Croatia entered the Schengen area on January 1, 2023 thus joining another 26 states and 420 million people in the largest passport-free travel area in the world.

Published 1 year ago

After fewer than 10 years of European Union membership Croatia became the 27th member of the Schengen area, which now comprises 23 out of the 27 EU member states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Border controls at Croatia’s land and sea borders with other EU members have been lifted, and checks at air borders will be lifted from 26 March.

Bulgaria and Romania are not part of the Schengen area as their admission was not given a go ahead by other members in early December, when approval was granted to Croatia.

Neither Cyprus nor Ireland are in this passport-free travel zone.

How will this affect sailing to Croatia?

Now that Croatia has entered Schengen, pleasure yachts (EU or non-EU) arriving into Croatia from another Schengen country (even if the passage to Croatia has crossed international waters), are no longer subject to any border controls and can enter any port in Croatia.

The Navigation Fee and Sojourn Tax must still be paid.

Arrivals from outside Schengen must still sail first to a port of entry to complete clearance procedures.

Approximately 50% of sea border crossings/ports of entry, will close in 2023 now that Croatia is officially a part of Schengen.

Unfortunately, this does now mean Croatia can no longer be used to stop the Schengen clock or duck out of Schengen once your 90 days are up, but neary Montenegro still offers that option.

More details at Croatia Formalities.

Noonsite’s EU page.

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Related News:

• Croatia Enters Europe’s Passport Free Schengen Area (Croatia Week)
  
• Schengen Area to Welcome Croatia (EuroNews)
  
• Croatia Begins Schengen Zone Era (BBC)