ETIAS Croatia permit for U.S. citizens
The United States will be part of the countries whose citizens must present an approved ETIAS visa before entering Croatia. ETIAS permit can be obtained online, by filling out the ETIAS application form online and receiving your ETIAS via e-mail once the application is approved.
What is ETIAS Croatia visa for Americans?
ETIAS permit will come into force in November 2023, as part of a program of the European Commission aimed at strengthening European borders and keeping a digital track on all people travelling to Schengen Area. After some terrorist attacks that affected some European countries, this program was already approved in 2016.
How does the ETIAS visa work for U.S. citizens
From 2023 American citizens must present an ETIAS visa before travelling to Croatia. However, if the trip has other purposes than those provided for ETIAS, or it will be longer than 90 days, they will have to obtain a full visitor Schengen visa, at the embassy or consulate of Croatia, respecting timing and requirements for the visa they are applying for.
ETIAS destinations for U.S. citizens
From 2023 ETIAS visa will come into force for Americans to travel to the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
At the moment, Americans are not required to have ETIAS to travel to Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, since these countries are not Schengen Area members yet. However, these countries may enter the Schengen Area in the future, so please keep updated with the requirements.
ETIAS permit requirements for American citizens and how to apply
To apply for ETIAS, you will need to be a U.S. citizen and hold a valid electronic passport issued by the United States of America. If you do not have an U.S. passport, you will require a full visitor Schengen permit.
ETIAS permit application can be completed online, entering all necessary information by following the required steps, and making sure all the data is entered correctly. Once the application is completed, all citizens between 18 and 70 years old will also be required to pay a 7 euros fee, using a credit or debit card.
Generally, most ETIAS visas are issued within few minutes, or at most in a few hours, and the approved visa will be sent via e-mail as a PDF file. Furthermore, you will not need to print the visa, because all the information will already be in the European Schengen authorities’ databases, and this information will be linked to the passport data provided during the application. However, in order to avoid delays, it is recommended to apply for the ETIAS visa at least 4 days prior to the departure, to make sure that the visa is approved and to have the time to provide any additional documents should they be required. In the rare instance where an ETIAS is not approved, you can apply for a full visitor Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Croatia. It is highly recommended to carefully read and check all the ETIAS permit requirements before applying, to avoid any mistakes in the application procedure that could lead to delays in the ETIAS approval.
How much does the ETIAS visa cost for Americans
At the end of the application process, all Americans between 18 and 70 years old have to pay a 7 euros fee, using a credit or debit card. Americans under 18 and over 70 years of age are entitled to apply for ETIAS free of charge.
About Croatia
The Republic of Croatia lies on the northwestern edge of the Balkan Peninsula. Bordering Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, and Slovenia, Croatia also shares a maritime border with Italy.
Croatia has the longest coastline in the Mediterranean at 5,835 km, the majority of this belonging to its cliffs, reefs, and islands.
With a population of about 4.29 million people, Croatia’s official language is Croatian. Although Croatia has no official religion, the majority of its citizens identify as Christian.
With tourism accounting for over 20% of its GDP, Croatia is a popular tourist destination, presently ranked by the UNWTO as the 18th most popular tourist destination in the world.
Unpolluted marine areas, 116 Blue Flag beaches, coral reefs and vast beaches leading to azure waters make Croatia a popular destination for summer vacations.
Deeper waters in the south give experienced divers the opportunity to explore shipwrecks, caves and coral reefs whilst the more shallow waters of the Dalmatian Coast and Istrian Riviera, known for their tranquility, are the perfect starting point for beginner divers.
Over 1000 islands populate Croatia’s waters, with varied ambiances from tranquility and calmness to party hotspots, some of the most popular being Hvar, Pag, Mljet, and Dugi Otok.
There are 10 Unesco World Heritage Sites in Croatia; it also holds 15 Unesco World Intangible Culture Masterpieces. Perhaps its most famous being the necktie, which originated from the cravat originally worn by Croatian mercenaries in the 17th-century.
