 hours.</li> </ol> Persons who represent one of the previously mentioned exceptions are obliged to present credible documentation upon entering the Republic of Croatia in order to prove the reasons for exemption from having one of the above-mentioned tests / having to self-isolate. Third-country nationals Third-country nationals who are not family members of citizens of Schengen Member States and Schengen Associated States nor are long-term residents under Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents and persons entitled to reside under other EU directives or national law or who have national long-term visas, apart from persons referred to in point 1 of this Decision will be granted entry in the Republic of Croatia only in cases of necessary travel. Exceptions to the above-mentioned necessary travel are the following categories:  1.  healthcare workers, health researchers and caregivers for the elderly; 2. frontier workers (as well as e.g. athletes as stated in the exceptions for passengers within the EU / EEA); 3. workers in the transport sector; 4. diplomats, staff of international organizations and persons invited by international organizations and whose physical presence is necessary for the functioning of those organizations, military personnel and police officers, as well as humanitarian and civil protection personnel in the performance of their duties; 5. passengers in transit, with the obligation to leave the Republic of Croatia within 12 hours from entering; 6. persons travelling for study purposes; 7. seafarers - if they intend to stay in the Republic of Croatia for longer than 12 hours, entry will be allowed with a negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT on SARS-CoV-2, where the RAT* test must be listed in the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/preparedness_response/docs/covid-19_rat_common-list_en.pdf">Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union</a>, published by the European Commission. If the RAT test findings were made abroad, the manufacturer and/or the commercial name of the test must be visible and the test must be issued by a health institution / laboratory and signed / confirmed by a doctor. If otherwise, it will not be accepted as credible for entering the Republic of Croatia. The results of the above tests must not be older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point); presenting a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 for persons who have received the second dose of the vaccine more than 14 days prior. Exceptionally, if the vaccine is taken in only one dose, presentation of a positive PCR or rapid antigen test, confirming that the holder recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, which was performed in the previous 180 days, and older than 11 days from the date of arrival at the border crossing point or upon presentation of a certificate of recovery issued by a physician; or the person is obliged to perform PCR or rapid antigen testing on SARS-CoV-2 immediately upon arrival in the Republic of Croatia (at their own expense), with the obligation to stay in self-isolation until the arrival of a negative test result. If testing cannot be performed, a measure of self-isolation is determined for a period of ten (10) days; If a person has recovered COVID-19 and has a medical certificate or a positive PCR or rapid antigen test (RAT) and has been vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine after recovery, the exemption from presenting a negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT or self-isolation is extended until five (5) months after vaccination; 8. persons who travel for tourist reasons and 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, entry into the Republic of Croatia will be allowed upon presentation of one of the following documents: > negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT* on SARS-CoV-2, where the RAT test must be listed in the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/preparedness_response/docs/covid-19_rat_common-list_en.pdf" target="_blank">Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union, published by the European Commission</a>. If the RAT test findings were made abroad, the manufacturer and/or the commercial name of the test must be visible and the test must be issued by a health institution / laboratory and signed / confirmed by a doctor. If otherwise, it will not be accepted as credible for entering the Republic of Croatia. The results of the above tests must not be older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point); > vaccination certificate for persons who received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine more than 14 days prior. Exceptionally, in the case of a vaccine received in a single dose, a certificate of receipt of a single dose if the dose was received more than 14 days before crossing the state border; > if a person has recovered COVID-19 and has a medical certificate or a positive PCR or rapid antigen test (RAT) and has been vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine after recovery, the exemption from presenting a negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT* or self-isolation is extended until five (5) months after vaccination; > presentation of a positive PCR or rapid antigen test*, confirming that the holder recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, which was performed in the previous 180 days, and older than 11 days from the date of arrival at the border crossing point or upon presentation of a certificate of recovery issued by a physician; > or perform PCR or rapid antigen testing on SARS-CoV-2 immediately upon arrival in the Republic of Croatia (at their own expense), with the obligation to stay in self-isolation until the arrival of a negative test result. If testing cannot be performed, a measure of self-isolation is determined for a period of ten (10) days; 9. persons traveling for essential personal / family or business reasons, or who have other economic interest (if they intend to stay in the Republic of Croatia longer than 12 hours) will be allowed to enter the Republic of Croatia upon presentation of one of the following documents: > negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT* on SARS-CoV-2, where the RAT test must be listed in the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/preparedness_response/docs/covid-19_rat_common-list_en.pdf" target="_blank">Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union, published by the European Commission</a>. If the RAT test findings were made abroad, the manufacturer and/or the commercial name of the test must be visible and the test must be issued by a health institution / laboratory and signed / confirmed by a doctor. If otherwise, it will not be accepted as credible for entering the Republic of Croatia. The results of the above tests must not be older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point); > vaccination certificate for persons who received a second dose of COVID-19 vaccine more than 14 days prior. Exceptionally, in the case of a vaccine received in a single dose, a certificate of receipt of a single dose if the dose was received more than 14 days before crossing the state border; > if a person has recovered COVID-19 and has a medical certificate or a positive PCR or rapid antigen test (RAT) and has been vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine after recovery, the exemption from presenting a negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT* or self-isolation is extended until five (5) months after vaccination; > presentation of a positive PCR or rapid antigen test*, confirming that the holder recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 virus infection, which was performed in the previous 180 days, and older than 11 days from the date of arrival at the border crossing point or upon presentation of a certificate of recovery issued by a physician; > or perform PCR or rapid antigen testing on SARS-CoV-2 immediately upon arrival in the Republic of Croatia (at their own expense), with the obligation to stay in self-isolation until the arrival of a negative test result. If testing cannot be performed, a measure of self-isolation is determined for a period of ten (10) days;  10. persons for whom a positive decision of the competent authority has been made, based on their application for residence / work, including digital nomads.   