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Croatians do not need a visa for the UAE. The UAE ministry of foreign affairs lists Croatia as visa free, and the free multiple entry visit visa on arrival is valid for six months with up to 90 days in total. That covers a holiday or a visit, not a job. A stay beyond 90 days needs an extension, and Croatia's own ministry currently asks citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the UAE.
What the Croatian foreign ministry says
The Croatian foreign ministry's warnings page for the UAE was dated when we read it. It recommends avoiding all travel to the UAE that is not necessary. It also says there were no direct security incidents in the country at that point, and that the unstable regional environment means escalation can come without notice. People already in the UAE are asked to take extra care.
The ministry has also shown what it does when things go wrong. Its press release says that by it had brought 485 Croatian citizens home from the Middle East, with a Croatia Airlines flight and two charters out of Dubai. Citizens in the UAE who wanted to leave were told to contact the Dubai Consulate General. Read the live warning before you buy a ticket. It can change faster than this page.
Entry for a Croatian passport
| Item | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Visa | None, visa free | UAE ministry of foreign affairs |
| Entry permit | Free visit visa on arrival, multiple entry | Emirates airline UAE visa page |
| Validity of the permit | 6 months | Same |
| Total stay | Up to 90 days | Same |
Source: UAE ministry of foreign affairs and Emirates airline visa information, checked . Work, paid or unpaid, is not allowed on a visit permit. The Croatian ministry says it is not the authority on UAE entry rules, so confirm passport validity with your airline before you fly.
Staying longer than 90 days
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Extension, ICP application | AED 100 |
| Extension, ICP fee | AED 500 |
| Extension, GDRFA (Dubai) | AED 600 plus 5% VAT |
| Overstay fine | AED 50 a day |
Source: ICP and GDRFA service pages, checked . ICP caps a tourist stay at 120 days in total. Dubai agencies publish about AED 1,100 to AED 1,200 for a 30-day extension inside the UAE (published prices of 3 Dubai agencies, checked ). The fine runs per day from the day after the permit ends, so ask us before the 90 days are up. Our visa extension guide and the overstay fine page have the steps.
Croatians who live in the UAE
If you hold a UAE residence permit, you are in a different position: your entry and stay come from the residence, not from the 90 day rule. Keep your Croatian passport valid, because a residence stamp or file renewal will need it. The Croatian consular portal of the foreign ministry lists what Croatian missions do for citizens, including passports, certified signatures and copies, residence registration and civil registry items, and lets you book an appointment at the competent mission.
The Consulate General in Dubai
Croatia has a Consulate General in Dubai, at Emaar Square in Downtown Dubai. The ministry lists office hours from Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00, and public hours on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 13:00 and on Wednesday from 14:00 to 16:00. It handles consular matters for Croatian citizens and visa-related services. For appointments use the consular portal.
Relatives who need a visa
Your passport is visa free, but your partner, your parents or friends may hold another passport. If you live in the UAE on a residence permit, you can sponsor a visit visa for a relative. ICP lists an AED 100 application fee plus AED 100 a month for a single entry visit visa, with two days to process. We prepare the file and the sponsor documents. Our Dubai visa requirements page lists what a sponsor must show.
Going the other way: a Croatia visa from Dubai
Many people in the UAE search for a Croatia visa. That is a Schengen visa filed by residents of other nationalities at VFS Global in Dubai. The adult visa fee is AED 390.27 and the VFS service fee is AED 150.25. Our Croatia visa for UAE residents page has the processing time and the steps.
How it works with us
Send your passport page and travel dates on WhatsApp or through the form on this page. A visa adviser confirms the rule for your passport and for any relative on another passport, and gives you one total price before you pay. The team files extensions or relative visas, follows them up and sends the approved documents. We are a private visa service. ICP or GDRFA decides every application.
If an application is refused, the authority keeps its fees. Before you pay, your adviser tells you in writing what part of our total, if any, comes back.
Official sources
- UAE ministry of foreign affairs, visa exemptions: Croatia listed as visa free
- Croatian foreign ministry, travel warnings: UAE warning
- Croatian missions abroad: Consulate General in Dubai
- Croatian consular portal: consular services and appointments
- Emirates airline UAE visa information: 90 day rule
Other EU passports: Dubai visa for EU citizens and Dubai visa for Germans. All nationalities: Dubai visa by nationality.
