The Coronavirus pandemic has not just disrupted the world travel, but it has also brought forth a requirement that the travelers now have to be well aware of the COVID-19 protocols not only of their own countries but of the countries they are travelling to. This is why we composed this little guide that will help you stay on top of things.

What COVID-19 guidelines should I be following when in Split/Croatia?

• Wear a mask – currently wearing a mask is a must indoors. Don’t be a Karen and respect others around you. This means putting on your mask when entering stores and markets, when purchasing something across the counter, when walking around shopping malls.
  You are not obliged to wear a mask in open spaces: no masks are required when sitting at outdoor terraces of bars or restaurants. You are, however, welcome to wear it at any place you’d like.
• Maintain physical distance – currently, maintaining a physical distance of 1,5 m in outdoor areas and 2,0 m in indoor areas (like shopping malls) is required. Though you are to expect that many people do not follow this guideline, particularly when standing in lines of markets and supermarkets. If you are nervous about people not keeping their distance towards you, we advise you to verbally sound your dissatisfaction.
• Wash your hands as often as possible – the official guideline on anti-COVID measures stresses the importance of washing your hands as often as possible with soap and water as to avoid getting or spreading the infection. For this purpose, all sellers are required to offer a sanitizing solution at the entrances of their establishments, where you can freely disinfect your hands.

Are restaurants and bars open? At what time do they need to close?

• As of June 12, bars, restaurants and other business can now stay open until midnight. This means that the working hours of the service industry are almost back to the regular, because in Split cafes, bars and restaurants had to close at midnight anyway, except on Fridays and Saturdays, when they could work an hour longer.
• Apart from now being able to stay open until midnight, restaurants can also receive guests in their indoor dining area, as long as they follow the guidelines on maintaining physical distance. As stated above, there should be at least 2 meters distance between the tables. If you find that the restaurant you are dining at is not respecting the guidelines, do not hesitate to voice your dissatisfaction, particularly if it concerns your well-being.
• The ban on using indoor spaces for bars and nightclubs remains in effect. This is thought to be an attempt to stop nightclubs from re-opening as they had been one of the main catalysts in causing the surge of coronavirus cases in late summer of last year. It is reasonable to assume this ban will not be lifted soon, so clubbing in Split in 2021 is probably going to be non-existent.

Do I need a PCR test if I am fully vaccinated to enter Croatia?

For passengers travelling to Croatia form EU countries, the following rules are in effect:

• If you have a certificate that you have received two doses of one of the vaccines used in the EU (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Gamaleya or Sinopharm) you can enter Croatia without a PCR test and with no time passed from the time you received your second dose.
• However, if you have received one dose of the vaccine administered in a single dose (Janssen/Johnson&Johnson) you can only enter Croatia without a PCR test if more than 14 days have passed since your vaccination.
• If you have just received the first dose of two-dose vaccines then you can enter Croatia without a test only in the period of 22 to 42 from receiving the first dose of Pfizer, Moderna or Gamaleya; or 22 to 84 days from receiving the first dose of AstraZeneca.
• If you have a certificate showing that you recovered from COVID-19 and have received one dose of vaccine within six months from contracting the disease, you can enter Croatia without a test if the vaccine was administered within 180 days from your arrival to the country.

For passengers travelling to Croatia form third countries (e.g. United States, Canada, Australia, etc.), the following rules are in effect:

• If you have a certificate that you have received two doses of one of the vaccines used in the EU (Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Gamaleya or Sinopharm) or have received one dose of the vaccine administered in single dose (Janssen/Johnson&Johnson) and 14 days have passed, you can enter Croatia without a PCR test.
• For other points, same rules as for EU citizens apply.

Disclamer: Although we strive to keep our information up to date and accurate, we make no warranties, express or implied, to the accuracy of the content above. For an official explanation on these rules and any future changes, please visit the official governmental website in this link.

For more detailed information and Q&A, please visit the official governmental website: safestayincroatia.hr

Other important information:

Recommendations and instructions for crossing the state border
Testing centers in Croatia
EnterCroatia: fill out the form before traveling to Croatia
Q&A form for crossing the state border
Call center for COVID-19 questions: 113