Visa Information

Overview

On 1 January 2023 Croatia became a Schengen area Member State (Schengen acquis is fully applicable in Croatia). Third country nationals who are holders of visas and residence permits of Cyprus are no longer permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia without a valid Schengen or Croatian national visa. Citizens of Nigeria who plan to travel to Croatia are required to obtain a visa before departure. Foreign nationals residing in Nigeria should check whether they require a visa for Croatia.

A visa allows foreigners to stay in Croatia or other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any period of 180 days. Time spent in Croatia is added to the time spent in other Schengen countries. Short-stay Visa Calculator of permitted stay can be used as a helping tool to calculate travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa.

If one plans to visit more than one Schengen country in the course of one trip, such Schengen visa application must be submitted to the representative of the country that is applicant’s main destination based on the length of the stay or the purpose of his/her stay. If several Schengen area countries are visited but the main destination cannot be determined, such applications must be submitted to the representative of the Schengen country that is applicant’s first point of entry into the Schengen area.

When entering and leaving the Schengen area, a valid passport must be shown. There is generally no passport control at the borders between Schengen area member states. Holders of valid visas or residence permits in one of the Schengen area countries, may also visit the other Schengen countries. All visas state how many times one can enter Schengen area (one, two or more entries). NB: if visa is only valid for one entry, and if holder of such a visa leaves Schengen, for example to go to the UK, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, re-entry to Schengen is not possible without a new visa. It is therefore important that applicants state in their visa application how many times they will be travelling in and out of Schengen during their visit.

Foreign nationals who have been registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) shall not be allowed to enter Schengen (e.g. if one has been expelled from Croatia or another Schengen country).

Foreign nationals cannot work in Croatia on the basis of a short-term visa. Applicants may be contacted directly by the visa officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Pretoria if further clarifications or additional documents are needed. Submitting a visa application, including all the required documents, does not automatically mean that the visa will be issued. Furthermore, an issued visa is not a guarantee that a foreign citizen will be permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia. On every crossing of the border, the police may require foreign citizens to present all relevant documents, including copies of the Letters of Guarantee for both private and business visits. Visa application fees are non-refundable. Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Documents Required

All applicants are requested to read the following basic requirements carefully and conform to the same while submitting the application.

1. Visa application form: : must be digitally filled in, printed and signed by the applicant, or a parent or legal guardian on behalf of minors. Please ensure to bring your Serial number and PIN with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277 PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms will not be accepted. When completing the online application, please take note that in STEP 4/6 of the online application the Guarantor / Inviting person information is to be filled out ONLY in case of private and business visits (Letters of Guarantee to be attached). Applicants for tourist visas should skip this part and should fill out only the booked hotel/ accommodation/ apartment information in the subsequent part (Information on the residence in Croatia).

The following documents must be scanned and uploaded: Face Photograph 35x45mm; Passport – photo page; Travel Health Insurance; Transportation Booking – e.g. an Air Ticket; Bank Statement. Should you not attach the required documents please inform the VFS Global Visa Application Staff to assist in accessing the application, scanning and uploading the supporting documents, before submission to the Croatian authorities.

2. Passport: issued within the last 10 years, with expiry date a minimum of 3 months after the departure from Croatia and/or Schengen Area, containing at least two empty pages. Please copy all previous (valid and expired) visas.
3. Face photograph: please see the information on the Photo Specification page.
4. Travel health insurance to cover the possible expenses related to medical assistance, hospitalization and repatriation, with the minimal coverage of 30.000,00 EUR. The insurance must be valid for all Schengen Area Member States, during the entire stay. Applicants for a multiple-entry visa must have travel health insurance policy that covers the period of the first visit to the Schengen Area.
5. Proof of residence for nationals other than Nigerian: a photocopy of the valid stay permit.
6. Means of transportation and intention to return to the country of residence: reservation of return travel ticket for airplane, bus, or boat; registration card and driver's license if travelling by car; if the person is travelling to a third country, then proof of itinerary (travel ticket, etc.).
7. Proof of the purpose of stay in Croatia: certificate of a paid tourist package; booking of a hotel or other accommodation; private accommodation booking, including copy of the decision of the competent authority in Croatia approving the private renting; day to day itinerary with booked accommodation for the entire stay; proof of ownership or lease of a boat/yacht etc.
8. Documents proving sufficient funds to support the stay in the Schengen Area and to return to the state of residence or to travel to a third state: 70 EUR per day of the estimated stay in Croatia; 30 EUR per day of the estimated stay in Croatia if a third-country national has paid an organized tourist package (accommodation and transportation included in the package). Verifiable evidence of sufficient means of subsistence during the intended stay may include: salary slips; three (3) most recent personal bank statements or balance over last three months; regular income generated by property.
9. Proof of professional or student status: evidence of employment, if self-employed: Tax Clearance Certificate and Certificate of Business Incorporation are required (certificate of registration of a company or business); if student: Letter from school/ college/ university certifying the student status of the applicant; for retired persons – proof of pension.
10. For minors and persons deprived of legal capacity: visa application shall be submitted by a parent or the legal representative. For minors the birth certificate and both parent’s certified copies of IDs or passports must be attached. If minor travels alone: certified consent by both parents; if minor travels with only one parent, the other parent must give a certified consent. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, the relevant court documents must be presented. For persons deprived of legal capacity the relevant court papers must be attached.

Any document attached shall not be older than three months. Croatian authorities may require you to submit additional supporting documents and/or certified translation as well as the international certification (Apostille or full legalization, whichever is applicable) of public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, police clearances etc.) during the visa application process.

Photo Specifications

Photographs must follow the below guidelines

• in colour
• 35x45 mm
• printed on normal photographic paper
• taken against a light background
• full face taken straight forward 30-36 mm from point of the chin to the head of hair
• the person is to be captured with neutral facial expression, with his/her eyes open and mouth closed
• The photograph of a person, who for religious or medical reasons is wearing a head cover, must show the person's cheeks, chin and forehead
• children in photographs must be alone, and their faces fully visible and eyes open

Note : Please follow these instructions carefully. If the presented photos do not follow these requirements your application will be considered incomplete!

Processing Time

Applications can be lodged no more than 6 months before the start of the intended trip. Seafarers travelling in the performance of their duties can lodge their application up to 9 months before the start of the intended trip. Applications must be submitted by applicants themselves; or in the case of minors by a parent or legal guardian, no later than 45 days before the intended departure and that only through VFS Global.

Due to logistical constraints applications with departure date within 30 days SHALL NOT be accepted. Departures between 30 and 45 days of application carry a high risk of losing travel arrangements and shall be accepted only with applicant’s written consent. All fees are non-refundable.

It is recommended that applications are lodged early, considering national holidays of Croatia and of Nigeria, as those may affect processing times. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.

The standard processing time for applications submitted through VFS Global in Abuja (including transportation of documents to and back from South Africa) is around 45 days, which can further be extended if the supporting documents are not submitted as per the requirements or due to other factors and/or justified reasons.

During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn. No questions about the processing status can be answered by the Embassy during the processing time. Furthermore, general inquiries are not answered at any time.

Download Forms

Visa application form (VAF) has to be filled in digitally on your computer for all the applicants, including all minors. The form needs to be signed personally by the applicant on the last page. For minors, the application must be signed by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Electronically filled visa application form must be submitted to the VFS with the on-line application serial number and PIN. Please ensure to bring your Serial number with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277; PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms shall not be accepted.

