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Removals to Croatia can be more difficult because of the geography, with challenging areas such as the hills in the northern Hrvatsko Zagorje, the Dalmatian mountains and the city of Dubrovnik buried in the deep south. The beauty that awaits still makes it well worth the effort.
If you are moving to Croatia, you will need to plan so your relocation goes without a hitch. Whether you are retiring to the Adriatic coast or taking up an exciting job offer, Croatia offers lots of opportunities.
Here is the essential info that you need to know about your move.
Situated alongside the Adriatic Sea, Croatia is a country which has a varied and beautiful landscape. In the south, there’s a stunning coastline, and in the north, there are plains and lowlands. Between the two there are snowy mountains, making the country a hit with winter sports enthusiasts.
Due to this diversity, there are distinct and different climates in each of the three regions. The north and south both enjoy long, hot summers but in the north temperatures can plunge during winter. In the south, it’s not as cold but much rainier. The mountainous area in the centre of the country has an Alpine climate.
Despite being part of the EU, Croatia has not yet adopted the currency, continuing to use the Kuna instead.
The official language of the country is Croatian, a phonetic language which isn’t too difficult to pick up if you’re determined to learn. Croatian is similar to Serbian but written using the Roman alphabet rather than Cyrillic, so it’s easier to digest.
This Slavic language is spoken widely and is typically used during business as well. Only Croatian offices which are part of a global corporation speak English so if you want to be able to converse with colleagues, it’s essential to learn the lingo.
Younger Croats are now choosing to learn English, and many people aged under 40 will know at least some English. Older residents learned Russian at school and are less likely to speak any English. Rural locations make speaking Croatian even more critical, while in cities you will typically find pockets of English-speaking people.
As a member of the EU, Croatia has visa regulations which are in line with the rest of Europe. Therefore EU nationals, as well as citizens from countries such as Australia, Canada and the US, will not need a visa to enter Croatia. They may remain without further documentation for up to three months in any six month period.
Croatia is not part of the Schengen Zone but has applied to join. As such, it recognises Schengen visas and doesn’t require any further entry visas for individuals arriving via a Schengen route. As Croatia is not within the Schengen Zone at present, even though it recognises Schengen Zone visas, the individual will not use up any of their allotted “Schengen days” when staying in Croatia.
If you wish to stay in Croatia for longer than 90 days, you must apply for a Temporary Residence Permit. This permit is valid for one year, and after five renewals, you may request a permanent one.
Croatia is one of the newest members of the EU, but it doesn’t have the same freedom of labour for all EU countries. Although EU members are free to move from one state to another, some still need permits to work. Therefore, when applying for a temporary residence permit, it may be necessary also to obtain a work permit.
You will find essential links for British Expats in Croatia on the UK Govt website.
Croatia has a good road network. Stricter traffic enforcement means the driving is far less dangerous than it used to be. There is a zero-tolerance policy for drink driving and a very low legal limit. You’ll need to abstain from drinking if you plan on using a car to get around.
The downside to driving is that traffic can be a problem, particularly on the weekends or on coastal routes during warmer weather. The motorway between Zagreb and Split makes travel between the two cities far more convenient. However, funding run out before completing its extension to Dubrovnik.
There are trains within Croatia but nowhere near as many routes as you’d find elsewhere. Initially, trains only transported goods and passengers in and out of the country, so the rail network is currently insufficient. This situation is gradually changing with investment being poured into the system, but it’s a slow process which will take many years to bring up to the expected standard.
Buses are plentiful and make a great alternative to driving, being comfortable and inexpensive. Different bus companies compete for custom so the fares and amenities can vary quite significantly from one to another.
The general standard of healthcare in Croatia is pretty good, but it suffers from underfunding and over-demand. Therefore although there is a state healthcare system, many residents opt to take out additional private cover.
Individuals living and working in Croatia will contribute to the national healthcare via deductions from their wages. Employers will make further contributions directly from the payroll. Self-employed individuals must pay the whole sum themselves.
However, due to the burden on the state healthcare, individuals pay towards the cost of any treatment, consultations and prescriptions. To help ease this financial strain, many Croatians take out private healthcare insurance which covers these co-payments. The extra benefit to private healthcare is the opportunity to jump long waiting lists and access to better facilities too.
Removals to Croatia can be more complex because of its position in eastern Europe and the geography of the nation. With many islands and limited motorways to peripheral cities, transport can take a little longer than in other countries.
If you are organising a removal to any country overseas, it’s always a good idea to choose an international moving company which has experience in the region.
Whether you choose our Load & Go or our EasyMoves solution, European Moving can help you with your removal. We shall be able to help you with the full list of restrictions that apply to removals to Croatia and also provide advice on a whole range of removal issues you may not have encountered before.