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How tourists can get the COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia

COVID-19 mass vaccination point in Split, Croatia
COVID-19 mass vaccination point in Split, Croatia

LAST UPDATED: 29/04/2022

While slow-moving at first due to EU shortages, Croatia now has a very efficient, streamlined process for getting vaccinated.

Vaccination against COVID-19 is not required if you want to enter Croatia. It is optional. However, to enter the country, you have to prove that you are not infected with the COVID-19 virus.

Depending on your nationality and where you are traveling from, this may be proven with:

  • Negative PCR test or rapid antigen test
  • Certificate showing you are fully vaccinated
  • Certificate showing you have recovered from COVID-19 and have received at least one dose of the vaccine
  • Positive PCR or rapid antigen test from the previous 180 days, but no newer than 11 days.

More details on the above-mentioned documents and conditions of entry in Croatia are available on government pages here.

The COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia is now available to everyone including people without Croatian health insurance, tourists, and foreign nationals with a residence in Croatia. However, vaccination rules may vary in each Croatian county.

We already explained how to get the COVID-19 vaccine if you are a resident of Croatia. [Read: How to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia]

This article includes the latest information on the vaccination of tourists that we have found out from government institutions. However, due to frequent changes, it is required to contact the County Institute of Public Health according to the address of your stay before visiting them to check if there are any changes regarding the vaccination of tourists.

In this post, we cover:

The facts are these…

How tourists can get the COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia

Who can get the COVID-19 vaccine

The COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia is now available to everyone including:

  • Croatian nationals
  • Foreign nationals
  • Residents with prebivalište, i.e. permanent address
  • Residents with boravište, i.e. temporary address
  • Tourists
  • People with Croatian health insurance
  • People without Croatian health insurance

This means that everyone who lives in or visits Croatia can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Croatian health insurance is no longer required to get the vaccine.

Types of the available vaccine in Croatia

COVID-19 vaccines available in Croatia provide high protection against the COVID-19 disease for most people (between 72% and 95%). All vaccines in Croatia are free of charge.

Vaccines against COVID-19 currently available in Croatia are:

  • Astra Zeneca/Oxford
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • Moderna
  • Nuvaxovid (Novavax)
  • Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty)

Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires one dose and other vaccines from this list require two doses. It is possible to get only one dose of the vaccine in Croatia.

For example, let’s assume that you already received your first dose outside of Croatia. In this case, it is possible to get the second dose in Croatia. You can also receive your first dose in Croatia.

Before you get vaccinated, keep in mind that you must notify the doctor at the vaccination point of possible or previous severe allergic reactions, severe acute illness, or infection with high body temperature. According to provided information, the doctor will decide whether you can get vaccinated against COVID-19 or if the vaccination should be postponed.

Here you can view a Croatian vaccination map that shows the COVID-19 vaccination statistics in Croatia according to Croatian municipalities.

How foreigners can get the COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia

In Croatia, the official statement is that foreigners, including people without Croatian health insurance and tourists, can now receive free vaccination against COVID-19.

Here is a statement from the official HZJZ pages:

According to the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, Croatian citizens with health insurance, Croatian citizens without health insurance, and all people who have foreign citizenship and are on the territory of the Republic of Croatia can get vaccinated.

We called each of the county institutes of public health in Croatia to check out the latest information on the vaccination. It turns out that each county institute organizes vaccination according to its own internal rules.

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If you are not sure of your options...

Currently, vaccination against COVID-19 in Croatia is available to everyone, including people without Croatian health insurance and tourists.

The information on the COVID-19 vaccination and Croatian measures may change. Every county HZJZ may have its own internal rules. We are trying very hard to stay up-to-date and inform you of the latest changes.

Here is a list of all vaccination points in Croatia organized by Croatian counties.

Here is a list of all testing points in Croatia.

