Croatia tourist visa
Until recently, Croatia sat outside Schengen. That changed on 1 January 2023, when it joined the area, and the Dalmatian coast now sits within a single visa. A tourist trip needs a Schengen short-stay (Type C) visa, not a separate Croatian one. Indian passport holders apply to the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in New Delhi, with submission and biometrics handled by VFS Global. The visa allows up to 90 days in any 180-day period and lets you move across the whole Schengen Area, not just Croatia.
Apply through Croatia's mission when Croatia is your main destination, meaning where you will spend the most days, or when the stay is split equally, your first point of entry into Schengen. You must appear in person to give biometrics at submission. Only the embassy decides your file. The standard Schengen adult visa fee is EUR 90, on top of VFS service charges.
Who this visa is for
- ✓Indian passport holders travelling for tourism, sightseeing or visiting friends and family, with Croatia as their main Schengen destination or first point of entry.
- ✓Passport valid for at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen Area, issued within the last 10 years, with at least two blank pages.
- ✓Travel medical insurance valid throughout Croatia for the full stay, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, from an insurer on the Croatian mission's approved list.
- ✓Proof of sufficient funds: Croatia applies an indicative minimum of about EUR 70 per day, or about EUR 30 per day if you hold a guarantee letter or fully paid accommodation.
- ✓Demonstrable ties to India (employment, business, family or property) and clear intention to leave within the 90-day limit.
Visa options for Croatia
Short-stay visa (Type C)
The uniform Schengen visa for tourism, visiting family or business. Valid for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, issued for single, double or multiple entry, and usable across all 29 Schengen countries. This is the tourist visa.
Airport transit visa (Type A)
For changing flights in the international transit zone of a Croatian airport without entering Schengen territory. Not required for an actual tourist visit to Croatia.
Long-stay visa (Type D)
National visa for stays longer than 90 days, such as study or residence. Issued by Croatia under its own national rules and separate from the Schengen tourist route.
Documents typically required
- ✓Completed and signed Schengen visa application form, in English or Croatian, with details matching your passport.
- ✓Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least three months beyond departure from Schengen, with at least two blank pages, plus copies of current and previous passports and visas.
- ✓One recent colour photograph, 35 x 45 mm, with a neutral expression, eyes open and mouth closed.
- ✓Return travel ticket or confirmed booking, and a day-by-day itinerary covering the Croatia trip.
- ✓Proof of accommodation for the full stay confirmed in the applicant's name (hotel booking, private accommodation, or a certified letter of guarantee if staying with a host in Croatia).
- ✓Travel medical insurance valid throughout Croatia for the entire stay, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, from an insurer on the Croatian mission's approved list.
- ✓Proof of funds: six months' personal bank statements (signed and stamped) and last three years' Income Tax Returns.
- ✓Proof of professional status: for the employed, an employer letter confirming position and grant of leave; for the self-employed, a request letter on company letterhead with registration papers; for students, a letter from the school or university.
- ✓Cover letter setting out the purpose and dates of the visit.
- ✓All supporting documents except the passport must be dated within the last six months.
Your exact checklist depends on your profile — we confirm it during your case analysis. Every visa decision rests with the embassy or consulate.
You submit in person at a VFS Global centre in New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad or Kolkata, and the Croatian Embassy in New Delhi (A-15, West End) processes the file. You cannot lodge more than 90 days before travel, and if you submit less than 15 days before departure the embassy cannot guarantee a decision in time, so apply well ahead.
Frequently asked questions
Do you guarantee the visa?
No one can, and anyone promising a guaranteed Schengen visa is misleading you. The decision rests entirely with the Croatian embassy/consulate. What we do is give you a frank, honest assessment of your profile up front and then build the strongest possible application, with correct forms, a coherent itinerary and complete financial and supporting documents. Over the last 2-3 years our applications have had a 97% success rate.
Can I visit other Schengen countries on a Croatia tourist visa?
Yes. Since Croatia joined the Schengen Area on 1 January 2023, a Croatia short-stay (Type C) visa lets you travel the whole Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Apply through Croatia only when it is your main destination, the country where you will spend the most nights, or your first point of entry into Schengen.
How long does a Croatia tourist visa take?
The embassy aims to decide within about 15 days of submission, though it can stretch to 30 or 60 days when extra checks are needed. You can lodge up to 90 days before travel, so apply well ahead. The final decision rests with the embassy, not VFS Global or any agent.
Is travel insurance mandatory for a Croatia visa?
Yes. Every Schengen applicant, Croatia included, must carry travel medical insurance valid throughout Croatia for the whole trip, with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000 for urgent medical treatment, hospitalisation and repatriation. The policy must come from Croatia's list of approved insurers.