Croatia at a glance
Capital: Zagreb
Timezone: UTC/GMT +1 hour
Languages: Croatian 95.6%, Serbian 1.2%, Other 3%, Unspecified 0.2%
Area: 56,542 KM2
Currency: Kuna (HRK)
Population: 4,491,000
Calling Code: +385
Travel to Croatia
Croatia has committed to becoming part of the Schengen zone, which means that access to this beautiful country will be fairly easy once the ETIAS scheme comes into effect.
Croatia has long been an attractive tourist destination. Many historical and interesting cities hold hidden gems of architecture, but it is the long and beautiful coastline that is the main touristic draw of Croatia.
The coastal climate is the Mediterranean, inland has a more Continental climate, and during the winter snowfall is not uncommon.
There are over 1000 islands of Croatia, only about 50 of which are inhabited. Staying in Istria or the Kvarner Riviera gives you the opportunity to enjoy a day trip to nearby Venice in Italy.
There is a thriving festival scene in Croatia. Music festivals abound, from DJ events housed in a Roman Amphitheatre to more boutique events. The scene is constantly evolving drawing an international audience.
There are numerous film festivals hosted by Croatia, drawing talented filmmakers from the world of animation, documentaries, art-film and the newest talents from southern Europe at the Mediterranean Film Festival.
Croatia offers a wide range of gastronomic delicacies, local specialty cheeses, locally produced dried hams, Kvarner Bay scampi, Ston mussels and oysters are just some of the items on offer.
Locally produced olive oil which has won many awards is a favorite purchase amongst visitors.
Croatia is a wine producing country offering the visitor a choice of red or white wine.
The US and Croatia
Traveling to Croatia from North America, most travelers transfer at one of the major European hubs – such as London or Frankfurt. With flight times from London to Dubrovnik taking an average of two hours and thirty minutes, Croatia is a welcome addition to many tourists travel itinerary.
Since joining the E.U in 2013, Croatia has been focussed on stimulating growth from both domestic consumption and foreign investment. Croatia will also be joining the Schengen zone in Europe.
Bilateral relations between the U.S and Croatia are very strong. Both belong to the following international organizations
- The United Nations
- North Atlantic Treaty Organization
- Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
- International Monetary Fund
- World Bank
- World Trade Organization
Croatia, whilst retaining significant state control or involvement in numerous industries has a strong democracy with a thriving market economy.
Croatia and the United States have a bilateral investment treaty and an investment protection programme in place.
With much of Europe experiencing unprecedented terrorist activity, member countries have been pushing the E.U. Commissioner to enforce stricter border controls. A system called the E.U. Travel and Information Authorization System, ETIAS will be introduced in 2021.
This system will enable advanced security checks on travelers to the Schengen zone in Europe. While reducing terrorist activity is an important part of the ETIAS system, reduced time spent at border controls will be a natural offshoot. Problems with travelers wanting to visit Europe will be flagged during the application process, not only during border crossings.
FAQ about ETIAS Croatia visa
List of US diplomatic offices in Croatia
The Embassy of USA in Zagreb, Croatia
Address: Ulica Thomasa Jeffersona 2 10010 Zagreb Croatia
Phone: 385-1-661-2200
Facts: W. Robert Kohorst – Ambassador
The Embassy of Croatia in Washington, USA
Address: 2343 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington DC 20008-2803
Phone: +1 (202) 588-5899
Fax: +1 (202) 588-8937
Email: washington@mvep.hr
Consulate of Croatia in New York, USA
Address: 820 Second Avenue 18th floor New York, NY 10017
Phone: (212) 599-3066
Fax: (212) 599-3106
Email: crocons.newyork@mvep.hr
Consulate of Croatia in Los Angeles, USA
Address: 11766 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1250 Los Angeles, CA 90025
Phone: (310) 477-1009
Fax: (310) 477-1866
Email: crocons.la@mvep.hr
Consulate of Croatia in Chicago, USA
Address: 737 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1030, Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 482-9902
Fax: (312) 482-9987
Email: chicago@mvep.hr