Please note that the Visa Application Centre is introducing the Form Filling service for the convenience of the applicants at the Centre.

The service is purely optional and the applicants may avail this service at a nominal price NGN 2000 (all taxes included). This includes cost of form filling and the print out of the online application form.

Please contact the VAC staff to know more about the Form Filling service.

Overview

On 1 January 2023 Croatia became a Schengen area Member State (Schengen acquis is fully applicable in Croatia). Third country nationals who are holders of visas and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are no longer permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia without a valid Schengen or Croatian national visa. Citizens of Nigeria who plan to travel to Croatia are required to obtain a visa before departure. Foreign nationals residing in Nigeria should check whether they require a visa for Croatia.

A visa allows foreigners to stay in Croatia or other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any period of 180 days. Time spent in Croatia is added to the time spent in other Schengen countries. Short-stay Visa Calculator of permitted stay can be used as a helping tool to calculate travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa.

If one plans to visit more than one Schengen country in the course of one trip, such Schengen visa application must be submitted to the representative of the country that is applicant’s main destination based on the length of the stay or the purpose of his/her stay. If several Schengen area countries are visited but the main destination cannot be determined, such applications must be submitted to the representative of the Schengen country that is applicant’s first point of entry into the Schengen area.

When entering and leaving the Schengen area, a valid passport must be shown. There is generally no passport control at the borders between Schengen area member states. Holders of valid visas or residence permits in one of the Schengen area countries, may also visit the other Schengen countries. All visas state how many times one can enter Schengen area (one, two or more entries). NB: if visa is only valid for one entry, and if holder of such a visa leaves Schengen, for example to go to the UK, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, re-entry to Schengen is not possible without a new visa. It is therefore important that applicants state in their visa application how many times they will be travelling in and out of Schengen during their visit.

Foreign nationals who have been registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) shall not be allowed to enter Schengen (e.g. if one has been expelled from Croatia or another Schengen country).

Foreign nationals cannot work in Croatia on the basis of a short-term visa. Applicants may be contacted directly by the visa officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Pretoria if further clarifications or additional documents are needed. Submitting a visa application, including all the required documents, does not automatically mean that the visa will be issued. Furthermore, an issued visa is not a guarantee that a foreign citizen will be permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia. On every crossing of the border, the police may require foreign citizens to present all relevant documents, including copies of the Letters of Guarantee for both private and business visits. Visa application fees are non-refundable. Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Documents Required

All applicants are requested to read the following basic requirements carefully and conform to the same while submitting the application.

1. Visa application form: : must be digitally filled in, printed and signed by the applicant, or a parent or legal guardian on behalf of minors. Please ensure to bring your Serial number and PIN with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277 PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms will not be accepted. When completing the online application, please take note that in STEP 4/6 of the online application the Guarantor / Inviting person information is to be filled out ONLY in case of private and business visits (Letters of Guarantee to be attached). Applicants for tourist visas should skip this part and should fill out only the booked hotel/ accommodation/ apartment information in the subsequent part (Information on the residence in Croatia).

The following documents must be scanned and uploaded: Face Photograph 35x45mm; Passport – photo page; Travel Health Insurance; Transportation Booking – e.g. an Air Ticket; Bank Statement. Should you not attach the required documents please inform the VFS Global Visa Application Staff to assist in accessing the application, scanning and uploading the supporting documents, before submission to the Croatian authorities.

2. Passport: issued within the last 10 years, with expiry date a minimum of 3 months after the departure from Croatia and/or Schengen Area, containing at least two empty pages. Please copy all previous (valid and expired) visas.
3. Face photograph: please see the information on the Photo Specification page.
4. Travel health insurance to cover the possible expenses related to medical assistance, hospitalization and repatriation, with the minimal coverage of 30.000,00 EUR. The insurance must be valid for all Schengen Area Member States, during the entire stay. Applicants for a multiple-entry visa must have travel health insurance policy that covers the period of the first visit to the Schengen Area.
5. Proof of residence for nationals other than Nigerian: a photocopy of the valid stay permit.
6. Means of transportation and intention to return to the country of residence: reservation of return travel ticket for airplane, bus, or boat; registration card and driver's license if travelling by car; if the person is travelling to a third country, then proof of itinerary (travel ticket, etc.).
7. Proof of the purpose of stay in Croatia: Letter of Guarantee by Legal Person: in original or a photocopy if the original is deposited at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Croatia as per the following instructions; with the Letter of Guarantee, the guarantor shall enclose a proof of solvency (BON 1 or BON 2 Forms or a confirmation issued by the competent Commercial Court in the Republic of Croatia that the liquidation procedures have not been initiated).

   1) Invitation letter from the company based in Croatia, which should contain relevant personal data on the invited person, purpose of the visit and duration of stay. 2) Tax Clearance Certificate and Certificate of Business Incorporation (certificate of registration of a company or business). 3) Proof of commercial activities in Nigeria and recent business contacts, ongoing commercial relationship with the company that invites the person (contracts, bills, commercial correspondence, etc.). 4) In the case of participation in conferences, fairs, seminars, congresses, etc.: An invitation from a company or an authorized body to attend events connected with trade, industry or work; Proof of registration and entry tickets for events, if applicable; Other documents proving the existence of trade or work relations.

8. Documents proving sufficient funds to support the stay in the Schengen Area and to return to the state of residence or to travel to a third state: 70 EUR per day of the estimated stay in Croatia. Verifiable evidence of sufficient means of subsistence during the intended stay may include: salary slips; three (3) most recent personal bank statements or balance over last three months; regular income generated by property. Exceptionally, if the Letter of Guarantee indicates that the guarantor is fully covering all the expenses related to the trip, the applicant can be exempt from the requirement of presenting own proof of sufficient funds.
9. Proof of professional or student status: evidence of employment, if self-employed: Tax Clearance Certificate and Certificate of Business Incorporation are required (certificate of registration of a company or business); if student: Letter from school/ college/ university certifying the student status of the applicant; for retired persons – proof of pension.
10. For minors and persons deprived of legal capacity: visa application shall be submitted by a parent or the legal representative. For minors the birth certificate and both parent’s certified copies of IDs or passports must be attached. If minor travels alone: certified consent by both parents; if minor travels with only one parent, the other parent must give a certified consent. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, the relevant court documents must be presented. For persons deprived of legal capacity the relevant court papers must be attached.

Any document attached shall not be older than three months. Croatian authorities may require you to submit additional supporting documents and/or certified translation as well as the international certification (Apostille or full legalization, whichever is applicable) of public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, police clearances etc.) during the visa application process.

Photo Specifications

Photographs must follow the below guidelines

• in colour
• 35x45 mm
• printed on normal photographic paper
• taken against a light background
• full face taken straight forward 30-36 mm from point of the chin to the head of hair
• the person is to be captured with neutral facial expression, with his/her eyes open and mouth closed
• The photograph of a person, who for religious or medical reasons is wearing a head cover, must show the person's cheeks, chin and forehead
• children in photographs must be alone, and their faces fully visible and eyes open

Note : Please follow these instructions carefully. If the presented photos do not follow these requirements your application will be considered incomplete!

Processing Time

Applications can be lodged no more than 6 months before the start of the intended trip. Seafarers travelling in the performance of their duties can lodge their application up to 9 months before the start of the intended trip. Applications must be submitted by applicants themselves; or in the case of minors by a parent or legal guardian, no later than 45 days before the intended departure and that only through VFS Global.

