Since March 26, 2023, Croatia has officially abolished air border controls for travel to and from Schengen countries, making air travel to the country as seamless as domestic flights within the zone.

Croatia has been a member of the European Union since 2013, but until now, travelers arriving from Schengen countries still needed a passport or ID card. This changed after Croatia received overwhelming support from the 26 Schengen member states in December 2022, allowing the country to fully integrate into the passport-free Schengen Area at the beginning of 2023.

Air Border Controls Removed at Croatian Airports

While Croatia abolished land and sea borders with Schengen countries on January 1, 2023, air passport control remained in place until March 26. From now on, passengers flying between Croatia and other Schengen nations will no longer face border checks, treating these flights as domestic travel.

This update affects seven Croatian airports with international status:

• Zagreb
• Split
• Dubrovnik
• Rijeka
• Pula
• Zadar
• Osijek

Zagreb Airport Leads Schengen Integration

As the largest airport in Croatia, Zagreb Airport expects to handle 70% of Schengen passengers and began adapting its facilities in December 2022. The transition included:

• Updating signage in passenger terminals
• Reclassifying international terminals as domestic terminals
• Aligning airport procedures with Schengen regulations

According to the Croatian Interior Minister, entry procedures at airports now follow the same rules as roads, level crossings, and seaports since January 1. “Virtually all flights between Croatia and Schengen countries are now considered domestic flights, eliminating passport checks at airports,” the minister stated.

With this move, Croatia is now fully integrated into the Schengen Area, simplifying travel for millions of passengers each year.

Best regards,
Vesna