Foreign and Commonwealth Office Notes on Travel in Croatia
These travel notes have been edited down from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website www.fco.gov.uk, where the full story may be read
Edited by Barry and Margaret Williamson
September 2005
Summary
On 19 September a device exploded in the British Embassy. The authorities are investigating the cause of the explosion. The Embassy is running normally.
Croatia shares with the rest of the Europe a threat from international terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
Unexploded land mines are still a danger. Highly populated areas and major routes are now clear of mines and are safe to visit. However, isolated areas in the mountains and countryside have not all been cleared. You should therefore be careful not to stray from roads and paved areas without an experienced guide.
Most visits to Croatia are trouble free.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.
Safety And Security
Terrorism
Croatia shares with the rest of Europe a threat from international terrorism. Attacks could be indiscriminate and against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
Crime
You should take sensible precautions when carrying money in busy tourist areas, where pickpockets are known to operate. You should report all incidents of crime to the local police station and obtain a report.
Local Travel
If you are planning to travel outside the normal tourist resorts you should be aware that there are areas affected by the war, which ended in 1995, where unexploded mines remain. These areas include the Danube region (Eastern Slavonia) and the former Krajina. You should be wary about leaving cultivated land or marked paths. If in doubt seek local advice.
If you plan to cross into Serbia and Montenegro from Croatia, no visas are required for a stay of up to 90 days. Please note that the Serbia and Montenegro government does not recognise border crossings with Kosovo and those between Kosovo and Albania or Macedonia. For more information contact the nearest Serbia and Montenegro Embassy or see the Serbia and Montenegro travel advice.
Your UK driving license is valid for up to six months from entry into Croatia. If you are staying longer, you need to apply for a Croatian licence. International Driving Licences are not valid in Croatia.
If travelling by car you should ensure, before setting out, that your green card covers Croatia. Insurance can normally be purchased at the main border crossings, however some of the smaller crossings may not have this facility or have limited hours when the service is available. If you are driving to or through Bosnia and Herzegovina, including the 20km strip of coastline at Neum on the Dalmatian coastal highway, you should ensure that your Green Card includes cover for Bosnia and Herzegovina. If this is not the case, temporary third-party insurance can be purchased at the main border posts, or in Split and other large Croatian cities. Insurance cannot be obtained at the Neum border.
Road Safety
Road conditions in and around Zagreb and the larger towns are of a generally good standard. However, drivers should take care when overtaking and use caution around other road users who may unexpectedly overtake repeatedly in slower traffic. Minor roads are usually unlit at night.
Croatia has recently passed laws stating that it is illegal to drive with any alcohol in the system, to drive without dipped headlights on at all times and to use a mobile phone whilst driving.
There have been a number of reported incidents of gangs robbing car occupants after either indicating that they are in trouble and require assistance, or pulling alongside a car and indicating that there seems to be something wrong and they should pull over. You should therefore to be extremely cautious should something similar to the above actions occur.
Local Laws And Customs
Carry your passport at all times. You must be able to show some form of identification if required. Keep a photocopy of the biographical details page (the page where your photograph is) in a safe location, including details of your next of kin.
A violation of local laws may result in a jail sentence, served in a local prison. Drugs related offences are punished with fines and jail sentences.
Entry Requirements
British nationals visiting Croatia for periods of less than three months do not require a visa for tourist or business trips. However, a visa may be required for other types of visit or stay. Unless staying at a hotel or official tourist accommodation, all foreign nationals are required to register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival (in Zagreb you should register at the Police Station at Petrinjska 30, if outside Zagreb, you should register at the nearest main Police Station). Failure to do so may result in a fine or possible removal from Croatia (which may include a restriction on your ability to return to Croatia for a certain period). Additional information on entry and registration requirements, including those for yachts, their crews and passengers, may be obtained from the Consular section of the Croatian Embassy.
Health
Health care facilities, doctors and hospitals may expect up-front cash payment for medical services. We strongly advise you to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance, and check with your insurer to make sure that their policy meets your needs.You should seek medical advice on immunisations before travelling about immunisations, in particular against tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in the summer months.
For further information on health and inoculations, you should consult your doctor or travel clinic, or check the Department of Health's website at www.dh.gov.uk
Croatia has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK where no charge is made for 'emergency' treatment. However, only basic health care facilities are available in outlying areas and islands. This could result in a delay if you require urgent medical care. We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance.
General
The British Embassy in Zagreb does not issue passports and, before setting off, you should ensure that your passport has sufficient validity for the duration of stay and a plentiful supply of unused pages.The loss or theft of a passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the British Embassy in Zagreb. The Embassy can assist you in obtaining a replacement passport. Applications for new passports are accepted in Zagreb for forwarding to the British Embassy in Vienna for processing, but this may take up to six to eight weeks. If a courier is used, the cost will have to borne by the applicant.
Personal and valuable items should not be left unattended, particularly on the beach. Many hotels have safe deposit boxes. If travelling by train, special care should be taken to guard valuables, especially at night.
British nationals who intend staying in Croatia for an extended period of time should register their presence with the Consular Section of the British Embassy in Zagreb (it can be done online).
All major credit/debit cards are accepted in most banks and hotels. Sterling, US Dollars and Euros are easily exchanged for local currency. There are plenty of cashpoints in Zagreb.
Contact Details
Address: British Embassy, Ivana Lucica 4, 10000 Zagreb
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