South Africa
Croatia
Croatia visa for South African citizens
Entry requirement
Croatia requires South African citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.
- Where to apply
- 1 mission
- Visa guide
- Croatia visa guide
Checked 7 November 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at za.mvep.hr
Which Croatia visa?
Short-stay Schengen visa (type C) for tourism
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted together with all other Schengen states.
- Fee
- €90
- Processing time
- As a rule within 15 calendar days of lodging; up to 45 days if further checks are needed.
Croatia’s tourist visa costs €90 at the standard rate published by its authorities; the official site for it is crovisa.mvep.hr. Processing time, as Croatia states it: As a rule within 15 calendar days of lodging; up to 45 days if further checks are needed. Longest stay on the tourist visa: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted together with all other Schengen states.
Croatian missions in South Africa
Croatia has 1 mission in South Africa, with its embassy in Pretoria.
Croatia: visa decisions in South Africa
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4,141 | 3,674 | 417 | 10.2% | 62.7% |
| 2024 | 5,396 | 4,530 | 858 | 15.9% | 92.5% |
| 2025 | 6,124 | 4,745 | 1,330 | 21.9% | 92.6% |
In 2025, Croatia’s embassy and consulates in South Africa (Pretoria) received 6,124 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 4,745. The refusal rate was 21.9%. The refusal rate rose by 6.0 points from 15.9% in 2024, a sharp increase. Applications rose by 13% compared with 2024 (5,396).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 5.3% of the applications lodged in South Africa that year. Croatia’s consulates worldwide refused 18.5%. Croatia was the 9th most applied-for Schengen state in South Africa.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in South Africa, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Croatian citizens travelling to South Africa
CroatiaSouth Africa Visa-free, 90 days South Africa visa for citizens of Croatia
Travel advice for Croatia
- US State Department Level 1: Exercise normal precautions
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from South Africa to Croatia, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates Croatia at Level 1, exercise normal precautions (updated 17 May 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Croatia (updated 11 August 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Croatia (updated 13 October 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long South African citizens can stay in Croatia
How long South African citizens may stay in Croatia is set by the visa issued, and the visa type must match the purpose of the trip.
How South African citizens apply
In South Africa, applications go to the Croatian embassy in Pretoria, or to a visa centre acting for Croatia; fees, documents and processing times are published by Croatia.
Croatia and the Schengen area
A Schengen visa issued by Croatia lets South African citizens travel in all Schengen states; apply to Croatia when it is the main destination of the trip.
Croatia’s neighbours for South African citizens
Hungary, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia require South African citizens to obtain a visa in advance.
Croatian citizens travelling to South Africa
No visa is needed by Croatian citizens for South Africa, for stays of up to 90 days.
Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Croatia?
Croatia requires South African citizens to hold a visa issued in advance.
Where is the Croatian embassy in South Africa?
The Croatian embassy in South Africa is in Pretoria.
How much does the Croatia tourist visa cost?
Croatia’s official sources give a standard fee of €90 for the tourist visa. Processing time: As a rule within 15 calendar days of lodging; up to 45 days if further checks are needed.
Do Croatian citizens need a visa for South Africa?
No visa is needed by Croatian citizens for South Africa, for stays of up to 90 days.
Can South African citizens enter Croatia visa-free?
No; South African citizens need a visa for Croatia obtained in advance.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 7 November 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.