Due to logistical constraints applications with departure date within 30 days SHALL NOT be accepted. Departures between 30 and 45 days of application carry a high risk of losing travel arrangements and shall be accepted only with applicant’s written consent. All fees are non-refundable.

It is recommended that applications are lodged early, considering national holidays of Croatia and of Nigeria, as those may affect processing times. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.

The standard processing time for applications submitted through VFS Global in Abuja (including transportation of documents to and back from South Africa) is around 45 days, which can further be extended if the supporting documents are not submitted as per the requirements or due to other factors and/or justified reasons.

During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn. No questions about the processing status can be answered by the Embassy during the processing time. Furthermore, general inquiries are not answered at any time.

Download Forms

Visa application form (VAF) has to be filled in digitally on your computer for all the applicants, including all minors. The form needs to be signed personally by the applicant on the last page. For minors, the application must be signed by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Electronically filled visa application form must be submitted to the VFS with the on-line application serial number and PIN. Please ensure to bring your Serial number with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277; PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms shall not be accepted.

Please note that the Visa Application Centre is introducing the Form Filling service for the convenience of the applicants at the Centre.

The service is purely optional and the applicants may avail this service at a nominal price NGN 2000 (all taxes included). This includes cost of form filling and the print out of the online application form.

Please contact the VAC staff to know more about the Form Filling service.

Overview

On 1 January 2023 Croatia became a Schengen area Member State (Schengen acquis is fully applicable in Croatia). Third country nationals who are holders of visas and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are no longer permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia without a valid Schengen or Croatian national visa. Citizens of Nigeria who plan to travel to Croatia are required to obtain a visa before departure. Foreign nationals residing in Nigeria should check whether they require a visa for Croatia.

A visa allows foreigners to stay in Croatia or other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any period of 180 days. Time spent in Croatia is added to the time spent in other Schengen countries. Short-stay Visa Calculator of permitted stay can be used as a helping tool to calculate travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa.

If one plans to visit more than one Schengen country in the course of one trip, such Schengen visa application must be submitted to the representative of the country that is applicant’s main destination based on the length of the stay or the purpose of his/her stay. If several Schengen area countries are visited but the main destination cannot be determined, such applications must be submitted to the representative of the Schengen country that is applicant’s first point of entry into the Schengen area.

When entering and leaving the Schengen area, a valid passport must be shown. There is generally no passport control at the borders between Schengen area member states. Holders of valid visas or residence permits in one of the Schengen area countries, may also visit the other Schengen countries. All visas state how many times one can enter Schengen area (one, two or more entries). NB: if visa is only valid for one entry, and if holder of such a visa leaves Schengen, for example to go to the UK, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, re-entry to Schengen is not possible without a new visa. It is therefore important that applicants state in their visa application how many times they will be travelling in and out of Schengen during their visit.

Foreign nationals who have been registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) shall not be allowed to enter Schengen (e.g. if one has been expelled from Croatia or another Schengen country).

Foreign nationals cannot work in Croatia on the basis of a short-term visa. Applicants may be contacted directly by the visa officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Pretoria if further clarifications or additional documents are needed. Submitting a visa application, including all the required documents, does not automatically mean that the visa will be issued. Furthermore, an issued visa is not a guarantee that a foreign citizen will be permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia. On every crossing of the border, the police may require foreign citizens to present all relevant documents, including copies of the Letters of Guarantee for both private and business visits. Visa application fees are non-refundable. Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Documents Required

All applicants are requested to read the following basic requirements carefully and conform to the same while submitting the application.

1. Visa application form: : must be digitally filled in, printed and signed by the applicant, or a parent or legal guardian on behalf of minors. Please ensure to bring your Serial number and PIN with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277 PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms will not be accepted. When completing the online application, please take note that in STEP 4/6 of the online application the Guarantor / Inviting person information is to be filled out ONLY in case of private and business visits (Letters of Guarantee to be attached). Applicants for tourist visas should skip this part and should fill out only the booked hotel/ accommodation/ apartment information in the subsequent part (Information on the residence in Croatia).

The following documents must be scanned and uploaded: Face Photograph 35x45mm; Passport – photo page; Travel Health Insurance; Transportation Booking – e.g. an Air Ticket; Bank Statement. Should you not attach the required documents please inform the VFS Global Visa Application Staff to assist in accessing the application, scanning and uploading the supporting documents, before submission to the Croatian authorities.

2. Passport: issued within the last 10 years, with expiry date a minimum of 3 months after the departure from Croatia and/or Schengen Area, containing at least two empty pages. Please copy all previous (valid and expired) visas.
3. Face photograph: please see the information on the Photo Specification page.
4. Travel health insurance to cover the possible expenses related to medical assistance, hospitalization and repatriation, with the minimal coverage of 30.000,00 EUR. The insurance must be valid for all Schengen Area Member States, during the entire stay. Applicants for a multiple-entry visa must have travel health insurance policy that covers the period of the first visit to the Schengen Area.
5. Proof of residence for nationals other than Nigerian: a photocopy of the valid stay permit.
6. Means of transportation and intention to return to the country of residence: reservation of return travel ticket for airplane, bus, or boat; registration card and driver's license if travelling by car; if the person is travelling to a third country, then proof of itinerary (travel ticket, etc.).
7. Proof of the purpose of stay in Croatia: Letter of Guarantee by Natural Person (signature of the inviting person must be certified by a Public Notary in Croatia): in original or a photocopy if the original has been deposited at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Croatia as per the following instructions. Together with the Letter of Guarantee the guarantor must enclose proof of permanent source of income (pay slip, pension slip etc.) for the last three months or adequate proof of available funds in a bank.

   Immediate family members of Croatian, EEA and Swiss citizens must enclose a Birth or a Marriage Certificate, whichever is applicable, together with a photocopy of the passport or ID card of the Croatian, EEA or Swiss citizen.

8. Documents proving sufficient funds to support the stay in the Schengen Area and to return to the state of residence or to travel to a third state: 70,00 EUR per day of the estimated stay in Croatia. Verifiable evidence of sufficient means of subsistence during the intended stay may include: salary slips; three (3) most recent personal bank statements or balance over last three months; regular income generated by property. Exceptionally, if the Letter of Guarantee indicates that the guarantor is fully covering all the expenses related to the trip, the applicant can be exempt from the requirement of presenting own proof of sufficient funds.
9. Proof of professional or student status: evidence of employment, if self-employed: Tax Clearance Certificate and Certificate of Business Incorporation are required (certificate of registration of a company or business); if student: Letter from school/ college/ university certifying the student status of the applicant; for retired persons – proof of pension.
10. For minors and persons deprived of legal capacity: visa application shall be submitted by a parent or the legal representative. For minors the birth certificate and both parent’s certified copies of IDs or passports must be attached. If minor travels alone: certified consent by both parents; if minor travels with only one parent, the other parent must give a certified consent. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, the relevant court documents must be presented. For persons deprived of legal capacity the relevant court papers must be attached.

Any document attached shall not be older than three months. Croatian authorities may require you to submit additional supporting documents and/or certified translation as well as the international certification (Apostille or full legalization, whichever is applicable) of public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, police clearances etc.) during the visa application process.

