Croatia now member of Schengen area and eurozone
Croatia recently joined the Schengen Area, as it 27th active member, on January 1, 2024. On the same date Croatia also entered Eurozone and is therefore now using Euro as its currency.
These resolutions came as final steps of a long process begun in 2016.
Among the youngest independent Nations in the European panorama, the Republic of Croatia has been the second country of the Balkan Area, first country being Slovenia, to successfully become member not just of the European Union but also of the Border Free European Travel Area commonly referred to as Schengen Area.
On November 10, 2022, when the European Parliament approved the lifting of internal border controls between Croatia and other Schengen Countries, Paulo Rangel MEP, EU rapporteur on Croatia’s accession to the Schengen Area said:
‘Croatia is ready to join the Schengen free-travel area. It has fulfilled all the necessary conditions. Croatia met 281 recommendations in 8 areas of the Schengen acquis and underwent the most comprehensive evaluation for Schengen membership of any country so far.’
The final endorsement on Croatia’s full Schengen membership came on December 8, 2022, with a positive vote from EU Member Countries.
Schengen admission protocol
Croatia’s Schengen Membership evaluation process started back in 2016 and was only completed in 2020.
The Country, through years-long reforms and investments, has proven to successfully meet all conditions for Schengen admission including, among others, effective management of external borders and cooperation with international law enforcement agencies.
Croatia has also been the first EU country to establish, in June 2021, an Independent Monitoring Mechanism to protect fundamental rights at external borders.
Why is Schengen membership so important?
Being part of the Schengen Area means freedom of movement for people, goods and capitals between Croatia all the other 26 Member Countries.
This implies an increase in the number of people free to travel under without border controls, and a facilitating context for reaching one of the Europe’s fastest growing hotspots.
Schengen Membership is hence expected to be a booster for the tourist industry of Croatia, but it goes far beyond that since the whole national economy will likely benefit from enhanced freedom of movement also through the consolidation of a job market for highly skilled immigrant workers from the rest of Europe.
Another factor that is expected to enhance the growth of its national economy is the use of Euro currency which has replaced the Croatian National currency Kuna also since January 1st 2023.
In addition, Croatia has now started instead issuing type A and type C Schengen visas while it will continue to issue national long-term type D visas, which are generally issued to third-country nationals who were approved for a stay in the country above 90 consecutive days.
On border controls when reaching Croatia
Croatia suspended all sea and land border controls on its boundaries with fellow Schengen members.
Since its participation in the Schengen program became reality so recently there has been a small transitional period that has ended on March 26, 2023. On that date air borders, with other Schengen countries, where also finally lifted.
Border controls are instead fully operational on land borders with neighboring non-Schengen countries such as Bosnia, Serbia and Montenegro and on sea and air border with all Nations that are not part of EU’s border-free travel area.
Croatia border officials and authorities are now, through the support of eu- LISA’s experts, completing their knowledge acquisition and training to be ready for the launch of ETIAS in 2024.
Visitors will need ETIAS for Croatia
Starting from 2024 European Union and Schengen Area’s Visa Waiver known as ETIAS will become reality.
Holding a valid ETIAS will be a prerequisite to all visa-free visitors, holding a non-EU passport, to all Schengen members and official candidate countries.
This logically means that ETIAS regulation will also apply to Croatia.
In order to submit an ETIAS application to Croatia candidates will need to fill out an online form requiring:
- Personal information and contact details
- First planned trip to ETIAS Area schedule
- Background questions concerning criminal and health records of the applicant (if any)
Once the form has been completed, by the mean of electronic payment of the ETIAS taxes, all the information will be cross checked by EU Institutions and a series of security databases.
Application outcome is expected to be in most case available and sent via email in less than 72 hours.