About Sailing in Croatia
Unique in so many ways, Croatia has roots extending from ancient times and a great cultural wealth which tells of its turbulent history, from the Roman era to the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and Ottoman conquests, right up to the present day. This cultural wealth is exceptionally appealing to all those who visit the country. If we then include in this the amazing natural beauty which attracts visitors throughout the year, the 8 national parks, 11 nature reserves and the numerous UNESCO world heritage sites, Croatia can truly be called a country of incredible magnetic attraction.
Yes, Croatia is all that and so much more. It is the home of the necktie, the parachute, the torpedo, the mechanical pencil, the filament light bulb, the world's fastest electric car, the Dalmatian dog, Marco Polo, one of the oldest cities and parliaments in Europe, the second longest stretch of defensive walls in Europe, the smallest cathedral, the oldest arboretum, the oldest film festival in the world, and the birthplace of great athletes.
And last but by no means least - the Croats themselves! The Croatian people and their kindness are a magnet that keeps drawing tourists back. Sometimes the hospitality of the locals will make you wonder whether you are in your own home or simply - on holiday in Croatia!
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
- ID (EU and EEA citizens and Switzerland) or passport. A visa is necessary for the citizens of certain third countries. The Croatian visa policy can be consulted here: www.mvep.hr/en/consular-information/.
- Information: Diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Croatia abroad (http://www.mvep.hr/hr/predstavnistva/dmkurh-u-svijetu/) or the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia
- Tel. +385 1 4569 964, Web: www.mvep.hr/en
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
As an EU member state, member of the Customs Union, and participant in the common market, the Republic of Croatia has implemented the customs legislation of the European Union on its territory, as well as legislation adopted on the national level.
The import of personal luggage of third-country nationals is exempt from import duties, without any limitations regarding its value, and this applies to every individual-passenger who enters the EU customs area, regardless of whether they carry their luggage with them or if it arrived separately, providing that the passenger can prove to the person responsible for its transport that all indicated luggage was declared simultaneously at departure. Personal luggage (personal belongings) here implies items for personal use (in reasonable amounts) that a passenger requires during their journey or stay outside their usual place of residence, such as clothes, shoes, toiletries, etc.
Items that are in the personal luggage of the passenger, which by its type and quantity are not for resale but solely for the personal use of the passenger and members of their family, is exempt from import duties if its total value does not exceed the equivalent value of HRK 2,200.00, or for air and sea transport the
value of HRK 3,200.00. This exemption applies to each passenger individually. Those items where the value exceeds the specified amount or are not considered to be personal luggage are subject to customs duties and value added tax (and possibly excise duties as well). The luggage of passengers who are under 15 years of age is exempt from import duties up to a total value of the equivalent of HRK 1,100.00, regardless of the mode of transport used.
Passengers are obliged to report to the Customs Service when they are carrying the equivalent of EUR 10,000.00 or more in cash, whatever the currency, or in any other means of payment, such as cheques, whenever they enter or leave the EU.
Third-country nationals may temporarily import items for their personal use (such as musical instruments, laptops, fishing gear, bicycles and other sports equipment, etc.), as well as for the use of their family members, without being liable to import duties. Also, nationals of EU member states may temporarily export items they need during their stay in a third country.
The personal belongings of passengers include any items, whether new or used, which a traveller may reasonably need for his or her personal use during the journey excluding all goods being imported for commercial purposes. Examples of personal items are: video cameras, portable TV sets and audio devices, cameras, laptops, PCs, camping, sailing, scuba diving, skiing, skating and hiking equipment, caravans, pleasure crafts, portable medical devices with accessories (if necessary to the passenger), pets and the like. The import of such goods is made by oral declaration without any particular customs formalities at the border crossing. The re-export of the above items is done in the same way.
Natural persons, who are neither residents nor have a usual address in the European Union, are entitled to a refund of value added tax (PDV) on the goods they have purchased in Croatia, if the value of the goods exceeds HRK 740 per purchase. The refund is obtained upon presentation of the completed form PDV-P, i.e. Tax free form that must be certified, within 3 months of the date stated on the invoice or delivery note, by Customs when taking the goods out of the European Union. Foreign citizens must submit the VAT refund request within six months of the date of purchase. It is not possible to certify the PDV-P form or Tax-free form once the goods have been carried out of the European Union.
PET ANIMALS
Before travelling to the Republic of Croatia (and other countries) with a pet animal, the owner must look into all applicable conditions for non-commercial movement of pet animals in a timely manner.
For further information, please contact the Customs Administration website (https://carina.gov.hr/pristup-informacijama/propisi-i-sporazumi/carinskozakonodavstvo/fizicke-osobe-2715/2715).
For information on the regulations relating to the import of products of animal origin in personal luggage see the Ministry of Agriculture - Administration for Veterinary Medicine and Food Safety website: http://www.veterinarstvo.hr/ default.aspx?id=1186.