Photo Specifications

Photographs must follow the below guidelines

• in colour
• 35x45 mm
• printed on normal photographic paper
• taken against a light background
• full face taken straight forward 30-36 mm from point of the chin to the head of hair
• the person is to be captured with neutral facial expression, with his/her eyes open and mouth closed
• The photograph of a person, who for religious or medical reasons is wearing a head cover, must show the person's cheeks, chin and forehead
• children in photographs must be alone, and their faces fully visible and eyes open

Note : Please follow these instructions carefully. If the presented photos do not follow these requirements your application will be considered incomplete!

Processing Time

Applications can be lodged no more than 6 months before the start of the intended trip. Seafarers travelling in the performance of their duties can lodge their application up to 9 months before the start of the intended trip. Applications must be submitted by applicants themselves; or in the case of minors by a parent or legal guardian, no later than 45 days before the intended departure and that only through VFS Global.

Due to logistical constraints applications with departure date within 30 days SHALL NOT be accepted. Departures between 30 and 45 days of application carry a high risk of travel arrangements’ loss and shall be accepted only with applicant’s written consent. All fees are non-refundable.

It is recommended that applications are lodged early, considering national holidays of Croatia and of Nigeria, as those may affect processing times. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.

The standard processing time for applications submitted through VFS Global in Abuja (including transportation of documents to and back from South Africa) is around 45 days, which can further be extended if the supporting documents are not submitted as per the requirements or due to other factors and/or justified reasons.

During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn. No questions about the processing status can be answered by the Embassy during the processing time. Furthermore, general inquiries are not answered at any time.

Download Forms

Visa application form (VAF) has to be filled in digitally on your computer for all the applicants, including all minors. The form needs to be signed personally by the applicant on the last page. For minors, the application must be signed by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Electronically filled visa application form must be submitted to the VFS with the on-line application serial number and PIN. Please ensure to bring your Serial number with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277; PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms shall not be accepted.

Please note that the Visa Application Centre is introducing the Form Filling service for the convenience of the applicants at the Centre.

The service is purely optional and the applicants may avail this service at a nominal price NGN 2000 (all taxes included). This includes cost of form filling and the print out of the online application form.

Please contact the VAC staff to know more about the Form Filling service.

Overview

On 1 January 2023 Croatia became a Schengen area Member State (Schengen acquis is fully applicable in Croatia). Third country nationals who are holders of visas and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are no longer permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia without a valid Schengen or Croatian national visa. Citizens of Nigeria who plan to travel to Croatia are required to obtain a visa before departure. Foreign nationals residing in Nigeria should check whether they require a visa for Croatia.

A visa allows foreigners to stay in Croatia or other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any period of 180 days. Time spent in Croatia is added to the time spent in other Schengen countries. Short-stay Visa Calculator of permitted stay can be used as a helping tool to calculate travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa.

If one plans to visit more than one Schengen country in the course of one trip, such Schengen visa application must be submitted to the representative of the country that is applicant’s main destination based on the length of the stay or the purpose of his/her stay. If several Schengen area countries are visited but the main destination cannot be determined, such applications must be submitted to the representative of the Schengen country that is applicant’s first point of entry into the Schengen area.

When entering and leaving the Schengen area, a valid passport must be shown. There is generally no passport control at the borders between Schengen area member states. Holders of valid visas or residence permits in one of the Schengen area countries, may also visit the other Schengen countries. All visas state how many times one can enter Schengen area (one, two or more entries). NB: if visa is only valid for one entry, and if holder of such a visa leaves Schengen, for example to go to the UK, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, re-entry to Schengen is not possible without a new visa. It is therefore important that applicants state in their visa application how many times they will be travelling in and out of Schengen during their visit.

Foreign nationals who have been registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) shall not be allowed to enter Schengen (e.g. if one has been expelled from Croatia or another Schengen country).

Foreign nationals cannot work in Croatia on the basis of a short-term visa. Applicants may be contacted directly by the visa officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Pretoria if further clarifications or additional documents are needed. Submitting a visa application, including all the required documents, does not automatically mean that the visa will be issued. Furthermore, an issued visa is not a guarantee that a foreign citizen will be permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia. On every crossing of the border, the police may require foreign citizens to present all relevant documents, including copies of the Letters of Guarantee for both private and business visits. Visa application fees are non-refundable. Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Documents Required

All applicants are requested to read the following basic requirements carefully and conform to the same while submitting the application.

1. Visa application form: : must be digitally filled in, printed and signed by the applicant, or a parent or legal guardian on behalf of minors. Please ensure to bring your Serial number and PIN with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277 PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms will not be accepted. When completing the online application, please take note that in STEP 4/6 of the online application the Guarantor / Inviting person information is to be filled out ONLY in case of private and business visits (Letters of Guarantee to be attached). Applicants for tourist visas should skip this part and should fill out only the booked hotel/ accommodation/ apartment information in the subsequent part (Information on the residence in Croatia).

The following documents must be scanned and uploaded: Face Photograph 35x45mm; Passport – photo page; Travel Health Insurance; Transportation Booking – e.g. an Air Ticket; Bank Statement. Should you not attach the required documents please inform the VFS Global Visa Application Staff to assist in accessing the application, scanning and uploading the supporting documents, before submission to the Croatian authorities.

2. Passport: issued within the last 10 years, with expiry date a minimum of 3 months after the departure from Croatia and/or Schengen Area, containing at least two empty pages. Please copy all previous (valid and expired) visas.
3. Face photograph: please see the information on the Photo Specification page.
4. Travel health insurance to cover the possible expenses related to medical assistance, hospitalization and repatriation, with the minimal coverage of 30.000,00 EUR. The insurance must be valid for all Schengen Area Member States, during the entire stay. Applicants for a multiple-entry visa must have travel health insurance policy that covers the period of the first visit to the Schengen Area.
5. Proof of residence for nationals other than Nigerian: a photocopy of the valid stay permit.
6. Means of transportation and intention to return to the country of residence: reservation of return travel ticket for airplane, bus, or boat; registration card and driver's license if travelling by car; if the person is travelling to a third country, then proof of itinerary (travel ticket, etc.).
7. Proof of the purpose of stay in Croatia: Letter of Guarantee by Legal Person or Letter of Guarantee by Natural Person: in original or a photocopy if the original has been deposited at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Croatia as per the following instructions. Documents to be submitted when attending specific events, such as conferences, workshops, short term studies, official meetings, cultural or sports events, exhibitions, fairs, training, etc. a) for persons attending sports events, exhibitions and fairs: presentation of a document proving the participation of the applicant in the event; b) for other events: an invitation from the host. The invitation should include clear identification of both the entity issuing it and the invited applicant; nature, duration and venue of the event; applicant´s role in the event and the link between the host and the invited applicant; c) for participation in conferences: a proof of registration and payment. Study: confirmation of acceptance and full enrollment into a study program at a Croatian university or another educational institution. Proof may also include copies of the official invitation, entry tickets, enrolments or programs stating the name of the host organization, the length of stay or other documents proving the purpose of the journey.
8. Documents proving sufficient funds to support the stay in the Schengen Area and to return to the state of residence or to travel to a third state: 70,00 EUR per day of the estimated stay in Croatia. Verifiable evidence of sufficient means of subsistence during the intended stay may include: salary slips; three (3) most recent personal bank statements or balance over last three months; regular income generated by property. Exceptionally, if the Letter of Guarantee indicates that the guarantor is fully covering all the expenses related to the trip, the applicant can be exempt from the requirement of presenting own proof of sufficient funds.
9. Proof of professional or student status: evidence of employment, if self-employed: Tax Clearance Certificate and Certificate of Business Incorporation are required (certificate of registration of a company or business); if student: Letter from school/ college/ university certifying the student status of the applicant; for retired persons – proof of pension.
10. For minors and persons deprived of legal capacity: visa application shall be submitted by a parent or the legal representative. For minors the birth certificate and both parent’s certified copies of IDs or passports must be attached. If minor travels alone: certified consent by both parents; if minor travels with only one parent, the other parent must give a certified consent. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, the relevant court documents must be presented. For persons deprived of legal capacity the relevant court papers must be attached.

