Croatia visa requirements for Indian passport holders

Check your circumstances

Read these conditions alongside the entry rule. Where official guidance does not state a condition, that is not confirmation that no condition applies.

Passport type Confirmed for this scope

Croatia's foreign ministry lists Indian ordinary passports as visa-required and diplomatic or official passports as visa-free. This guide covers ordinary passports only.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Trip purpose Confirmed for this scope

A Schengen short-stay visa covers tourist and other short visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. It is not for stays over 90 days, employment or setting up a business.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Age Conditions to check

Applications for minors are submitted by their legal representative. Croatia's fee page lists children up to 12 among fee exemptions, and some applicants are exempt from fingerprints.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Residence Conditions to check

Apply at the consulate responsible for the country where you legally live. For residents of India, Croatia lists VFS centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Official sources: European Commission.

Other visas or residence permits Conditions to check

A long-stay visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen state lets you visit other Schengen states for short stays. A valid Schengen visa valid for Croatia may already cover the trip; check its dates and entries.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Carrier and arrival route Conditions to check

Flights between two Schengen states count as domestic, so you need the short-stay visa when you first enter Schengen. An airport transit visa covers only the international transit area, not entry.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Stay and visa validity Conditions to check

Stay no longer than the number of days printed on the visa sticker and leave by its "until" date, even if the 90-day limit would allow more. Check the number of entries too.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Where and when to apply

Apply to Croatia if it is your main destination, where you will spend the longest time. If two or more countries get equal time, apply to the one whose external border you cross first. Apply in person at a VFS Global centre in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad or Bengaluru, or contact the Embassy of Croatia in New Delhi.

Apply no more than 6 months and, as a rule, no later than 15 calendar days before the trip. You can fill in the form online at crovisa.mvep.hr, then print it and bring it with your documents. Your fingerprints are taken when you apply.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Documents and insurance

Bring the signed application form, a recent ICAO-standard photo and a passport issued within the last 10 years, with at least two empty pages and valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area. Add documents on the purpose of the trip, your means of support, your travel and your plans to return. India has an EU harmonized list of supporting documents; check it before you apply.

Travel medical insurance must cover emergency care, hospital treatment and repatriation, including in case of death, across the whole Schengen area for your stay, with at least €30,000 of cover. Take it out with an insurer in your country of residence where possible.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Fees, processing and interviews

Croatia's ministry lists a short-stay visa fee of €90, paid when you apply; VFS also charges a service fee. Some applicants, including family members of EU, EEA or Swiss citizens and children in listed age groups, are exempt, so check the fee page for your case. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.

A decision is normally made within 15 calendar days and can take up to 45 days if more checks are needed. The consulate may ask for more documents or invite you to an interview, so apply early.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia; Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia.

Family members of EU citizens

If you hold a valid residence card as the family member of an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and travel with or join that person, Croatia's ministry says you need no short-stay visa. Without the card, you apply for a visa with priority, free of charge and with fewer documents. If you are not traveling with or joining the family member, the standard procedure and fee apply.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia; European Union (Your Europe).

At the border and during your stay

A visa does not guarantee entry. Border officers may ask about your means of support, the length and purpose of your stay, so carry copies of the documents you applied with. The Entry/Exit System registers your fingerprints and facial image on first entry; children under 12 give no fingerprints, and passports are no longer stamped. ETIAS is not in operation.

If you stay outside a hotel or other commercial lodging, register with the police within two days of arrival and again within two days of moving. Hotels register their guests within one day.

Official sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia; Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia; European Commission.