The British Ambassador hosted a live question and answer session for UK nationals in Croatia on 30 November 2021. This article summarises the main questions that were raised by UK nationals and the official advice provided by the embassy in response.
Stay updated about your rights in Croatia by following Living in Croatia guide as well as via the UK embassy's social media channels:
Securing your rights in Croatia
If you have lived in Croatia since before 1 January 2021, you and your family members can request a new Withdrawal Agreement biometric residency card called the 'dozvola boravka'. This card shows that you enjoy rights defined in the Withdrawal Agreement. We recommend that you request the 'dozvola boravka' as it also exempts you from visa requirements when returning to Croatia.
You may have to pay a fine (around 200 Croatian Kuna) if you did not apply for the new card before 30 June 2021 but your rights under the Withdrawal Agreement will not be affected.
Your close family members can join you and settle in Croatia at any point in the future. Find more information on who this applies to on the Living in Europe page on gov.uk.
Family members must travel to Croatia and then submit an application for the new Withdrawal Agreement residency card as your family member. Nationals of certain non-EU countries may need a visa before travel.
Passport stamping
If you are covered by the Withdrawal Agreement your British passport should not be stamped when exiting or entering Croatia. The stamping (rather than scanning) of a passport is to note the dates of someone entering and exiting Croatia. If it is stamped, the stamp is immediately negated by your residency documentation and has no impact on your rights in Croatia. We continue to advise UK nationals to carry your residency documentation with you when travelling and to show this to border guards even before you show them your British passport.
British Embassy Zagreb is raising passport stamping with the Ministry of Interior. The Croatian government has recently issued further guidance to border guards. The Croatian Ministry takes this seriously and engages with specific border teams and airports when necessary. Continue to report passport stamping via our Consular Contact Centre.
