Croatia Joins Schengen: What Does It Mean for Travelers? | Travel Research Online

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Croatia Joins Schengen: What Does It Mean for Travelers?

Croatia has been approved to join the Schengen area, becoming the 27th country to become part of the world’s largest free-travel area. The decision was finalized at a Dec. 8 meeting of the Ministers of Internal Affairs and Justice of the EU member states. The change will take place officially on Jan. 1, 2023.

The tour operators I’ve spoken to about this tell me the change is not expected to have much impact immediately, or directly, on American travelers. The US and Canada are already visa-free nations for entry into Croatia. But there are some good possibilities for positive long-term effects.

In the overall picture, it is a net positive. It will be a movement in the right direction for people who care about freedom to travel and favor open borders. Romania and Bulgaria have also been seeking membership in Schengen, but were turned down at the same proceedings because of objections by Austria—in regard to immigration and corruption issues. Both countries intend to try again. Croatia joined the European Union in 2013. Both Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007.

For a quick background fact check, the Schengen zone is defined by a pact agreed upon in 1985 to abolish border crossing checks for people traveling among any of the member countries. The group now includes 26 countries (see list below), soon to be 27 with Croatia. Anyone holding a Uniform Schengen visa can travel freely among all Schengen countries.

Male hand holds silver pen with a passport. Filling out a Schengen application form.

The Schengen area includes 22 countries that are members of the European Union, and four countries that are not part of the EU, but are part of EFTA, the European Free Trade Association. Those are Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.  Five EU members are not part of the Schengen zone, including Ireland, which opts out of the free-travel rules, at this point bogged down in confusion over its border with the UK, which is no longer part of the EU since Brexit. The other EU countries that are not in Schengen are Romania, Bulgaria, and Cyprus.

Although the US is already visa-free for stays up to 90 days, the change could still have indirect positive effects if it helps to take a load off the immigration processing system.

Stefanie Schmudde, vice president of product development and operations, Abercrombie & Kent, expects the effect to be a net positive. “Since US and Canadian citizens have visa-free entry to Croatia, it will have minimal impact on our guests,” she told me. “Any impact would be positive, as those traveling from other EU countries into Croatia will no longer need to undergo border checks of any kind, so the process will be faster and simpler at the airport or land crossing.”

Any elimination of barriers to border crossings is good news for travelers, assuming it can be done without raising legitimate security concerns. That makes Croatia’s success at gaining entry significant as a positive sign for international cooperation and peace. It’s especially encouraging given that it’s taking place while Europe is engaged in its most extensive land war since World War II. All these factors contribute to a positive experience when traveling.

In this transition, Croatia will also become the 20th member of the Eurozone, meaning it will take the euro as its currency, replacing the kuna. Shops, restaurants, bars and hotels will accept the kuna, and will display prices in both currencies throughout 2023. The euro has been a commonly accepted currency in Croatia for a long time anyway, so no big changes there.

There have been some concerns that the currency change will lead to higher prices in Croatia. Zvonimir Androic, president of Via Croatia, a Croatia tour operator, told TRO he expects little effect on his business, or on US tourism to Croatia, but he is watching out for inflation.

“Since we work primarily with the US market, it will not do much for us, only for our multi-country itineraries, where we will not have border controls anymore,” he said. “The major benefit for tourism will be free passage within all Schengen EU countries, and one visa policy to other world countries that are not part of Schengen. Croatia is also accepting euros beginning in January. This is a bigger change, as we expect high price increases due to the EU zone.”

Fears of increased inflation in Croatia have surfaced in various news publications. But no one can reliably predict how that will play out, either short-term or long-term. Inflation in Croatia and Europe is steep already. What the net effect of the currency change will be is not known. When Slovakia adopted the euro in 2009, the rampant inflation that was feared did not materialize. Expect the worst; hope for the best.

Daniel Hauptfeld, marketing director for Katarina Line, a DMC and cruise operator in Croatia, has an optimistic view of how joining Schengen will benefit the country’s tourism.

