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Last Updated:
November 6, 2007 15:12
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Still Valid: November 15, 2007 23:41 EST |
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1. RECENT UPDATES Sections 1, 2, 3 and 7 of this Travel Report have been updated. See our Current Issues page for information on avian influenza. BACK TO TOP 2. WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS There is no Official Warning for this country. Croatia
Canadians should exercise a high degree of caution. They should ensure that valuables, passports, and other travel documents are secure at all time, particularly on public transportation. Landmines and unexploded ordnance remaining from the 1991-95 war are a serious risk along former front-line areas, especially in eastern OFFICIAL REGISTRATION RECOMMENDATION: We offer a registration service for all Canadians travelling or living abroad. This service is provided so that we can contact and assist you in an emergency in a foreign country, such as a natural disaster or civil unrest, or inform you of a family emergency at home. Registration can be done on-line or by contacting a Canadian government office abroad. For more information, see our FAQs on Registration of Canadians Abroad. BACK TO TOP 3. SAFETY AND SECURITY The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. The traveller is also responsible for his or her own personal safety. The purpose of this Travel Report is to provide Canadians with up-to-date information to enable them to make well-informed decisions. Petty crime is uncommon, and violent crime is rare. In an emergency, call 92 for the police, 93 for the fire brigade, 94 for an ambulance, and 987 for roadside assistance. For additional road condition and safety information, consult the Croatian Automobile Association (HAK) website. BACK TO TOP 4. ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS The following information on entry and exit requirements has been confirmed with the Croatian authorities and, to the best of our knowledge, was valid on August 30, 2006. However, entry and exit requirements are subject to change. It is the sole prerogative of each country to determine who is allowed to enter. All countries have special requirements for persons intending to reside for extended periods (usually more than 90 days) or who plan to work, study, or engage in non-tourist activities. To obtain information on specific entry requirements, contact the nearest diplomatic or consular office of the country or countries to be visited. Violations of entry and exit requirements may result in serious penalties. Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Office of Protocol provides contact details for the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia and its consulates, where you can obtain further information on entry and exit requirements. A valid Canadian passport is required for Canadians intending to visit Croatia. The passport must be valid for at least three months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country. Tourist Visa: Not required (for stays less than 90 days) Business Visa: Not required (for stays less than 90 days) Student Visa: Not required (for stays less than 90 days) All foreign citizens must register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival unless they are staying at a hotel. Visitors may be fined and/or expelled for failure to do so. Carry your passport at all times. A Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (CCC) is not a travel document. Airlines are known to refuse boarding to dual national Canadian passengers returning to Canada, travelling on a passport that requires a visa to enter Canada, regardless of whether the passenger presents a valid CCC as proof of Canadian citizenship. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document for the purpose of international travel. It proves your admissibility to enter Canada. Selling, altering, or allowing another person to use your passport is a criminal offence. It could lead to the laying of charges and imprisonment if convicted. It could also lead to the denial of future passport services. Special and diplomatic passport holders should verify visa requirements for this and other countries, as they may differ from those that apply to regular passport holders. A new EU legislation on the amount of cash that can be carried has been implemented on June 15, 2007. Canadians crossing one of the external border control points of the EU will have to make a declaration to customs upon entry or exit if they have at least 10,000 euros, or the equivalent in other currencies, in cash, cheques, money orders, traveller's cheques, or any other convertible assets in their possession. Failure to report such a sum will be considered an offence. This does not apply to Canadians travelling within the EU or in transit to a non-EU country. The purpose of this legislation is to prevent illegal activities, such as money laundering. For more information on the new EU legislation and links to EU countries' sites, consult http://ec.europa.eu/eucashcontrols. Any adult travelling with children may be required to show evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights. Foreign and Canadian authorities may also require evidence that the adult has the consent of the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court to travel with the children. Some countries may not permit children to enter or, in some cases, leave the country without proper documentation such as a letter of consent or a court order. Although same-sex marriages are legal in Canada, many countries do not recognize them. Attempting to enter as a same-sex married couple may result in refusal by local officials. For more information, contact the foreign government office accredited to Canada. BACK TO TOP 5. CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CONTACTS You can obtain consular assistance and further consular information at the following address: Croatia - ZAGREB, Embassy of Canada Address: Prilaz Gjure Dezelica 4, 10000 Zagreb Tel.: 385 (1) 488-1200 or 488-1211 Fax: 385 (1) 488-1230 E-Mail: zagrb@international.gc.ca Internet: http://www.international.gc.ca/canadaeuropa/croatia/ For emergency assistance after hours, you may make a collect call to the Department in Ottawa at 613-996-8885. BACK TO TOP 6. LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS You are subject to local laws. A serious violation may lead to a jail sentence. The sentence will be served in local prisons. However, Canada and Croatia are signatories to the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons, which