Passengers who represent one of the previously mentioned exceptions are obliged to present credible documentation upon entering the Republic of Croatia in order to prove the reasons for the exemption of having one of the stated test results / having to self-isolate. Passengers from the countries covered by the <a href="https://www.hzjz.hr/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Popis-država-za-koje-se-pri-dolasku-u-Republiku-Hrvatsku-primjenjuju-posebne-epidemiološke-mjere.pdf">list of countries of the Croatian Institute of Public Health</a> 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 authorised to conduct testing and if the test result is negative. 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) directly coming from countries covered by currently valid amendments to 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, can travel to the Republic of Croatia without restrictions and they will not be asked to present a test or vaccination certificates, proof of having recovered from the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, nor will they be obliged to self-isolate. During their stay in the Republic of Croatia, they are obliged to adhere to the general and special recommendations and instructions of the Croatian Institute of Public Health. The aforementioned persons, who transited through other countries / regions to the border crossings of the Republic of Croatia without delays need to prove at the border crossing point that they did not stay in the transit areas. Persons travelling to the Republic of Croatia for humanitarian reasons related to providing assistance to the areas affected by the earthquake Persons travelling to the Republic of Croatia for humanitarian reasons related to providing assistance to the areas affected by the earthquake (Sisak-Moslavina County, Karlovac County and Zagreb County), regardless of their citizenship and the area from which they arrive, are allowed to enter the Republic of Croatia based on the previous consent of the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia. These persons will not need to present test or vaccination certificates, proof of having recovered from the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, nor will they be obliged to self-isolate. General Notes If the passenger’s validity of the PCR or rapid antigen test for SARS-CoV-2 of 48 hours expired during the border control at the entrance to the Republic of Croatia or they do not have the PCR test at all and they meet other conditions of entry, they will be allowed to enter the Republic of Croatia, provided that they immediately get a PCR or RAT test in the Republic of Croatia at their own expense, with the obligation to stay in self-isolation until they receive a negative test result. If the person is unable to get one of the above-mentioned tests, the total duration of self-isolation is 10 days. The rapid antigen test – RAT is listed in the <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/preparedness_response/docs/covid-19_rat_common-list_en.pdf">Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union</a>, published by the European Commission. In addition to the tests from the Common list of rapid antigen tests recognized by the Member States of the European Union, the SARS-COV -2 ANTIGEN TEST KIT from the Chinese manufacturer SHENZEN ULTRA - DIAGNOSTIC BIOTEC Co., which is not on the list of approved RAT tests of the European Commission, is also accepted. If the RAT test findings were made abroad, the manufacturer and/or the commercial name of the test must be visible and the test must be issued by a health institution / laboratory and signed / confirmed by a doctor. If otherwise, it will not be accepted as credible for entering the Republic of Croatia. Lifting the measure of self-isolation (assigned at a border crossing point), upon receiving a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result: In such cases, passengers will be handed a leaflet at the border crossing point with instructions on how to proceed when they receive a negative result of a molecular PCR or a rapid antigen test (serological tests will NOT be recognized). The leaflet will contain the e-mail address of the border crossing point where the passenger was assigned a measure of self-isolation, and to which they will send a negative result of one of the previously mentioned tests, obtained by the health institution where the test was performed, in order to remove (delete) the assigned measure. These persons are required to be tested in the place of residence, i.e. domicile, where they are provided with conditions for self-isolation and wait for a negative PCR or rapid antigen test result there. Persons who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last six (6) months are exempt from the obligatory testing and self-isolation. To prove that they have recovered from COVID-19, passengers should have a positive PCR or rapid antigen test result that is older than 11 days but not older than 180 days from the time of sampling or confirmation that they have recovered from COVID-19 issued by a physician. Persons who received the second dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 (the first and only dose for the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) administered by Member States more than 14 days prior do not have to test and self-isolate. If a person has recovered COVID-19 and has a medical certificate or a positive PCR or rapid antigen test (RAT) and has been vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine after recovery, the exemption from presenting a negative PCR or rapid antigen test - RAT or self-isolation is extended until five (5) months after vaccination. Children under seven 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 negative PCR or RAT test result, i.e. if they have a certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 or proof of having recovered from COVID-19. Persons who have a negative PCR test or rapid antigen test made in the Republic of Croatia due to a short trip to our neighbouring or another country and who return to the Republic of Croatia within less than 48 hours from the date of testing, or within the validity of the test, will not be required to present a new PCR or a rapid antigen test result from the country where they stayed for a short time and will be allowed to enter upon presentation of a test made in the Republic of Croatia. Note: The necessary epidemiological measure of self-isolation is automatically determined for all passengers in transit, including personnel in the transport sector, if they do not leave the Republic of Croatia within 12 hours from the moment of entering the Republic of Croatia. When staying in the Republic of Croatia, all passengers, regardless of their category and country of origin, are obliged to follow the general and special instructions and recommendations of the Croatian Institute of Public Health.  In order to shorten the procedure at the border crossing point, we advise all foreign passengers, regardless of their citizenship, to fill the announcement in advance at <a href="https://entercroatia.mup.hr/">Enter Croatia</a>.

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