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Visa field guide · HR

Plan your Croatia application

The crovisa portal, then MUP registration after arrivalSee the common routes, understand the hand-offs, then confirm every requirement on the official website.

01 / ROUTES

Choose the route that matches your trip

These are starting points—not an eligibility decision. Open the official route before you apply.
  • ↗
    Short-stay Schengen visa

    Visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period when Croatia is the main destination.

  • ↗
    Long-stay visa (D)

    For temporary stay or work permission in Croatia lasting more than 90 days.

02 / JOURNEY

What the application journey usually looks like

The exact order can vary by visa, nationality and application location. “If asked” steps are conditional.
  1. 01
    Complete the crovisa online form

    Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs runs the crovisa portal for completing the visa form before it is printed and submitted.

  2. 02
    Print and gather supporting documents

    The printed form is combined with the supporting documents listed for your route and residence.

    GUIDELENS HELPS HERE
  3. 03
    Book the mission or VFS centre

    Applications go to a Croatian embassy or consulate, or to a VFS Global centre operating in your country.

  4. 04
    Submit & give biometrics

    Attend in person to submit fingerprints and photographs alongside the file.

    IF ASKED
  5. 05
    Track the decision

    The responsible mission or VFS channel reports the consular decision.

  6. 06
    Register with the police within 30 days

    A D-visa holder must contact the competent police station within 30 days of the visa's validity start to register residence and create a biometric residence permit.

03 / BEFORE YOU START

Four things to know before you start

Official portal
The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs runs crovisa.mvep.hr for completing the Schengen or long-stay visa form online before printing it.
Short or long stay
Up to 90 days in 180 days uses the Schengen C route; a temporary stay or work permit beyond 90 days uses the D-visa route.
D-visa timing
A D-visa application is submitted no earlier than three months before, and no later than three months after, the start of the approved stay or work permit.
30-day registration
After entering on a D visa, register with the competent police station within 30 days to receive the biometric residence permit.

04 / PRACTICAL GUIDE

Croatia visa details that differ from the regional guide

Croatia issues both Schengen and long-stay visas through its own diplomatic network, then hands the long-stay route to the police for residence registration after arrival.
  1. 01

    Start the form on crovisa, then print it

    The Ministry's crovisa.mvep.hr portal is where the visa application form is completed online; the form is then printed, signed and submitted with supporting documents in person.

    Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia · Crovisa online visa application ↗
  2. 02

    D-visa timing is fixed to the approved stay

    A long-stay D-visa application window runs from three months before to three months after the start date of the approved temporary stay or work permit, not simply before travel.

    Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia · Applying for long-stay visa (D) ↗
  3. 03

    Residence is registered at the police, not the embassy

    Within 30 days of the D visa's validity starting, contact the competent police department or station to register your address and create the biometric residence permit.

    Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia · Applying for long-stay visa (D) ↗
  4. 04

    Keep the Schengen rule in view

    For a multi-country trip, apply to the country that is the main purpose or longest stay. Use the first country only when stays are equal. The 90 days in any 180-day period are counted across the whole Schengen area.

    European Commission · Applying for a Schengen visa ↗

05 / PREPARE

Information worth gathering before you open the form

Not every item applies to every route. Use the official checklist generated for your application.

  • Passport and previous travel-document details

  • Travel dates, itinerary and accommodation

  • Travel medical insurance for the Schengen stay

  • Evidence of funds and the purpose of the trip

  • Employment, study or sponsor information where relevant

  • Translations and route-specific documents requested locally

06 / OFFICIAL

Continue with the official authority

View current requirementsMinistry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia

You remain responsible for reviewing and submitting your application.