Any document attached shall not be older than three months. Croatian authorities may require you to submit additional supporting documents and/or certified translation as well as the international certification (Apostille or full legalization, whichever is applicable) of public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, police clearances etc.) during the visa application process.

Photo Specifications

Photographs must follow the below guidelines

• in colour
• 35x45 mm
• printed on normal photographic paper
• taken against a light background
• full face taken straight forward 30-36 mm from point of the chin to the head of hair
• the person is to be captured with neutral facial expression, with his/her eyes open and mouth closed
• The photograph of a person, who for religious or medical reasons is wearing a head cover, must show the person's cheeks, chin and forehead
• children in photographs must be alone, and their faces fully visible and eyes open

Note : Please follow these instructions carefully. If the presented photos do not follow these requirements your application will be considered incomplete!

Processing Time

Applications can be lodged no more than 6 months before the start of the intended trip. Seafarers travelling in the performance of their duties can lodge their application up to 9 months before the start of the intended trip. Applications must be submitted by applicants themselves; or in the case of minors by a parent or legal guardian, no later than 45 days before the intended departure and that only through VFS Global.

Due to logistical constraints applications with departure date within 30 days SHALL NOT be accepted. Departures between 30 and 45 days of application carry a high risk of losing travel arrangements and shall be accepted only with applicant’s written consent. All fees are non-refundable.

It is recommended that applications are lodged early, considering national holidays of Croatia and of Nigeria, as those may affect processing times. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.

The standard processing time for applications submitted through VFS Global in Abuja (including transportation of documents to and back from South Africa) is around 45 days, which can further be extended if the supporting documents are not submitted as per the requirements or due to other factors and/or justified reasons.

During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn. No questions about the processing status can be answered by the Embassy during the processing time. Furthermore, general inquiries are not answered at any time.

Download Forms

Visa application form (VAF) has to be filled in digitally on your computer for all the applicants, including all minors. The form needs to be signed personally by the applicant on the last page. For minors, the application must be signed by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Electronically filled visa application form must be submitted to the VFS with the on-line application serial number and PIN. Please ensure to bring your Serial number with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277; PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms shall not be accepted.

Please note that the Visa Application Centre is introducing the Form Filling service for the convenience of the applicants at the Centre.

The service is purely optional and the applicants may avail this service at a nominal price NGN 2000 (all taxes included). This includes cost of form filling and the print out of the online application form.

Please contact the VAC staff to know more about the Form Filling service.

Overview

On 1 January 2023 Croatia became a Schengen area Member State (Schengen acquis is fully applicable in Croatia). Third country nationals who are holders of visas and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are no longer permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia without a valid Schengen or Croatian national visa. Citizens of Nigeria who plan to travel to Croatia are required to obtain a visa before departure. Foreign nationals residing in Nigeria should check whether they require a visa for Croatia.

A visa allows foreigners to stay in Croatia or other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any period of 180 days. Time spent in Croatia is added to the time spent in other Schengen countries. Short-stay Visa Calculator of permitted stay can be used as a helping tool to calculate travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa.

If one plans to visit more than one Schengen country in the course of one trip, such Schengen visa application must be submitted to the representative of the country that is applicant’s main destination based on the length of the stay or the purpose of his/her stay. If several Schengen area countries are visited but the main destination cannot be determined, such applications must be submitted to the representative of the Schengen country that is applicant’s first point of entry into the Schengen area.

When entering and leaving the Schengen area, a valid passport must be shown. There is generally no passport control at the borders between Schengen area member states. Holders of valid visas or residence permits in one of the Schengen area countries, may also visit the other Schengen countries. All visas state how many times one can enter Schengen area (one, two or more entries). NB: if visa is only valid for one entry, and if holder of such a visa leaves Schengen, for example to go to the UK, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, re-entry to Schengen is not possible without a new visa. It is therefore important that applicants state in their visa application how many times they will be travelling in and out of Schengen during their visit.

Foreign nationals who have been registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) shall not be allowed to enter Schengen (e.g. if one has been expelled from Croatia or another Schengen country).

Foreign nationals cannot work in Croatia on the basis of a short-term visa. Applicants may be contacted directly by the visa officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Pretoria if further clarifications or additional documents are needed. Submitting a visa application, including all the required documents, does not automatically mean that the visa will be issued. Furthermore, an issued visa is not a guarantee that a foreign citizen will be permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia. On every crossing of the border, the police may require foreign citizens to present all relevant documents, including copies of the Letters of Guarantee for both private and business visits. Visa application fees are non-refundable. Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Documents Required

All applicants are requested to read the following basic requirements carefully and conform to the same while submitting the application. If the applicant intends to enter the territory of a Schengen Member State, however, short the stay will be (including change of airports, going from an airport to a train or bus station, or even change of terminals when that entails entering the territory of the Member State), he/she must apply for a short stay visa (Type-C).

Airport transit (Type-A): flight ticket, proof of entry permit (visa) for the country of final destination.

Any document attached shall not be older than three months. Croatian Embassy in Pretoria may require you to submit additional supporting documents and/or certified translation as well as the international certification (Apostille) of the public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates) during the visa application process.

Photo Specifications

Photographs must follow the below guidelines

• in colour
• 35x45 mm
• printed on normal photographic paper
• taken against a light background
• full face taken straight forward 30-36 mm from point of the chin to the head of hair
• the person is to be captured with neutral facial expression, with his/her eyes open and mouth closed
• The photograph of a person, who for religious or medical reasons is wearing a head cover, must show the person's cheeks, chin and forehead
• children in photographs must be alone, and their faces fully visible and eyes open

Note : Please follow these instructions carefully. If the presented photos do not follow these requirements your application will be considered incomplete!

Processing Time

Applications can be lodged no more than 6 months before the start of the intended trip. Seafarers travelling in the performance of their duties can lodge their application up to 9 months before the start of the intended trip. Applications must be submitted by applicants themselves; or in the case of minors by a parent or legal guardian, no later than 45 days before the intended departure and that only through VFS Global.

Due to logistical constraints applications with departure date within 30 days SHALL NOT be accepted. Departures between 30 and 45 days of application carry a high risk of travel arrangements’ loss and shall be accepted only with applicant’s written consent. All fees are non-refundable.

It is recommended that applications are lodged early, considering national holidays of Croatia and of Nigeria, as those may affect processing times. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.

The standard processing time for applications submitted through VFS Global in Abuja (including transportation of documents to and back from South Africa) is around 45 days, which can further be extended if the supporting documents are not submitted as per the requirements or due to other factors and/or justified reasons.

During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn. No questions about the processing status can be answered by the Embassy during the processing time. Furthermore, general inquiries are not answered at any time.

