Croatia visa to visit family and friends

The host, called the guarantor, can be a Croatian citizen, an EEA or Swiss citizen, or a third-country national with authorised stay in Croatia, provided they have income or funds in Croatia. The guarantor fills in the letter of guarantee of a natural person on the official MVEP form and states clearly which costs of your stay they will cover and which you will pay yourself.

Along with the letter, the guarantor attaches proof of a permanent source of income in Croatia for the previous three months, such as salary or pension certificates, or bank evidence of sufficient funds. Spouses, children and parents of Croatian citizens add a marriage or birth certificate showing the relationship.

The guarantor’s signature must be certified by a Croatian notary. If the guarantor comes with you to the application, a Croatian citizen can have the signature certified at the Croatian mission, and a foreign guarantor at the competent authority of the country where you apply.

The mission keeps the original letter and gives you a copy to show at the border. Instead of sending the original abroad, the guarantor can deposit it with the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Zagreb (Petretićev trg 2) for an administrative fee of EUR 18.58, attaching proof of payment and the name of the mission where you will apply.

The standard fee is EUR 90, plus the service fee where you apply at a VFS centre. No visa fee is charged to the spouse and children of a Croatian national, to family members of EEA and Swiss citizens, or to children up to 12. Family members of EU or EEA citizens who hold a residence card of a family member of a Union citizen and travel with or join that citizen do not need a visa at all; without the card they receive a free visa in an accelerated procedure.

Apply in person at the Croatian mission or VFS Global centre responsible for your place of residence between six months and 15 days before the trip, with the original or a copy of the guarantee letter, the guarantor’s income proof, your passport, photo, insurance and evidence of your ties to your country of residence. The decision usually takes 15 calendar days.

Keep the copy of the guarantee letter in your hand luggage: border police may ask for it, together with proof of funds. If you stay at your host’s home, the host must register your stay with the police; if the property is a licensed holiday rental, this is done through eVisitor within one day of arrival.

The refusal form lists the reasons. An appeal in Croatian (or English where no Croatian court interpreter exists in the country) can be lodged through the mission within 15 days; the MVEP fee table lists EUR 130. The ministry decides within 60 days and a further claim can go to the Administrative Court in Zagreb within 30 days. Many applicants instead correct the weak point, for example a missing notarisation, and reapply.