Border control-free from anywhere in the Schengen zone to Croatia
From January 1, 2023 the Republic of Croatia is finally joining the Schengen area. It will not only make life in Croatia easier, but these positive changes will have a huge impact on the entire marine sector and the people sailing from any country in the Schengen area directly to Croatia.
The sailing regime for vessels flying Schengen countries’ flags will be much less complicated. It also refers to the vessels flying third countries’ flags.
The crews of these vessels do not have to pass any border control not even when they are in the international waters if the starting and final destination is a harbour in a country within the Schengen zone. The exception is the risk assessment that might determine different procedure in individual cases.
Naturally, the safety fee will still have to be paid at the harbormaster’s office. The same goes for the sojourn tax. Registering the vessel, paying the navigation safety fee for the vessels and yachts, the boaters from certain European countries with the exception for the first registration, can easily do via e-nautika while the sojourn tax can be paid electronically, solely via Croatian Tourist Board website without having to go to the harbormaster’s office.
At this point we know that certain permanent and seasonal sea borders will be lifted, but details about the enforcement of the new regulation will follow shortly. Unofficially, the sea border Umag, Pula, Mali Lošinj, Rijeka, Raša-Bršica, Split, Zadar, Šibenik, Dubrovnik, Vis, Ubli and Cavtat will remain while the sea border ACI marina Umag, Novigrad (Istra), Rovinj, Sali, Božava (Dugi Otok), Primošten, Hvar and Stari Grad na Hvaru, Komiža and Vela Luka will be lifted.