Download Forms

Visa application form (VAF) has to be filled in digitally on your computer for all the applicants, including all minors. The form needs to be signed personally by the applicant on the last page. For minors, the application must be signed by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Electronically filled visa application form must be submitted to the VFS with the on-line application serial number and PIN. Please ensure to bring your Serial number with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277; PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms shall not be accepted.

Please note that the Visa Application Centre is introducing the Form Filling service for the convenience of the applicants at the Centre.

The service is purely optional and the applicants may avail this service at a nominal price NGN 2000 (all taxes included). This includes cost of form filling and the print out of the online application form.

Please contact the VAC staff to know more about the Form Filling service.

Overview

On 1 January 2023 Croatia became a Schengen area Member State (Schengen acquis is fully applicable in Croatia). Third country nationals who are holders of visas and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are no longer permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia without a valid Schengen or Croatian national visa. Citizens of Nigeria who plan to travel to Croatia are required to obtain a visa before departure. Foreign nationals residing in Nigeria should check whether they require a visa for Croatia.

A visa allows foreigners to stay in Croatia or other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any period of 180 days. Time spent in Croatia is added to the time spent in other Schengen countries. Short-stay Visa Calculator of permitted stay can be used as a helping tool to calculate travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa.

If one plans to visit more than one Schengen country in the course of one trip, such Schengen visa application must be submitted to the representative of the country that is applicant’s main destination based on the length of the stay or the purpose of his/her stay. If several Schengen area countries are visited but the main destination cannot be determined, such applications must be submitted to the representative of the Schengen country that is applicant’s first point of entry into the Schengen area.

When entering and leaving the Schengen area, a valid passport must be shown. There is generally no passport control at the borders between Schengen area member states. Holders of valid visas or residence permits in one of the Schengen area countries, may also visit the other Schengen countries. All visas state how many times one can enter Schengen area (one, two or more entries). NB: if visa is only valid for one entry, and if holder of such a visa leaves Schengen, for example to go to the UK, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, re-entry to Schengen is not possible without a new visa. It is therefore important that applicants state in their visa application how many times they will be travelling in and out of Schengen during their visit.

Foreign nationals who have been registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) shall not be allowed to enter Schengen (e.g. if one has been expelled from Croatia or another Schengen country).

Foreign nationals cannot work in Croatia on the basis of a short-term visa. Applicants may be contacted directly by the visa officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Pretoria if further clarifications or additional documents are needed. Submitting a visa application, including all the required documents, does not automatically mean that the visa will be issued. Furthermore, an issued visa is not a guarantee that a foreign citizen will be permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia. On every crossing of the border, the police may require foreign citizens to present all relevant documents, including copies of the Letters of Guarantee for both private and business visits. Visa application fees are non-refundable. Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Documents Required

All applicants are requested to read the following basic requirements carefully and conform to the same while submitting the application.

1. Visa application form: : must be digitally filled in, printed and signed by the applicant, or a parent or legal guardian on behalf of minors. Please ensure to bring your Serial number and PIN with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277 PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms will not be accepted. When completing the online application, please take note that in STEP 4/6 of the online application the Guarantor / Inviting person information is to be filled out ONLY in case of private and business visits (Letters of Guarantee to be attached). Applicants for tourist visas should skip this part and should fill out only the booked hotel/ accommodation/ apartment information in the subsequent part (Information on the residence in Croatia).

The following documents must be scanned and uploaded: Face Photograph 35x45mm; Passport – photo page; Travel Health Insurance; Transportation Booking – e.g. an Air Ticket; Bank Statement. Should you not attach the required documents please inform the VFS Global Visa Application Staff to assist in accessing the application, scanning and uploading the supporting documents, before submission to the Croatian authorities.

2. Passport: issued within the last 10 years, with expiry date a minimum of 3 months after the departure from Croatia and/or Schengen Area, containing at least two empty pages. Please copy all previous (valid and expired) visas.
3. Face photograph: please see the information on the Photo Specification page.
4. Travel health insurance to cover the possible expenses related to medical assistance, hospitalization and repatriation, with the minimal coverage of 30.000,00 EUR. The insurance must be valid for all Schengen Area Member States, during the entire stay. Applicants for a multiple-entry visa must have travel health insurance policy that covers the period of the first visit to the Schengen Area.
5. Proof of residence for nationals other than Nigerian: a photocopy of the valid stay permit.
6. Means of transportation and intention to return to the country of residence: reservation of return travel ticket for airplane, bus, or boat; registration card and driver's license if travelling by car; if the person is travelling to a third country, then proof of itinerary (travel ticket, etc.).
7. Proof of the purpose of stay in Croatia: Letter of Guarantee by Legal Person or Letter of Guarantee by Natural Person: in original or a photocopy if the original has been deposited at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Croatia as per the following instructions. Letter of invitation issued by a Croatian state authority, or the organizer of an international meeting or manifestation organized under the auspices of the Croatian Parliament, the President of the Republic of Croatia or the Government of the Republic of Croatia. Official visits require a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria or another country. Hotel booking.
8. Documents proving sufficient funds to support the stay in the Schengen Area and to return to the state of residence or to travel to a third state: 70 EUR per day of the estimated stay – applicants traveling in official capacity (holders of diplomatic and service passports) might be exempted from this requirement.
9. Proof of professional or student status: evidence of employment.
10. For minors and persons deprived of legal capacity: visa application shall be submitted by a parent or the legal representative. For minors the birth certificate and both parent’s certified copies of IDs or passports must be attached. If minor travels alone: certified consent by both parents; if minor travels with only one parent, the other parent must give a certified consent. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, the relevant court documents must be presented. For persons deprived of legal capacity the relevant court papers must be attached.

Any document attached shall not be older than three months. Croatian authorities may require you to submit additional supporting documents and/or certified translation as well as the international certification (Apostille or full legalization, whichever is applicable) of public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, police clearances etc.) during the visa application process.

Photo Specifications

Photographs must follow the below guidelines

• in colour
• 35x45 mm
• printed on normal photographic paper
• taken against a light background
• full face taken straight forward 30-36 mm from point of the chin to the head of hair
• the person is to be captured with neutral facial expression, with his/her eyes open and mouth closed
• The photograph of a person, who for religious or medical reasons is wearing a head cover, must show the person's cheeks, chin and forehead
• children in photographs must be alone, and their faces fully visible and eyes open

Note : Please follow these instructions carefully. If the presented photos do not follow these requirements your application will be considered incomplete!

Processing Time

Applications can be lodged no more than 6 months before the start of the intended trip. Seafarers travelling in the performance of their duties can lodge their application up to 9 months before the start of the intended trip. Applications must be submitted by applicants themselves; or in the case of minors by a parent or legal guardian, no later than 45 days before the intended departure and that only through VFS Global.

Due to logistical constraints applications with departure date within 30 days SHALL NOT be accepted. Departures between 30 and 45 days of application carry a high risk of travel arrangements’ loss and shall be accepted only with applicant’s written consent. All fees are non-refundable.

It is recommended that applications are lodged early, considering national holidays of Croatia and of Nigeria, as those may affect processing times. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.

The standard processing time for applications submitted through VFS Global in Abuja (including transportation of documents to and back from South Africa) is around 45 days, which can further be extended if the supporting documents are not submitted as per the requirements or due to other factors and/or justified reasons.

During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn. No questions about the processing status can be answered by the Embassy during the processing time. Furthermore, general inquiries are not answered at any time.

