Natasha EffendyHave you ever wanted to go to Croatia? Well, you’re just in luck! Starting 1 Jan 2023, you can travel to the Land of 1,000 Islands on a Schengen visa. As some of you already know, visa holders are allowed to stay in any country within the zone for up to 90 days over a period of 180 days.
Read on for everything you need to know about travelling to Croatia on a Schengen visa.
Also read: Digital Nomads Can Now Apply for a One-Year Permit to Work in Croatia!
What Croatia’s Schengen membership means for travellers
Image credit: Patricia Jekki
The Schengen visa is a short-term visa that allows travellers to freely travel around 27 countries in the Schengen Area. Its most popular members include Italy, France, Greece, Spain, and Switzerland.
After the official announcement, checks on land and sea borders between Croatia and other Schengen countries will be lifted at the start of 2023. However, the lift on air border controls will begin later on 26 Mar 2023. Until then, Croatian airports will be following technical preparations for these new measures.
Image credit: Hrvoje_Photography 🇭🇷
The European Union initially held a poll to determine admitting Bulgaria, Romania, and Croatia into the Schengen Zone. Prior to this, the European Commission announced that Croatia met all the criteria to join the Schengen area.
In November 2022, the European Parliament supported Croatia’s admission to the Zone, which led to the lifting of borders. This was partly due to the country’s notable efforts in external border management over the past five years.
On the other hand, Bulgaria and Romania did not receive unanimous approval to join the Schengen Area. Austria reported that there were concerns over illegal immigration, which posed the issue of unrecorded people in the Schengen Area.
Travelling to Croatia: What’s on the offer?
Image credit: Patricia Jekki
The soon-to-be check-free borders are the perfect excuse to travel to Croatia in 2023! Not only the country is known as a cheap European destination, but it’s also the primary filming location for the hit show, Game of Thrones. First-time travellers can also spend their trip learning about the country’s rich history in the Dubrovnik Old Town and falling in love with the beauty of Balkan beaches.
Also read: Here Are All the Countries With Zero Travel Restrictions
The addition of Croatia to the Schengen visa could mean a lot for travellers. Not only will they be able to freely pass borders, but they will also have enough time to see the best sights of the continent. So, are you up for the ultimate European adventure? We sure are!
Featured image credit: Ivan Ivankovic | Unsplash