In Croatia, foreigners/tourists can get vaccinated at:

  • Mass vaccination points – Immediately upon arrival, without a prior subscription to the vaccination list
  • HZJZ County Institutes for Public Health – After they subscribe to the vaccination list and get the appointment

Below are the steps to get a COVID-19 vaccination in Croatia for people without Croatian health insurance and tourists, according to the Croatian Red Cross and HZJZ.

Note: You don’t have to receive all doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at the same location. It is possible to receive the second or booster dose at another location.

Vaccination against COVID-19 at HZJZ (with an appointment)

Step #1 Contact HZJZ

Contact the County Institute of Public Health (HZJZ) according to your current Croatian address called boravište. Call them and tell them that you want to get on the vaccination list. Each county HZJZ will provide you with the latest information.

You may provide them with the following information:

  • Name
  • Surname
  • Date of birth
  • OIB (if you have one)
  • Phone number
  • Email
  • Information on foreign health insurance

Here is a full list of Croatian County Institutes of Public Health:

This list is also available to download here.

If you want to call a COVID-19 info phone, call +385 (0)800 0011.

Step #2 Wait for the vaccination appointment

HZJZ will get back to you. They will give you a call and provide you with information on where and when you will get vaccinated. You will be informed of the time a few days before the vaccination.

Mass vaccination point in Split, Croatia
COVID-19 Vaccination stations for Moderna and Pfizer at Spaladium Arena in Split, Croatia

Step #3 Get vaccinated

On the day of your vaccination appointment, show up at the location 5-10 minutes earlier.

The doctor will ask you if you have any allergies or severe diseases. If they conclude that everything is okay, you will receive the COVID-19 vaccine. If they find anything suspicious due to the information you provided, the vaccination will be postponed.

After you get vaccinated, you will receive a small card with your name, the date of the first dose, and the name of the vaccine.

You’ll need to stick around for 15-30 minutes after your jab to make sure you don’t have any adverse reactions.

Vaccination against COVID-19 at mass vaccination points (immediately without an appointment)

Croatia currently has enough vaccines for everyone. In the largest Croatian cities, it is possible to get the COVID-19 vaccine without a prior subscription to the vaccination list. It is available at mass vaccination points.

This option is ideal for tourists. To check out the latest schedule, track the official city pages of the city where you’d like to get the vaccine. Each city publishes its mass vaccination schedules and the latest information on the COVID-19 vaccination on its pages.

You can choose the type of vaccine you’d like to get. However, check the schedule because mass points vaccinate with one type of vaccine on one day and then with some other type on another day. For example, on Wednesday, somewhere you can get Pfizer, but on Friday, you can get Johnson&Johnson.

A list of all current vaccination points in Croatia is available here.

What to do after the vaccination

After you get vaccinated against COVID-19, you can still follow some recommendations to protect yourself and others from getting or spreading the disease.

  • Wear a mask when you are indoors or cannot socially distance
  • Maintain a distance from other people
  • Avoid large gatherings
  • Wash your hands frequently
  • Follow the epidemiological instructions – View more here

All important information regarding COVID-19 in Croatia can be found on the government’s web site here.

There are two Croatian COVID-19 Facebook groups that provide the latest information for the country:

If you are struggling with the COVID-19 epidemic and all the stress it carries, you can get free psychological support. [Read: How to get psychological support due to the earthquakes or coronavirus]

How foreigners can get a COVID-19 passport in Croatia

The COVID-19 passport or EU Digital COVID Certificate serves as permission to travel within the EU Member States during the COVID-19 epidemic. It is available free of charge in Croatian and English.

The COVID-19 passport is also available to foreigners who visit Croatia and receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in Croatia, regardless of whether they have a residence in Croatia or are tourists.

While traveling to Croatia, Croatia also recognizes international COVID-19 passports that are issued in the other EU Member States.

For more information, view our detailed guide on how to get the COVID-19 passport (EU digital certificate) in Croatia.

View our other COVID-19 posts


Sources:
hzjz.hr
mup.gov.hr
koronavirus.hr
Cijepljenje protiv COVID-19: Najčešća pitanja i odgovori by HZJZ

Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.

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