Croatia Visa for Indians

Croatia, the land of scenic pebbled beaches, hidden coves, sapphire clear waters, picturesque towns and spectacular scenery, never disappoints travellers.

Until December 31st, 2022, Indian nationals wishing to travel to Croatia needed a proper Croatia visa. However, from January 1st, 2023, Croatia joined the list of Schengen countries. All the regulations and requirements pertaining to Schengen visas now apply to Croatia. With the addition of Croatia, the Schengen member nations now stand at 27.

**Indian nationals must have a Schengen Visa to travel to Croatia. **

With a Croatia Schengen visa, you can visit this beautiful destination without going through multiple border checks and applying for a country-specific visa.

A short-stay visa of not more than 90 days must be applied for tourism or business purposes. Remember, the facility for Croatia visas on arrival for Indian nationals is not available.

You can apply for single-entry, double-entry, or multiple-entry visas for Croatia and the other Schengen nations. This visa is issued as a visa sticker on the passport.

Upon arrival to Croatia, Indian nationals may be required to present the following travel and identification documents as mandatory entry requirements:

• A valid passport or travel document

• A valid visa (Schengen or Croatian visa)

• Travel Medical Insurance

• Proof of adequate funds for your intended stay in the country.

• Proof of accommodation

• Round-trip ticket

Unfortunately, there is no Croatian visa on arrival for Indians.

Croatia is the latest member to join the Schengen area. Hence, all the rules applicable to Schengen nations also apply to Croatia. One can enter the country only with valid documents, including a visa.

If you're planning for a trip that encompasses both the beauty of the mountains and the serenity of the beaches, Croatia it is. However, before you book your tickets, know about the type of visa you must apply for. Generally, the type of Croatia visa for Indians is the duration of the stay and intent of the visit.

Let us look at some Schengen visa types you can apply for.

Short-stay Schengen Visa (up to 90 days in 180 days)

Also called a C-visa, this visa is issued for different purposes for a stay duration not exceeding 90 days within 180 days. This visa type can be further subdivided into:**

Tourist Visa: A Croatia tourist visa for Indians is issued to individuals who wish to spend time in tourism and leisure activities in Croatia.

Business Visa: Individuals who want to visit the country for business and related activities in Croatia can apply for this visa.

Medical Treatment Visa: Individuals visiting Croatia to obtain medical care like medical treatment, surgery or other health-related reasons from a hospital or clinic based in Croatia can apply for this visa type.

Cultural events, sports and film crew Visa: Issued to individuals visiting Croatia for cultural activities like artistic performances, participation in a festival, sports event, etc.

Visitor Visa: Indian nationals visiting their family or friends based in Croatia must apply for a visitor's visa.

Official Visit Visa: Indian delegations travelling to Croatia on official visits require this visa.

Student Visa: Students enrolling for a course in Croatia not exceeding 90 days can only apply for this short-term study visa.

Long-term Schengen Visa (over 90 days)

This is a long-stay national visa, also called a D-type visa. Any foreign national, including Indian, wishing to stay in Croatia for study, employment, or other purpose for more than 90 days but up to 1 year must apply for a national D-type visa. These can be further classified into:**

• Individuals intend to visit the country for long-term tourism or private visits.

• Individuals undertaking professional activities for a period of up to 1 year

• Students who wish to participate in a training program or complete an internship

• Individuals are visiting the country for a longer duration for family reasons.

When applying for a short-term visa for Croatia, below are the standard document requirements for Indian nationals. These documents must be submitted to the Croatian embassy or consulate.

• Duly filled in and signed a short-term visa application form.

• 2 recent photographs should not be older than three months and must be taken according to the specifications and requirements listed by the authority

• A valid passport must contain at least two blank pages to affix the Croatia visa sticker. The passport must be at most 10 years old and valid for at least 3 months from the intended departure date.

• A cover letter explaining the reason for the visit and providing further details about the trip

• Proof of return is a round-trip flight itinerary mentioning the entry and exit date from the country and the Schengen area.

• Proof of accommodation giving details on your intended place to stay, i.e., hotel reservations, invitation with the name and contact details of the inviting person, etc.

