We're bringing you the regulations and recommendations issued by the Croatian government for travellers as of August 3, 2020.
Am I allowed to travel to Croatia?
The following people are allowed to travel to Croatia at this time:
- Croatian citizens and their immediate family members (spouses and children),
- EU citizens (no matter where their current place of residence is),
- Schengen citizens,
- family members of EU citizens,
- family members of Schengen citizens,
- those with the status of being permanent residents of the EU
- those with the status of being permanent Schengen residents
- those with other special statuses accorded by the EU (if you think this may apply to you, call a local government office to check)
- non-EU/Schengen country residents who are:
- health professionals, health researchers and associates, care professionals for the elderly and people requiring urgent medical treatment
- cross-border workers
- transporters of goods and other transport staff as necessary
- diplomats, police officers (if necessary to perform duties), civil protection agencies and teams, personnel of international organizations, and international military personnel (if necessary to perform their duties)
- passengers in transit
- travelling for tourism
- travelling for other business reasons, or who have another economic interest
- travelling for educational purposes
- travelling for urgent personal reasons (for example, they own real estate in Croatia) or have another urgent personal reason
Do I have to quarantine upon entry to Croatia?
The following groups do not have to quarantine upon entry to Croatia:
- Croatian citizens and their immediate family members (spouses and children)
- EU citizens (no matter where their current place of residence is),
- Schengen citizens,
- family members of EU citizens,
- family members of Schengen citizens,
- those with the status of being permanent residents of the EU
- those with the status of being permanent Schengen residents
- those with other special statuses accorded by the EU
Health surveillance with a 14-day quarantine/self-isolation period is mandatory for anyone entering Croatia from a non-EU/Schengen country for the following reason:
- travelling for urgent personal reasons (for example, they own real estate in Croatia) or have another urgent personal reason
The quarantine/self-isolation period can be shortened to seven days if you belong to this group IF you take a COVID-19 test (with nose and throat swab) at your own expense seven days after entering Croatia and consequently receive a negative PCR test for SARS-CoV-2.
The quarantine/self-isolation period does not automatically apply to the following people from non-EU/Schengen countries:
- health professionals, health researchers and associates, care professionals for the elderly and people requiring urgent medical treatment;
- cross-border workers;
- carriers of goods and other transport staff as necessary;
- diplomats, police officers if necessary to perform their duties, civil protection agencies and teams, personnel of international organizations and international military personnel in the performance of their duties;
- passengers in transit; [For passengers in transit who were granted the right to enter Croatia, the border police will check whether they have left the territory Croatia within 12 hours.]
- people travelling for tourism;
- people travelling for other business reasons or who have another economic interest;
- people travelling for educational purposes;
If you belong to one of these groups, you can enter Croatia without the obligation of quarantine/self-isolation IF you present a negative PCR test (of nasal and throat swabs) for SARS-CoV-2. The test cannot be older than 48 hours (counting from the time of swab to arrival at the border crossing).
The obligation of a 14-day quarantine/self-isolation period will apply if you do not present a negative PCR test result as outlined above.
If you're a non-EU/Schengen country national and you present a test older than 48 hours when entering Croatia (or your case is otherwise deemed an exemption by the Croatian authorities), you will still be allowed to enter Croatia. However, you'll have to self-isolate and re-test in Croatia at your own expense.
This rule can also be applied to passengers and crew members on yachts.
If you are put on the mandatory quarantine/self-isolation list, you can be removed from the list if:
- You present a negative PCR test taken after seven days upon arriving in Croatia
To facilitate ease of entry for anyone non-Croatian (or anyone not an immediate family member of a Croatian citizen), travellers should fill out the government-issued passenger information form found here and bring it with them to Croatia.
Additionally, have your confirmation of accommodation (with an address and length of stay visible) ready to present to authorities when you arrive in Croatia.
If I don't have to quarantine, what rules do I have to follow?
If you don't have to quarantine/self-isolate upon entering Croatia, you're obliged to adhere to the following measures during the first two weeks of your stay in Croatia:
- Leaving your place of accommodation is limited to necessity: for example, performing work if you have a business reason for entering Croatia, or performing other necessary activities. You still must take hygienic precautions when leaving out of necessity.
- If you do leave your home/place of accommodation our of necessity, it is recommended to: use a mask or cover for the nose and mouth, maintain physical distance from other people (a minimum of 1.5 metres), and to carry out hand hygiene.
- Wash your hands as often as possible with warm water and soap and/or use hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your face, mouth, nose and eyes.
- Avoid using public transportation. When in a means of transport, it is recommended for you to be alone or exclusively with people with whom you're sharing accommodation.
- Avoid groups and gatherings.
- During business meetings, as few people as possible should partake, a physical distance of 1.5 metres should be respected between all, disinfectants should be available, and unnecessary meetings should be avoided.
- Payments should be performed by cashless card payment or online services.
- Every morning, you must take your body temperature. If it's higher than 37.2 degrees Celsius, you must repeat the measurement after 10 minutes, and if your temperature is still higher than 37.2 degrees Celsius, then stay at home/inside your accommodation and contact a doctor in a designated tourist or COVID-19 clinic, that is, contact a local epidemiologist.
- In case of symptoms of acute respiratory infection (cough, sore throat, fever, shortness of breath or loss of sense of smell) stay at home/inside your accommodation and contact a doctor in a designated tourist or COVID-19 clinic, that is, contact a local epidemiologist.
- In case of sudden onset of severe, life-threatening symptoms, call emergency medical services at the following number: 194
When returning to your country of origin or travelling to another country from Croatia, refer to local governments for information. Keep in mind that Croatia has been listed as risky for travel by some countries, and you may be subject to quarantine or other regulations once you leave Croatia.