Europe

Croatia

Still current at: 03 December 2008

Updated: 07 November 2008

Terrorism

There is an underlying threat from terrorism and organised crime in Croatia.  Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.

Crime

You should take sensible precautions when carrying money in busy tourist areas, where pickpockets are known to operate. Personal and valuable items should not be left unattended, particularly on the beach. Many hotels have safe deposit boxes.

You should report all incidents of crime to the local police station and obtain a report.

For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.

Political Situation

Croatia Country Profile

Local Travel

If you are planning to travel outside the normal tourist resorts you should be aware that there are areas affected by the war, which ended in 1995, where unexploded mines remain.  These areas include the Danube region (Eastern Slavonia) and the former Krajina.

You should be wary about leaving cultivated land or marked paths.  If in doubt seek local advice.

Road Travel

Your UK driving license is valid for up to six months from entry into Croatia.  If you are staying longer, you need to apply for a Croatian licence.  International Driving Licences are not valid in Croatia.

If travelling by car you should ensure, before setting out, that your green card covers Croatia.  Insurance can normally be purchased at the main border crossings, however some of the smaller crossings may not have this facility or have limited hours when the service is available.  If you are driving to or through Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the 20km strip of coastline at Neum on the Dalmatian coastal highway, you should ensure that your Green Card includes cover for Bosnia and Herzegovina.  If this is not the case, temporary third-party insurance can be purchased at the main border posts, or in Split and other large Croatian cities.  Insurance cannot be obtained at the Neum border.

Road conditions in and around Zagreb and the larger towns are of a generally good standard.  However, you should take care when overtaking and use caution around other road users who may unexpectedly overtake repeatedly in slower traffic.  Minor roads are usually unlit at night.

Croatia has laws stating that it is illegal:

• to drive with more than 0.5% of alcohol in the system (but if in any kind of offence zero tolerance applies);
• to drive without dipped headlights on  during daylight saving period (last weekend in October until last weekend in March); and
  
• to use a mobile phone whilst driving.

It is obligatory to carry a fluorescent vest in your car whilst driving in Croatia.  You must keep the vest in the car and not in the boot.  You must wear the vest whilst attending to a breakdown, e.g.  changing a tyre.

There have been a number of reported incidents of gangs robbing car occupants after either indicating that they are in trouble and require assistance, or pulling alongside a car and indicating that there seems to be something wrong and they should pull over.   You should therefore be extremely cautious should something similar to the above actions occur.

For more general information see Driving Abroad.

Rail Travel

Special care should be taken to guard valuables, especially at night.

Sea Travel

Croatia has also adopted a law expressing zero tolerance on alcohol consumption by those in charge of yachts and other boats.  If you intend to take charge of a boat in Croatia you should not consume alcohol.  The penalties for being caught drunk in charge of a boat are likely to be heavy.

 

There have been a number of cases of yacht/boat skippers being arrested and taken to court for entering a non-designated entry port when arriving in Croatia, without informing the authorities, which has resulted in the skippers being heavily fined.  If you are considering sailing to Croatia you should be aware of the rules on entry to Croatia.  Enter only at a designated port/harbour; if this is not possible due to a problem, contact the local harbour master, or the police before entering a non-designated port/harbour.

 

For more general information see River and Sea Safety.

Carry your passport at all times, because it is the only officially recognised form of identification. Keep a photocopy of the biographical details page (the page where your photograph is) in a safe location, including details of your next of kin.

 

A violation of local laws may result in a jail sentence, served in a local prison.  Drugs related offences are punished with fines and jail sentences.

For more general information for different types of travellers see Travel Advice Relevant to You.

Visas

 

You may need a visa to enter Croatia.  As a British national you do not require a visa for tourist and business trips of less than three months.  However, a visa may be required for other types of visit or stay. Additional information on entry and registration requirements, including those for yachts, their crews and passengers, may be obtained from the Consular section of the Croatian Embassy; 21 Conway Street, London, W1P 5HL;  (tel:  020 7387 1144).  

When entering Croatia, you may be asked to produce evidence of the financial means necessary to cover subsistence during your stay and return to the UK or transit to a third country.  The daily subsistence rate is fixed at one hundred Euros per day – this rate applies if your stay is at a hotel.  If you are staying in Croatia as the guest of a Croatian national, you will be asked to provide proof or residence.  The daily subsistence rate for staying at a private residence is fifty Euros per day.  Credit/bank cards, bank statements, cheques are accepted as proof that you have sufficient means to cover subsistence for the duration of your stay.

Passport Validity

All British passport holders require a valid passport. Since February 2008 you require three months’ remaining validity on your passport to enter Croatia.

Registration

 

Unless staying at a hotel or official tourist accommodation, all foreign nationals are required to register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival (in Zagreb you should register at the Police Station at Petrinjska 30, if outside Zagreb, you should register at the nearest main Police Station).  Failure to do so may result in a fine or possible removal from Croatia (which may include a restriction on your ability to return to Croatia for a certain period).

Croatia has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK where no charge is made for ‘emergency’ treatment. You may be expected to pay for any other service you require, which is not covered by the bilateral health agreement.  Only basic health care facilities are available in outlying areas and islands.  This could result in a delay if you require urgent medical care.  

Tick-borne encephalitis is common to parts of Croatia, especially in the summer months.

You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Croatia and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up to date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

 

The risk from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low, provided you avoid visiting live animal markets, poultry farms and other places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.

Insurance

Passports

The British Embassy in Zagreb does not issue full British Passports.  These are issued at the British Embassy in Vienna. You should ensure that your passport has sufficient validity for the duration of you planned stay and a plentiful supply of unused pages.  In an emergency an Emergency Passport (EP) valid for one journey back to the UK can be issued in Zagreb, Split or Dubrovnik.  A Temporary Passport (TP) for multiple travel valid for one year can be issued in Zagreb only.

 

The loss or theft of a passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the British Embassy in Zagreb.   The Embassy can assist you in obtaining a replacement passport.  Applications for new full British passports are accepted in Zagreb, Split and Dubrovnik for forwarding to the British Embassy in Vienna for processing. This may take between six to eight weeks.  If a courier is used, you will have to meet the costs.

Registration

If you intend staying in Croatia for an extended period of time you should register your presence with the Consular Section of the British Embassy in Zagreb (it can be done via e-mail at zagreb.consular@fco.gov.uk).  Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

Money

 

All major credit/debit cards are accepted in most banks and hotels.  Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are easily exchanged for local currency.  There are plenty of cashpoints in Zagreb.

 

There have been reports of an increase in the number of forged Croatian Kuna banknotes being discovered, especially 200 and 500 notes.  You are asked to take care when purchasing Kuna; you should only do this at reliable outlets, such as banks and cashpoints.