Download Forms

Visa application form (VAF) has to be filled in digitally on your computer for all the applicants, including all minors. The form needs to be signed personally by the applicant on the last page. For minors, the application must be signed by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Electronically filled visa application form must be submitted to the VFS with the on-line application serial number and PIN. Please ensure to bring your Serial number with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277; PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms shall not be accepted.

Please note that the Visa Application Centre is introducing the Form Filling service for the convenience of the applicants at the Centre.

The service is purely optional and the applicants may avail this service at a nominal price NGN 2000 (all taxes included). This includes cost of form filling and the print out of the online application form.

Please contact the VAC staff to know more about the Form Filling service.

Overview

On 1 January 2023 Croatia became a Schengen area Member State (Schengen acquis is fully applicable in Croatia). Third country nationals who are holders of visas and residence permits of Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania are no longer permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia without a valid Schengen or Croatian national visa. Citizens of Nigeria who plan to travel to Croatia are required to obtain a visa before departure. Foreign nationals residing in Nigeria should check whether they require a visa for Croatia.

A visa allows foreigners to stay in Croatia or other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any period of 180 days. Time spent in Croatia is added to the time spent in other Schengen countries. Short-stay Visa Calculator of permitted stay can be used as a helping tool to calculate travel days remaining under a Schengen short-stay visa.

If one plans to visit more than one Schengen country in the course of one trip, such Schengen visa application must be submitted to the representative of the country that is applicant’s main destination based on the length of the stay or the purpose of his/her stay. If several Schengen area countries are visited but the main destination cannot be determined, such applications must be submitted to the representative of the Schengen country that is applicant’s first point of entry into the Schengen area.

When entering and leaving the Schengen area, a valid passport must be shown. There is generally no passport control at the borders between Schengen area member states. Holders of valid visas or residence permits in one of the Schengen area countries, may also visit the other Schengen countries. All visas state how many times one can enter Schengen area (one, two or more entries). NB: if visa is only valid for one entry, and if holder of such a visa leaves Schengen, for example to go to the UK, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, re-entry to Schengen is not possible without a new visa. It is therefore important that applicants state in their visa application how many times they will be travelling in and out of Schengen during their visit.

Foreign nationals who have been registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS) shall not be allowed to enter Schengen (e.g. if one has been expelled from Croatia or another Schengen country).

Foreign nationals cannot work in Croatia on the basis of a short-term visa. Applicants may be contacted directly by the visa officer at the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Pretoria if further clarifications or additional documents are needed. Submitting a visa application, including all the required documents, does not automatically mean that the visa will be issued. Furthermore, an issued visa is not a guarantee that a foreign citizen will be permitted to enter the Republic of Croatia. On every crossing of the border, the police may require foreign citizens to present all relevant documents, including copies of the Letters of Guarantee for both private and business visits. Visa application fees are non-refundable. Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Documents Required

All applicants are requested to read the following basic requirements carefully and conform to the same while submitting the application.

1. Visa application form: : must be digitally filled in, printed and signed by the applicant, or a parent or legal guardian on behalf of minors. Please ensure to bring your Serial number and PIN with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277 PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms will not be accepted. When completing the online application, please take note that in STEP 4/6 of the online application the Guarantor / Inviting person information is to be filled out ONLY in case of private and business visits (Letters of Guarantee to be attached). Applicants for tourist visas should skip this part and should fill out only the booked hotel/ accommodation/ apartment information in the subsequent part (Information on the residence in Croatia).

The following documents must be scanned and uploaded: Face Photograph 35x45mm; Passport – photo page; Travel Health Insurance; Transportation Booking – e.g. an Air Ticket; Bank Statement. Should you not attach the required documents please inform the VFS Global Visa Application Staff to assist in accessing the application, scanning and uploading the supporting documents, before submission to the Croatian authorities.

2. Passport: issued within the last 10 years, with expiry date a minimum of 3 months after the departure from Croatia and/or Schengen Area, containing at least two empty pages. Please copy all previous (valid and expired) visas.
3. Face photograph: please see the information on the Photo Specification page.
4. Travel health insurance (if applicable) to cover expenses related to medical assistance, hospitalization and repatriation.
5. Proof of residence for nationals other than Nigerian: a photocopy of the valid stay permit.
6. Means of transportation and intention to return to the country of residence: reservation of return travel ticket (e.g. air ticket).
7. Proof of the purpose of stay in Croatia: Letter of Guarantee by Legal Person in original or a photocopy if the original has been deposited at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Croatia as per the following instructions. Certificate from the applicant's physician or a hospital, verified, if necessary, by another independent medical body, confirming the need for specific medical treatment to be provided in the country of destination; an official document of the receiving medical institution in the Member State confirming that it can perform the specific medical treatment and the patient will be accepted accordingly; proof of pre-payment of the treatment or other proof of sufficient financial means to cover the medical treatment and related expenses, such as additional insurance coverage; correspondence between the sending and receiving sides, if available.
8. Documents proving sufficient funds.
9. Proof of professional or student status: evidence of employment, if self-employed: Tax Clearance Certificate and Certificate of Business Incorporation are required (certificate of registration of a company or business); if student: Letter from school/ college/ university certifying the student status of the applicant; for retired persons – proof of pension.
10. For minors and persons deprived of legal capacity: visa application shall be submitted by a parent or the legal representative. For minors the birth certificate and both parent’s certified copies of IDs or passports must be attached. If minor travels alone: certified consent by both parents; if minor travels with only one parent, the other parent must give a certified consent. If only one parent has guardianship of the minor, the relevant court documents must be presented. For persons deprived of legal capacity the relevant court papers must be attached.

Any document attached shall not be older than three months. Croatian authorities may require you to submit additional supporting documents and/or certified translation as well as the international certification (Apostille or full legalization, whichever is applicable) of public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, police clearances etc.) during the visa application process.

Photo Specifications

Photographs must follow the below guidelines

• in colour
• 35x45 mm
• printed on normal photographic paper
• taken against a light background
• full face taken straight forward 30-36 mm from point of the chin to the head of hair
• the person is to be captured with neutral facial expression, with his/her eyes open and mouth closed
• The photograph of a person, who for religious or medical reasons is wearing a head cover, must show the person's cheeks, chin and forehead
• children in photographs must be alone, and their faces fully visible and eyes open

Note : Please follow these instructions carefully. If the presented photos do not follow these requirements your application will be considered incomplete!

Processing Time

Applications can be lodged no more than 6 months before the start of the intended trip. Seafarers travelling in the performance of their duties can lodge their application up to 9 months before the start of the intended trip. Applications must be submitted by applicants themselves; or in the case of minors by a parent or legal guardian, no later than 45 days before the intended departure and that only through VFS Global.

Due to logistical constraints applications with departure date within 30 days SHALL NOT be accepted. Departures between 30 and 45 days of application carry a high risk of travel arrangements’ loss and shall be accepted only with applicant’s written consent. All fees are non-refundable.

It is recommended that applications are lodged early, considering national holidays of Croatia and of Nigeria, as those may affect processing times. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.

The standard processing time for applications submitted through VFS Global in Abuja (including transportation of documents to and back from South Africa) is around 45 days, which can further be extended if the supporting documents are not submitted as per the requirements or due to other factors and/or justified reasons.

During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn. No questions about the processing status can be answered by the Embassy during the processing time. Furthermore, general inquiries are not answered at any time.