• Proof of sufficient financial means like bank statements, international bank cards, etc. The Croatian Immigration Office specifies that an individual must attest to possessing €95 per day if the accommodation is in a regular hotel and €45 if planning to stay in a cheaper option.

• Schengen travel insurance policy with a minimum €30,000 covers medical emergencies and repatriation coverage in the event of death.

• Proof of civil status may include an individual's birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.

• Copies of previous visas (if any).

The short-term Croatia Schengen visa application can be made at an embassy, consulate or visa application centre (VAC). Sometimes, Croatian visa processing time in India may be longer. Hence, having your visa in advance would be better to avoid disappointment.

If you plan to visit only Croatia, you can submit the visa application to the Croatian embassy, consulate or visa application centre here in India. However, the procedure may differ if you plan to visit multiple countries. It must be noted that there is no facility for Croatian visas on arrival for Indian citizens.

Step 1: Find which visa type is applicable depending on your purpose of visit.

Step 2: Know where to apply for a Croatian visa. You can apply for a short-term Croatia visa to the following authorities:**

Croatian Embassy or Consulate

Visa Application Center

Step 3: Once you know where to submit your application and documents, take a Croatia visa appointment. Booking a Croatia visa appointment is mandatory since you cannot enter the embassy/ consulate without a proper appointment. Select your preferred date, time and centre of the visa interview.

Step 4: Fill in the complete visa application form and prepare the documents as per the checklist. Confirm with the authorities any changes in the documents to be submitted, etc.

Step 5: The applicant must be personally present at the embassy or VAC on the appointment day. You must provide your biometric data, apply, and all the documents for processing your application.

Step 6: The interview is usually short and is taken to understand the purpose of your visit.

Step 7: Once done with the entire process, pay the relevant fee.

The standard Croatia visa processing time in India is 60 days from the day of receipt of the application. The processing time starts once the application is submitted to the embassy.

You can submit your visa application 6 months prior to your planned trip/journey.

The Croatia visa fees for Indians are paid at the time of application submission at The Croatian Embassy, consulate or visa application centre. This fee is non-refundable and must be fully paid to process the application.

Disclaimer: These fee amounts were taken on 11/08/2023 at 5:00 pm from the official Schengen Visa Information website.

These fees are in accordance with current conversion rates. However, please note that the fee amounts are subject to change. Always check current visa fee rates from the official embassy website before proceeding.

Is travel insurance mandatory to visit Croatia from India?

Since Croatia is now a Schengen member, the rules pertaining to this area also apply to Croatia. A travel insurance policy is a must to visit Croatia, and the minimum travel insurance coverage must be EUR 30,000.

Here are some main reasons to buy a travel insurance policy for Croatia.

Mandatory requirement: To apply for a short-term Croatia Schengen visa, you must have minimum travel insurance of EUR 30,000 covering all medical expenses, including repatriation.

Medical emergencies: Your travel health insurance shall cover expenses arising from hospitalisation costs, treatment costs, emergency repatriation on medical grounds, or death.

Healthcare cost: The healthcare facility offered in Croatia's public and private sectors is considered good. But, since the overall cost of living in Croatia is higher than in India, the healthcare sector is no exception. Treatment and hospitalisation costs are relatively high, especially compared to Indian standards.

Benefits of Getting Croatia Travel Insurance from Tata AIG

Are you planning to buy a travel insurance plan for your trip to Croatia? Consider purchasing it from Tata AIG to reduce the financial risks due to any unforeseen incident during your travel. Our comprehensive travel insurance plan offers coverage for medical emergencies, loss of baggage and passport, trip curtailment and cancellation, and COVID-19 if diagnosed with the virus during your Croatia trip.

With our user-friendly website, you can easily compare, purchase or initiate travel insurance claims online with just a few simple steps. Moreover, you need not undergo any pre-policy health check-ups.

International travel insurance for Croatia from Tata AIG starts at ₹40.82 per day*; you can use our travel insurance premium calculator to know your expected premium.

Information last updated Jan '23. While this information is sourced reliably, visa requirements can change. For the most current visa details, visit the official Consulate/Embassy website.