UK Passport Requirements for Croatia

Much has been made in the UK press over the last few days about travellers having problems with their passports when travelling to the EU. Could this be an issue when you’re travelling to Croatia? And what, specifically, are the UK passport requirements for Croatia? We will reveal all on this page.

UK Passport Requirements for Croatia

Croatia is of course part of the EU and is also now part of the Schengen Zone. As such, Croatia’s passport requirements fall in line with the requirements for the rest of the EU.

There are two very important requirements:

Your passport must have been issued within the previous 10 years
Your passport must be valid for three months after your departure date from Croatia

Let’s take a look at these two requirements in more detail.

Ten-year passport issuance rule

The confusion on the first part – that your passport might have been issued more than 10 years ago – lies in the fact that when UK passports were previously renewed (before October 2018) any unused months on your old passport would be added to your new passport. At a maximum, your passport could be (or could have been) valid for ten years and nine months.

From October 2018, all new adult passports that are issued are valid for exactly 10 years. So if your passport has been issued or renewed since then, you don’t need to worry.

Do note that your passport CAN be valid for more than 10 years – that in itself is not the problem. If your passport was issued on 1st May 2015 and is valid for 10 years and 4 months, you can use it to travel to Croatia as it HAS been issued within the last 10 years.

Three months left on your passport

This one’s a little more straightforward. You need to have three months left on your passport AFTER your departure date from Croatia.

What about passports from other countries?

If you are NOT an EU citizen

Generally, few other countries issue passports that are valid for more than 10 years. So if you hold a passport from another country, you are unlikely to fall foul of this “ten-year rule”. But please check your passport dates anyway, to be on the safe side.

If you ARE an EU citizen

Well then, lucky you! None of these rules apply to you. And in actual fact, you don’t even need a passport to travel to Croatia – you can travel with your personal ID card.

So what should I do?

Please check your passport’s issuance and expiry dates now! Like, right now – go and get your passport and check the dates inside it. Should there be a problem, you hopefully will have enough time before your travels to rectify the problem. Which would involve renewing your passport – and if you’re travelling soon(ish), you might need a fast-track renewal.

Do not leave checking your passport for the day before you travel, or on the way to the airport! As the recent press coverage has shown, travellers are being turned away from boarding their flights. Don’t be that disappointed traveller that gets turned away!

Even if you haven’t booked a holiday yet, it would be a good idea to check your passport anyway now. Because although your passport may be fine for travel now, by the time you go on holiday (let’s say you’re planning an August getaway) that might not be the case. And now you have plenty of time to renew your passport.

Do I need a visa for Croatia?

UK passport holders do NOT need a visa for Croatia. Citizens of countries such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile and others also do not need a visa to visit Croatia. Check on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

UK travellers will need to obtain an ETIAS visa waiver when this comes into effect. It is expected to start in mid-2025.

Do also take a look at our Visa Requirements for Croatia page for more info.

More info

You can check passport regulations and visa requirements for Croatia on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Do also take a look at the UK Foreign Office – Croatia – Entry Requirements page. Although that page states the same info as I’ve written above, you may glean something extra from there.

Now go check your passport!