enables a Canadian imprisoned in Croatia to request to be transferred to Canada to complete the sentence in a Canadian prison. The transfer requires the agreement of both Canadian and Croatian authorities. Canadians arrested or detained have the right to contact the responsible Canadian government office (embassy, high commission, etc.) listed in Section 5 above. Arresting officials have a responsibility to assist you in doing so. Canadian consular officials can provide a list of local lawyers upon request. The procedures required in legal proceedings or police investigations may be different from the procedures in force in the Canadian legal system. Canadians wishing to undertake such proceedings can expect to face long delays and additional efforts in order to resolve their case. The Government of Canada cannot intervene in ongoing legal proceedings in other countries, unless requested to do so by local authorities. Such requests are rare. Dual nationality is not officially recognized in Croatia. This policy may limit the ability of Canadian officials to provide consular services to dual Canadian-Croatian citizens in Croatia, even when they are travelling on a Canadian passport. Dual citizens are strongly advised to contact the nearest Croatian embassy or consulate well before departure in order to seek advice on any required administrative procedures. Failure to do so may subject dual Canadian-Croatian citizens to national obligations, such as taxes and military service. A number of dual citizens have been arrested for draft evasion during the war. Canadians should travel using their Canadian passport and present themselves as Canadians to local authorities at all times. Penalties for drinking and driving are strict. There is zero tolerance for driving a motor vehicle or operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol. It is illegal to drive with any alcohol in the system. Convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. There are strict penalties for possession, use, or trafficking of illegal drugs, and convicted offenders can expect jail sentences and heavy fines. BACK TO TOP 7. LOCAL TRAVEL AND CURRENCY Aggressive drivers and narrow, poorly maintained roads pose hazards. The highway between An International Driving Permit (IDP) is recommended. The currency is the Croatian kuna (HRK). All major Western currencies are easily exchanged for local currency. Keep receipts to reconvert kuna to foreign currency. Credit cards are accepted by most banks and hotels. Canadian traveller's cheques are not widely accepted worldwide. ATM withdrawals from Canadian bank accounts can be made in most major cities. Check with your bank for information on Automated Banking Machine ( BACK TO TOP 8. NATURAL DISASTERS AND CLIMATE Croatia is located in an active seismic zone. Heavy showers are frequent in summer, sometimes resulting in local flooding. BACK TO TOP 9. TRAVEL MEDICINE PROGRAM The Public Health Agency of Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) report on disease outbreaks that occur throughout the world. For the latest travel health advisories and related information, visit the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel Medicine Program Web site. The Public Health Agency of Canada continues to closely monitor and report on occurrences of avian influenza A (H5N1), or "bird flu", in humans and in birds. Further information on avian influenza A (H5N1) and recommendations for travellers can be found on the Public Health Agency of Canada's Travel Medicine Web site as well as on the World Health Organization's Web site. For more information, see our Current Issues on Avian Influenza. The Public Health Agency of Canada strongly recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunizations and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. Travellers are reminded to ensure that their routine (childhood) immunizations (e.g., tetanus, diphtheria, polio, and measles) are up to date. Standards of medical care may differ from those in Canada. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medications should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage. The Public Health Agency of Canada also recommends that travellers who become sick or feel unwell on their return to Canada seek a medical assessment with their personal physician. Travellers should inform their physician that they have been travelling or living outside of Canada. BACK TO TOP 10. ADDITIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. Tick-borne encephalitis occurs in wooded areas from spring to autumn. If you plan to visit forested areas, you should seek advice regarding inoculations before leaving Canada. BACK TO TOP 11. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Returning to Canada Traveller's Checklist Health and Travel Insurance: Do not rely on your provincial health plan to cover all expenses if you get sick or are injured while abroad. It may cover nothing or only a portion of the costs. Understand the terms of your supplementary insurance policy. Some credit cards offer their holders health and travel insurance. Do not assume the card alone provides adequate coverage. Carry details of your insurance with you. Also, tell your travel agent, a friend or relative, and/or travelling companion how to contact your insurer. Get a detailed invoice from the doctor or hospital before you return to Canada. Always submit original receipts for any medical services or prescriptions received abroad. Most insurance companies will not accept copies or faxes. See Canada's Health Portal. Cancelling a scheduled trip abroad could cost you money. Before cancelling a scheduled trip, you should discuss the matter with your travel agent, your travel insurer, or the airline. The decision to travel is the sole responsibility of the traveller. Adoption: Provincial and territorial authorities in Canada are responsible for authorizing international adoptions. If you are thinking of adopting a child from another country, you must first obtain information about the adoption regulations of the province or territory in which the child will reside. While adoption is a provincial/territorial responsibility, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is responsible for allowing an adopted child entry into Canada. Entry can be refused if the child does not hold the appropriate immigrant visa. A visa may be denied, even if the adoption has already been completed. For more information contact CIC at 1 888 242-2100 (in Canada only), check the CIC Web site or contact your provincial or territorial government. BACK TO TOP 12. ANNEX N/A BACK TO TOP |
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