CROATIA Full of sailing
CURRENCY
The kuna - HRK (1 kuna = 100 lipa). Foreign currency can be exchanged in banks, exchange offices, post offices, and most travel agencies, hotels and camps.
POST OFFICES
- The opening hours of post offices are available on the Croatian Post website, as well as a smartphone app. Some post offices remain open until 0:00 a.m. - the one in Branimirova 4, in the center of Zagreb, as well as at the one at the border crossing of Bajakovo. Info. Tel.: 072 303 304
- Web: www.posta.hr
- E-mail: [email protected]
Working Hours for Shops and Services
During the tourist season, most shops are open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on weekdays, and most are open during the weekends as well. Public services and business offices work from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday to Friday.
HEALTH SERVICES
Hospitals and clinics are found in all larger towns and cities, while smaller places have outpatient units and pharmacies. Foreign visitors who have compulsory health insurance in other EU countries and EEA (Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein) and Switzerland during their temporary stay in Croatia have the right to basic healthcare, on the basis of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Healthcare on the basis of the EHIC may be used in all healthcare institutions and with all MDs that have a regular contract with the Croatian Health Insurance Fund. They only bear the cost of participation in cases when Croatian insured persons pay it as well.
Tourists that have compulsory insurance in countries which have signed a social security agreement with Croatia, regulating the use of healthcare services (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, FYRM, Turkey) have the right to emergency health care during their temporary stay in Croatia. The precondition is that they request from their insurer the certificate of the right to health care during temporary stay in Croatia, before they leave for Croatia. The Croatian Health Insurance Fund (in the place of their stay) will change it into a health insurance certificate. They can benefit from health care services on the basis of the abovementioned certificate in contracting healthcare institutions and MDs, and they will only bear the cost of participation in cases when Croatian insured persons pay it as well.
Persons coming from third countries (countries that are not EU/EEA members, Switzerland or contracting countries) bear all healthcare costs in Croatia themselves. For further information, please contact the Croatian Health Insurance Fund - compulsory health insurance 0800 79 79, premium health insurance 0800 79 89; Ministry of Health toll free number 0800 79 99; web: www.hzzo.hr, and the National contact point for cross-border healthcare, E-mail: [email protected], tel.: + 385 1 644 90 90
Power supply: 220 V, frequency 50 Hz
Tap water is safe to drink in all parts of Croatia.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
1 January - New Year's Day, 6 January - Epiphany, Easter Sunday & Easter Monday, 1 May - Labour Day, 22 June - Anti-Fascist Resistance Day, 25 June - Statehood Day, 5 August - Victory Day and National Thanksgiving Day, Veterans' Day, 15 August - Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 8 October - Independence Day, 1 November - All Saints' Day, 25 December - Christmas, 26 December - St. Stephen's Day
CROATIA Full of sailing
PETROL STATIONS
Petrol stations in larger cities and on motorways are open 24 hours a day. Petrol stations sell Eurosuper 95, Super 95, Super 98, Super plus 98, Euro Diesel and Diesel, and gas (LPG) is also available in major cities, and at petrol stations on motorways. For information on fuel prices and a list of places selling LPG gas go to: www.ina.hr; www.hak.hr; www.tifon.hr; www.crodux-derivati.hr
Important Contact Numbers
- International dialling code for Croatia: +385
- Ambulance: 194
- Fire Brigade: 193
- Police: 192
- Roadside vehicle assistance: (+385 1) 1987
- National Centre for the Co-ordination of Search and Rescue at Sea: 195
- National Protection and Rescue (single European number for emergency services): 11 General information: 18981
- Information on subscribers' telephone numbers: 11880 and 11888
- Information on international subscribers' telephone numbers: 11802
- Duty forecaster of the Meteorological and Hydrological Service (9 a.m. - 5 p.m.): 060616666 (T-com), price: 6,99 HRK/min for landlines and 8,41 HRK/min for
- mobile networks.
- Hrvatski autoklub (HAK) (Croatian Autoclub):
- Roadside assistance: 1987
- • from abroad (1) +385 1 1987
- • from abroad (2) +385 1 4693 700
- Road traffic information: 072 777 777 from Croatia
- • from abroad +385 1 464 0800
- User services: 0800 9987
- Web: www.hak.hr; http://map.hak.hr/
Important Information for Guests
For your own comfort and in accordance with the law, please check whether you have been properly registered for the entire duration of your stay, from the date of your arrival to the date of your departure. This is an important and necessary procedure, particularly if you are staying in private accommodation, in order to guarantee the quality of service and your personal safety, as well as to prevent the ilegal provision of accommodation by those who are not registered with the appropriate authorities.
We thank you in advance for your co-operation and wish you a pleasant stay.