Family members of citizens of EEA/Switzerland, who are nationals of third countries

Family members of citizens of European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, who are nationals of third countries, are entitled to free movement in accordance with Directive 2004/38/EC of 29 April 2004, which the Republic of Croatia transferred into her national legislation.

A family member of a citizen of EEA/Switzerland can travel without a short-term visa to Croatia if he/she has a valid passport and a valid identification card called "Residence card of a family member of a Union citizen", and if he/she travels with or joins the family member who is citizen of EEA/Switzerland.

If a family member of a citizen of EEA/Switzerland does not have such card, he/she needs a Croatian short-term visa.

In cases when family members of the EEA/Swiss citizens travel with or are joining a family member who is an EEA/Swiss citizen, and they require a short-term visa, they are given a priority appointment for submission of short-term visa application directly at the Embassy/Consulate. Such applications are processed in expedited procedure, without charging short-term visa fee, and with minimum documentation: short-term visa application form, valid passport, photo, and proof of family relationship with a citizen of EEA/Switzerland.

For all other travel purposes, i.e. when they are not travelling with or joining a family member who is an EEA/Swiss citizen, short-term visa application procedure is standard, and visa fee is charged.

The text of Directive 2004/38/EC is available here:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:02004L0038-20110616&qid=1460703510422&from=EN