The United Kingdom has created an electronic travel document, called UK eTA, for citizens of other countries who intend to enter the country.

Croatia, as part of the European Economic Community, is eligible for this online visa waiver in a 100% electronic process, allowing Croatian applicants to obtain the eTA in less than 72 hours in PDF format.

UK eTA Entry Conditions from Croatia

Croatians must meet the following requirements to obtain a UK eTA:

  • Have a Croatian biometric passport, which will be linked to the UK eTA information
  • Have a credit or debit card, which will be used to complete payment of the eTA fee at the end of the process
  • Register an active email account as all UK eTA-related information, including notifications and the travel document, will be sent to this account
  • Provide a travel itinerary and accommodation address in the UK

The UK government asks for the travel itinerary and accommodation address because the eTA allows its holder to remain throughout the UK for 3 months. After that period, Croatians must leave the country.

Note: the eTA is required at every UK border control, including entries made by sea and air. In the case of Croatians crossing the Calais crossing with a car, for example, they will need to present their UK visa waiver just as if they were arriving by plane.

Croatian families traveling with children must ensure that every member of the group, even if underage, has an approved eTA and passport.

How to Apply for UK eTA as a Croatian Citizen

The UK eTA online application form involves the following steps that must be followed by Croatian applicants:

  • Email registration, which simply means that Croatians must enter a valid email address where UK authorities will later send the travel authorization
  • Completion of a questionnaire, which includes questions related to the Croatian applicant’s personal information as well as their travel plans and security matters
  • Payment processing: once candidates from Croatia have answered the questions, the UK eTA processing fee must be paid

When completing the questionnaire, Croatian visitors will be asked to provide the following information:

  • First and last name, as it appears on the Croatian passport
  • Date and place of birth
  • Current home address and phone number
  • Security questions related to possible criminal history, if any, and the general conduct and character of Croatians

It is important that the information provided by Croatians is accurate, truthful, and as complete as possible since any errors or missing information can cause the UK eTA to be rejected.

Once payment is made, the application is submitted to the UK government, which must check all responses and whose final decision on approval or denial of the authorization will be communicated via email to the account registered during the application process.

If the eTA is approved, an email will be sent with the travel document attached in PDF format. The eTA must be printed and brought to the UK along with the applicant’s Croatian passport.

It’s worth noting that credit/debit card information is secure, as the entire online application process is protected by strict security standards.

UK eTA from Croatia: Validity and Stay

A UK eTA is a multiple-entry document. This means that Croatian travelers can enter the country with an eTA multiple times throughout the document’s validity period. Each stay has a maximum time frame of 90 days.

This electronic travel authorization is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. In this regard, Croatian citizens should also know that staying beyond the UK visa waiver period has legal consequences, so it is strongly recommended to leave the nation before the eTA expires.

Other UK Visas Available for Croatians

The British government has created the eTA for the following travel purposes:

  • Tourism
  • Business
  • Medical treatment
  • Short-term studies

If Croatian applicants are traveling to the UK for other reasons, such as long-term studies or work activities, the country offers other types of UK visas.

Croatians should also note that there is another type of UK visa waiver, called UK EVW. However, that travel document is intended only for four Middle Eastern countries, so it is not valid for Croatian travelers.