Embassy
Embassy of Germany, Zagreb
Zagreb
Ulica grada Vukovara 64
Croatia visa requirements for German citizens
German citizens can visit, live and work in Croatia without a visa.
Passport
DEU
Germany
Going to
HRV
Croatia
Free to visit, live and work
EU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Swiss citizens can enter with an ID or passport.
- Visa
- Not required
- Fee
- Free
- Last updated
- 11 November 2026
What to do
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it.
Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
Note the maximum stay and count your days in Croatia.
Ways into Croatia
Visit visa-free if you qualify, or get a tourist visa.
Visa not required For your passportEuropean free travelEU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein, Norwegian and Swiss citizens can enter with an ID or passport.
- Fee
- Free
How to apply
- Bring a valid ID card or passport.
- Register your stay if you plan to live here.
Documents required
- Valid ID card or passport
- These stay rules are separate from the usual Schengen visitor limit.
- Your stay must not place too much strain on public welfare.
Visa on arrivalEmergency border visaA border visa may cover urgent, unexpected travel when applying earlier was impossible.
- Stay
- 15 days
- Fee
- €90
How to apply
- Explain why you could not apply before travel.
- Show your urgent reason at an approved border crossing.
- Submit your form, documents and fee.
- Give fingerprints unless you are exempt.
Documents required
- Signed form
- Passport with 2 blank pages
- Recent photo
- Proof of urgent travel
- Proof of visit purpose
- Proof of funds
- Proof you can return
- Fee payment proof
- Fingerprints
- Approval is not guaranteed; this is not a normal visa-on-arrival service.
- People needing advance checks are usually excluded, though rare exceptions exist.
Visa requiredTourist visaA Type C visa lets people who need a visa visit for tourism.
- Stay
- 90 days
- Fee
- €90
- Processing
- 45 days
How to apply
- Check that Croatia is your main destination.
- Book with the embassy, consulate or visa centre.
- Fill in, print and sign the form.
- Submit in person and pay the fee.
- Give fingerprints unless you are exempt.
Documents required
- Signed form
- Passport with 2 blank pages
- Recent photo
- Schengen health insurance: 30,000 EUR cover
- Hotel booking or tourist voucher
- Proof of funds
- Return travel proof
- Fingerprints
- Your visa may allow fewer than 90 days per 180 days across Schengen.
- Decisions usually take 15 days; extra documents or an interview may be needed.
Other routeExisting Schengen documentUse a qualifying Schengen visa or residence permit for a short visit.
- Stay
- 90 days
How to apply
- Check your document covers Croatia and your travel dates.
- Check any remaining entries and allowed stay.
- Bring your document, passport and visit proof.
Documents required
- Passport
- Qualifying visa or residence permit
- Proof of visit purpose
- Proof of funds
- Stay within 90 days per 180 days across Schengen, or your shorter visa limit.
- This does not give you permission to live or work in Croatia.
Sources (33)Last updated 11 November 2026
- Ministry of the Interior: Border checks
- Ministry of the Interior: Do you need a visa?
- Foreign ministry: Visas
- Foreign ministry: Visa requirements overview
- Croatian consular portal: visa types
- Official Croatian online visa application form; not an electronic visa
- Applying for a Schengen visa for Croatia
- Supporting documents for Schengen visa
- Current dedicated visa fee page
- Decisions and processing times
- Type D applications and supporting documents, including 2026 routes
- Visa FAQ; older fee figures were not used
- Information for Schengen visa holders
- European family-member exemptions and facilitated applications
- Croatian Embassy in London: General visa information
- Croatian mission visa page for the United States
- Official United States visa and consular information
- India mission visa link; redirects to central ministry guidance
- Official India visa and New Delhi consular information
- Temporary stay of third-country nationals
- Work of third-country nationals
- Family reunification
- European Economic Area nationals and their family members
- Digital-nomad temporary stay
- Government of Croatia: exceptional border visas, Croatian version
- Government of Croatia: border visas, English version; older fee not used
- Council of the European Union: visa-exempt countries and territories
- European Commission: applying for a Schengen visa
- European Union: common Schengen information sheet; airport-transit rules
- European Commission: financial reference amounts, Croatia section dated 1 April 2026
- Belgian Immigration Office: common Schengen airport-transit exemptions
- Official ETIAS guidance: passport conditions
- Official ETIAS operational status
Embassies for this trip
For lost passports and emergencies.
Trips to Croatia
Day-by-day itineraries by snuck, shaped around you.
Coming from Germany
- Plugs C FNo adapter
- MoneyEUR €Same as home
- TimeSame timeSame as home
- DrivingOn the rightSame as home
- LanguageCroatian
- Emergency112 or 192 police112 or 194 ambulance
Planning your Croatia trip
- DubrovnikA famous historic coastal city with a distinctive appearance shaped by its past as an independent city-state.
- ŠibenikA historic coastal town described as a strong example of Dalmatian character.
- RijekaA northern coastal city with a different character from the towns farther south.
- ZagrebCroatia's capital combines modern city life, cultural venues and an easy-going atmosphere.
Scams to watch for in Croatia
- High ATM feesSome ATM operators charge high fees for withdrawals. This is a cost trap rather than evidence of card theft or fraud.
- Strip-club overcharging and payment threatsStrip clubs can charge extreme prices for drinks. Foreign visitors have been charged €2,000 for a bottle of champagne. Bouncers may use threats or violence when customers say they cannot pay.
About Croatia
Croatia is a republic curving from Central Europe along an island-dotted Adriatic coastline.
- Capital
- Zagreb
- Money
- Euro (€)
- Languages
- Croatian
- Time zone
- UTC+01:00
- Cars drive on the
- right side
- Calling code
- +385
Other Europe passports
Going to Croatia
Easier trips nearby
Places close to Croatia with simpler entry for you.
Questions
Do german citizens need a visa for Croatia?
German citizens can visit, live and work in Croatia without a visa.
Do croatian citizens need a visa for Germany?
Croatian citizens can visit, live and work in Germany without a visa.
Do other Europe passports get easier entry to Croatia?
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 5 more can enter without applying before they travel.
Which countries near Croatia are easier for german citizens?
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro North Macedonia, and 3 more let german citizens in without applying before travel.
What should I carry to Croatia?
Check your passport is valid for the whole stay, ideally six months beyond it. Carry proof of onward travel and of funds; border officers can ask for both.
What money is used in Croatia?
Euro (€). Carry some cash for arrival, especially if a visa fee is paid at the border.
What language do people speak in Croatia?
Croatian.
How strong is the Germany passport?
It ranks #6 and reaches 156 destinations without applying ahead.
Reviewed by @snuck