Download Forms

Visa application form (VAF) has to be filled in digitally on your computer for all the applicants, including all minors. The form needs to be signed personally by the applicant on the last page. For minors, the application must be signed by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Electronically filled visa application form must be submitted to the VFS with the on-line application serial number and PIN. Please ensure to bring your Serial number with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277; PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms shall not be accepted.

Please note that the Visa Application Centre is introducing the Form Filling service for the convenience of the applicants at the Centre.

The service is purely optional and the applicants may avail this service at a nominal price NGN 2000 (all taxes included). This includes cost of form filling and the print out of the online application form.

Please contact the VAC staff to know more about the Form Filling service.

Overview

Visa type D substitutes the procedure of short-term (type C) visa applications of third-country nationals who have been granted temporary stay or were issued stay and work permits by the competent Police Directorate or Police Administration in the Republic of Croatia.

The long-term visa is an approval to enter and stay in the territory of the Republic of Croatia for up to 30 days (within which an application for a biometric residency card should be submitted once the visa holder arrives to the Republic of Croatia) if a third-country national has been granted temporary stay for the purpose of:

• family reunification
• secondary school education
• university studies
• research
• humanitarian grounds
• life partnership
• work
• work of a posted worker
• stay of long-term residents in another EEA Member State
• stay of digital nomads
• other purposes.

Visa type D is issued to third-country nationals who have been granted temporary stay or have been issued stay and work permit, and are required to hold a short-term visa to enter the Republic of Croatia; for a maximum of 30-days' stay; for one (1) or multiple (MULT) entries; with the period of validity no longer than six months; long-term visa shall not become valid prior to the beginning of validity of the granted temporary stay or the issued stay and work permit in the Republic of Croatia; in a valid travel document in the form of the sticker also used for the issuance of visas type C; the letter “D” is entered into the category “Type of Visa”.

A long-term visa application shall be considered admissible if:

• it was submitted no earlier than two months before and no later than two months after the beginning of validity of temporary stay permit or the issued stay and work permit;
• it was submitted on a prescribed form;
• a travel document is presented along with the application with validity of at least three months longer than the validity of the granted temporary stay;
• the third-country national has been granted temporary stay or issued a stay and work permit in the Republic of Croatia;
• the prescribed administrative fee has been paid.

If the above conditions are not fulfilled, long-term visa application shall be considered inadmissible and all the documents enclosed shall be returned to the applicant.

Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Visa Fees

Fees are due on the visa application when applying.

There is a service charge (VFS Fees + Mandatory two-way courier) levied per application over and above the visa fees. (Service charge is inclusive of all taxes) The fee mentioned is per applicant is paid online while booking appointment on our website.

Service fees are paid in Naira in the Visa Application Center while submitting the visa application

Please note:

• The Courier fee is mandatory for all applicants.
• All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
• The Service charge & Courier charge are inclusive of all taxes.

The following are exempt from short-term visa (visa C) fees upon application: close family members of a Croatian national (spouse and children up to the age of 21); close family members of citizens of the EEA Member States and Switzerland (spouse and children up to the age of 21) – NB: exceptions apply; all children up to the age of 12; holders of diplomatic and service passports travelling in their official capacity; pupils, students, postgraduate students and teachers accompanying them to attend school; researchers coming to conduct research, as provided for by the Recommendation of the European Parliament and of the Council of 28 September 2005. All fee exemptions shall be double verified. In case an exemption was not justified, the applicant will be contacted by the Embassy to pay the applicable fee before the file is assessed.

Documents Required

All applicants are requested to read the following basic requirements carefully and conform to the same while submitting the application.

When applying for a long-term visa, the applicant is obliged to submit:

• filled in and personally signed prescribed long-term visa (type D) application form;
• valid travel document with at least two empty pages, issued within the past ten years, with validity at least three months longer than the validity of the granted temporary stay or issued stay and work permit;
• a face photograph, please see the information on the Photo Specification page;
• proof of granted temporary stay or issued stay and work permit in the Republic of Croatia (photocopy of the relevant administrative decision);
• proof of means of transportation (e.g. air ticket);
• Contract of Employment for applicants holding Stay and Work permits;
• proof of valid travel health insurance to cover the possible expenses (for the first 30 days in the Republic of Croatia) related to medical assistance and hospitalization, with the minimum coverage of 30.000,00 EUR.

Visa application form must be digitally filled in, printed and signed by the applicant, or a parent or legal guardian on behalf of minors. Please ensure to bring your Serial number and PIN with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277 PIN: e.g. STGII).

In addition to a digitally filled form, a hand filled Application for Long-Term Visa (D) must be brought to the Visa Application Centre.

Any document attached shall not be older than three months. Croatian Embassy in Pretoria may require you to submit additional supporting documents and/or certified translation as well as the international certification (Apostille or full legalization, whichever is applicable) of public documents (e.g. birth and marriage certificates, police clearances etc.) during the visa application process.

Any falsification of documents and the use of such documents may be subject to criminal prosecution.

Photo Specifications

A Photograph submitted with the application form should comply with the following specifications:

• Latest photograph not older than 6 months
• Color photograph printed on normal photographic paper
• Should be passport sized 45mm x 35mm
• 70-80% of the photograph should be covered by face
• Full face straight profile photograph, 30-36 mm from point of the chin to head
• Should be taken against a light background
• Should be without sunglasses, hat or cap
• Photograph can be taken with headgear, after consideration on case to case basis if the applicant wears headgear on religious grounds.
• Spectacles should not have toned or reflecting glasses. The frame of the spectacles may not cover the eyes
• The mouth must be closed

Please note that photographs should meet the above mentioned specifications

Processing Time

Applications can be lodged no more than two months before and no later than two months after the beginning of the validity of temporary stay permit or the issued stay and work permit. Applications must be submitted by applicants themselves; or in the case of minors by a parent or legal guardian, and that only through VFS Global, no later than 45 days before the intended departure.

Due to logistical constraints applications with departure date within 30 days SHALL NOT be accepted. Departures between 30 and 45 days of application carry a high risk of travel arrangements’ loss and shall be accepted only with applicant’s written consent. All fees are non-refundable.

It is recommended that applications are lodged early, considering national holidays of Croatia and of Nigeria, as those may affect processing times. Holders of a multiple-entry visa (valid for a period of at least six months) may lodge the application for a new visa before the expiry of that visa.

The standard processing time for applications submitted through VFS Global in Abuja (including transportation of documents to and back from South Africa) is around 45 days, which can further be extended if the supporting documents are not submitted as per the requirements or due to other factors and/or justified reasons.

During the processing of your visa application your passport has to remain with the Croatian Embassy and cannot be withdrawn. No questions about the processing status can be answered by the Embassy during the processing time. Furthermore, general inquiries are not answered at any time.

Download Forms

Visa application form (VAF) has to be filled in digitally on your computer for all the applicants, including all minors. The form needs to be signed personally by the applicant on the last page. For minors, the application must be signed by one of the parents or a legal guardian.

Electronically filled visa application form must be submitted to the VFS with the on-line application serial number and PIN. Please ensure to bring your Serial number with your form (Serial number: e.g. 1434277; PIN: e.g. STGII). Hand written forms shall not be accepted.

Please note that the Visa Application Centre is introducing the Form Filling service for the convenience of the applicants at the Centre.

The service is purely optional and the applicants may avail this service at a nominal price NGN 2000 (all taxes included). This includes cost of form filling and the print out of the online application form.

Please contact the VAC staff to know more about the Form Filling service.