Croatia simplifies non-EU visa process
Croatia is set to join the EU in July and there have been uncertainties as to how this will affect superyachts. In some good news for the industry, the authorities have made a decision about forthcoming visa regulations.…
On 1 July, 2013, Croatia is set to join the European Union and there have been discussions about how this will affect superyachts cruising in Croatian waters. In some earlier coverage, The Crew Report discovered that many agencies and provisioners were unsure as to how yacht operations would be affected. It has recently been announced that there have been decisions made about visa regulations in Croatia that will be coming into force on the entry date.
Croatia’s visa policy has been aligned with that of the EU, meaning that citizens of Russia and Turkey and of other countries that need visas to enter EU member countries will need visas for entry into the country. Due to the importance of the Russian tourism market, however, the Croatian government has made the decision to shorten and simplify the visa issuance procedure for Russian citizens as much as possible. The Crew Report speaks to Anne Spyropoulos, communications and brand manager, and Dorijan Dujmic, managing partner for Croatia, from BWA Yachting to find out more about the situation.
“We have been waiting to understand how Croatia was going to adapt its visa policies as they prepare to enter the EU,” explains Dujmic. “The Croatian authorities have now announced that from 1 July, the classic visa regime of the EU will now apply for citizens of Russia and Turkey, as well as all citizens of those countries that need a visa for entering the EU member countries. This means that holders of valid Schengen documents will not require additional visas for entry and short term stays in Croatia.”
This is good news for the industry. “There are a lot of Russian charterers or owners who spend time in the EU and already have a Schengen visa for this," says Spyropoulos. "It would be very bad for the market in general if people booked charters and potentially didn’t have the right visa as there can be a lot of confusion and the boat could lose the charter. The more clear that the authorities are about legislation, and the earlier, the better so captains and crew can understand and get organised.”
It is important that captains and crew consider these changes to regulations if they have any Russian guests while cruising in Croatia. “In past years, a visa waiver was granted for Russian citizens in the summer months to make entering the country easier,” Dujmic explains, “But this is now no longer the case and only valid Schengen documents will be accepted. Russian citizens who do not have a Schengen visa will now have to submit an application at the Croatian Embassy in Moscow, or at an accredited tourist agency or visa centre in Russia.”
Recognising the value of Russian tourism, it is not the intention of the government to make this a complicated process. “Croatian authorities have indicated that they will process Russian visa requests quickly (generally no longer than five days) and multiple-entry visas can also be issued,” says Dujmic. “Negotiations are underway to also speed up the process for Ukrainian and Turkish visitors as well.”
Croatia’s visa policy has been aligned with that of the EU, meaning that citizens of Russia and Turkey and of other countries that need visas to enter EU member countries will need visas for entry into the country. Due to the importance of the Russian tourism market, however, the Croatian government has made the decision to shorten and simplify the visa issuance procedure for Russian citizens as much as possible. The Crew Report speaks to Anne Spyropoulos, communications and brand manager, and Dorijan Dujmic, managing partner for Croatia, from BWA Yachting to find out more about the situation.
“We have been waiting to understand how Croatia was going to adapt its visa policies as they prepare to enter the EU,” explains Dujmic. “The Croatian authorities have now announced that from 1 July, the classic visa regime of the EU will now apply for citizens of Russia and Turkey, as well as all citizens of those countries that need a visa for entering the EU member countries. This means that holders of valid Schengen documents will not require additional visas for entry and short term stays in Croatia.”
"It would be very bad for the market in
general if people booked charters and potentially didn’t have the right visa as
there can be a lot of confusion and the boat could lose the charter." - Anne Spyropoulos
This is good news for the industry. “There are a lot of Russian charterers or owners who spend time in the EU and already have a Schengen visa for this," says Spyropoulos. "It would be very bad for the market in general if people booked charters and potentially didn’t have the right visa as there can be a lot of confusion and the boat could lose the charter. The more clear that the authorities are about legislation, and the earlier, the better so captains and crew can understand and get organised.”
It is important that captains and crew consider these changes to regulations if they have any Russian guests while cruising in Croatia. “In past years, a visa waiver was granted for Russian citizens in the summer months to make entering the country easier,” Dujmic explains, “But this is now no longer the case and only valid Schengen documents will be accepted. Russian citizens who do not have a Schengen visa will now have to submit an application at the Croatian Embassy in Moscow, or at an accredited tourist agency or visa centre in Russia.”
Recognising the value of Russian tourism, it is not the intention of the government to make this a complicated process. “Croatian authorities have indicated that they will process Russian visa requests quickly (generally no longer than five days) and multiple-entry visas can also be issued,” says Dujmic. “Negotiations are underway to also speed up the process for Ukrainian and Turkish visitors as well.”
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