“This will have a great impact on Croatia and tourism in Croatia from EU countries,” he told TRO. “All those tourists from Germany, Czech Republic, etc., will have much easier travel to our country since the border crossing with Slovenia and Hungary will be free. Also, tourists from third world countries (like South Africa) who need a Schengen visa will not need to get a separate visa for Croatia if they already hold a Schengen visa.”

Hauptman also sees the adoption of the euro as a big plus, saying, “It will have additional advantages for all of us in the tourism industry, and will make everything easier for all our visitors.”

Making Croatia the eastern border of the entire EU, he says, does cause him some concern.

Joanne Gardner, vice president of worldwide operations for Tauck, told TRO, “We have multiple tours that visit Croatia, by land, river, and small ship. This will obviously alleviate land border crossing delays and, when arriving by ship, will eliminate passport clearance wait times. It will certainly reduce the overall stress for our guests, Tauck Directors and partners, and will provide more flexibility in our itinerary timings along with more time to enjoy the beautiful country of Croatia.”

As part of the Schengen region, border control between Croatia and other EU member states, which include Slovenia and Hungary, will be abolished. Border control will remain in place at the external borders with nonmember states, Serbia, Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it will become stricter. Croatia will have access to Schengen monitoring data from the Schengen Information System, which should help in efforts to prevent terrorism and manage migration.

All the EU member states, including Croatia, will implement the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) in May 2023. ETIAS is an automated system for monitoring Schengen borders through the pre-check of travelers. ETIAS tracks only third-country nationals who travel to Schengen without needing a visa, doing pre-screenings of citizens of the USA, Great Britain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The joining of the Schengen group will open up channels to increase Croatia’s involvement in the EU and to facilitate freer trade with other EU states. It should stimulate an economic boost for Croatia.

Robert Drumm, chairman and CEO of Alexander + Roberts, does not expect much of an effect from Croatia joining Schengen but does see it as a net positive.

“Our guests have not required a visa for Croatia,” he said, “and they generally fly into Zagreb where the tour begins.  If you’re an EU citizen or an American, land and rail crossings are easier, for sure.  We have few land crossings, and almost 100 percent arrive by air and passport control still applies.”

Border crossing checks will be eliminated at borders between Croatia and Schengen member states for those crossing by road, rail, or water. But screenings for those arriving by air will continue until March 26, 2023, because of the need to make the changes coincide with the dates of IATA’s summer/winter schedule. Those arriving by air from Schengen states will be funneled into separate lines at the airport immigration checkpoints.

Countries applying to join the Schengen area must undergo a series of Schengen evaluations of whether they fulfill the conditions necessary to apply the Schengen rules. If the Schengen Evaluation missions confirm the readiness of the applicant to join, unanimous approval from all other Member States is required. The European Parliament must also give its consent.

That means that Croatia’s approval for membership from all the countries in the Schengen area is a hefty endorsement in itself. Trying to get 26 countries to agree on anything, especially the commitment to allow membership in their alliance, which is also a complicated economic entanglement, is a major achievement. The fact that Bulgaria and Romania were not accepted underscores Croatia’s achievement at having overcome all barriers to gain acceptance.

Kristjan Staničić, director of The Croatian National Tourist Board, has no doubt that the change will fuel tourism, as well as progress in general, and the cultural vibrance of Croatia.

“Croatia’s entry into Schengen is a very important and exceptional gain for Croatian tourism,” she said, “as well as affirmation of the safety and accessibility of our country, which will be even more interesting to those who enjoy European travels. Also, together with joining Schengen, and the introduction of the Euro as Croatia’s official currency at the start of 2023, the country gains a new competitive position within the European market. This said, we invite those who have already visited Croatia, as well as those yet to visit, that they visit in the new year without the need to wait at the border and see first-hand the beauty of Croatia’s destinations.”

The 26 Schengen countries are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.


headshot of David Cogswell

David Cogswell is a freelance writer working remotely, from wherever he is at the moment. Born at the dead center of the United States during the last century, he has been incessantly moving and exploring for decades. His articles have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, Fortune, Fox News, Luxury Travel Magazine, Travel Weekly, Travel Market Report, Travel Agent Magazine, TravelPulse.com, Quirkycruise.com, and other publications. He is the author of four books and a contributor to several others. He was last seen somewhere in the Northeast US.

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