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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Travel
Molly Dowrick

Croatia holidays: Entry requirements, passport validity, visa and Covid rules explained

The weather is getting warmer by the day and the school summer holidays are almost within grasp. Many of us can't wait to get away from it all with a week or two in the sun.

Croatia has become more and more popular with British holidaymakers in recent years, thanks to its ancient ruins and gorgeous beaches. Whilst the country is open to visitors this summer, there are some passport validity rules in place - and travellers should be aware that entry requirement rules can change unexpectedly.

These are the entry requirements for people travelling from the UK to Croatia at the time of publication. It's always worth checking the UK Foreign Office website for the latest entry requirements, before you visit.

Read more: Spain holidays: Entry requirements, vaccine and boosters, passport validity and new drinking rules explained

Passport validity

To be eligible to enter Croatia, the UK Foreign Office explains that your passport must be issued less than 10 years before the date you enter the country (check the "date of issue") and valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave (check the "expiry date".

If your passport was issued before 1 October 2018, extra months may have been added to its expiry date - you should contact the Croatian embassy if you're unsure if your passport meets the requirements.

Do I need a visa?

You can travel to Croatia for up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa. This applies if you travel as a tourist, to visit family or friends, to attend business meetings, cultural or sports events, or for short-term studies or training, the Foreign Office says.

But if you want to stay for more than 90 days, whether that's for work, study, business or other reasons, you should check with the Croatian Embassy in London to see whether you need a visa and/or work permit.

Entry requirements

According to the UK Foreign Office, travellers entering Croatia no longer need to complete an online entry form before arriving in the country. Travellers are also no longer required to show a Covid-19 vaccine certificate, proof of a negative test, or a certificate of recovery to enter Croatia - this is the same for vaccination travellers and non-vaccinated travellers.

Covid rules in Croatia

Face-mask rules have been relaxed in Croatia. But whilst people are no longer required to wear face masks in most indoor settings, they are recommended to wear them in large gatherings. Some airlines and other transport providers may still require travellers to wear face masks too. Face masks remain compulsory in health and social care settings.

If you need to show your vaccination status whilst in Croatia, the UK's proof of Covid-19 recovery and vaccination record and proof of Covid-19 vaccination issued in the Crown Dependencies are recognised. Your NHS appointment card from vaccination centres is not designed to be used as proof vaccination and should not be used to demonstrate your vaccine status, however.

Driving rules in Croatia

Using your mobile phone whilst driving is illegal in Croatia and it is also illegal to drive in Croatia with more than 0.05% of alcohol in the blood system. This is slightly less than the limit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland which is 0.08%.

Everyone driving in Croatia must carry a fluorescent vest inside the vehicle - not in the boot. You should wear the vest while attending to a breakdown. All passengers must wear seatbelts and special sears are required for infants. Children aged under 12 should not sit in the front passenger seat of a vehicle.

If you're driving in Croatia between the last weekend in October and the last weekend in March, you should drive with dipped headlights - even in the daytime. People driving between November 15 and April 15 are also required to have winter tyres on their vehicle.

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