The February 2022 Updates:
Measures relating to travel in and out of Croatia are published in English on the Koronovirus.Hr website: https://www.koronavirus.hr/recommendations-and-instructions-for-crossing-the-state-border/736
All the latest measures and amendments decreed by the Croatian Civil Protection Authority are published in Croatian on the Koronavirus.Hr website: https://www.koronavirus.hr/odluke-stozera-civilne-zastite-za-sprjecavanje-sirenja-zaraze-novim-koronavirusom/323. (Apart from travel instructions and the daily number of infections, the advisory website is exclusively in Croatian.)
Those most likely to be relevant to foreigners in Croatia are as follows:
Covid certificates are still needed for entry into public sector institutions such as police stations, health clinics and institutions, state inspector offices, local authority offices, also Electricity Board offices (HEP). They are no longer needed, for instance, for the Croatian Post Office Bank, lottery offices or other local firms which are not state-run. (Details in Croatian: https://www.koronavirus.hr/uploads/Odluka_obvezno_testiranje_7192ff4433.pdf)
On public transport, masks must be worn by drivers and passengers alike. Passenger numbers are limited to 40% of total capacity, and the number of passengers allowed must be clearly displayed at the passenger entry point. (Details in Croatian: https://www.koronavirus.hr/odluke-stozera-civilne-zastite-za-sprjecavanje-sirenja-zaraze-novim-koronavirusom/323)
Masks are considered vital in limiting transmission of the virus. (Details in Croatian: https://www.koronavirus.hr/uploads/Odluka_maske_12_izmjena_s_obrazlozenjem_pdf_8553e987c2.pdf)
They must be worn everywhere where people intermingle indoors. Masks therefore must be worn in shops by staff and customers alike; in cafes, bars and restaurants by staff and customers (except when the latter are eating or drinking); by people in offices and institutions where staff cannot be 2 metres apart, and where staff and clients meet; by people attending religious services; by spectators attending indoor sports events.
Outdoors, masks must be worn where a physical distance of 2 metres cannot be maintained when people gather, also if it is not guaranteed that all those present have an EU Covid Certificate.
Some people are exempt from wearing masks, as listed by the Public Health Institute (HZJZ). (The list was published in Croatian only, dated July 13th 2020)
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Children under 2 years of age
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Preschool children after the age of two if the child, despite the efforts of the parent/guardian to wear the mask, resists wearing the mask or cannot refrain from touching the mask and face (some children are bothered by the mask and feel the inevitable need to adjust the mask and touch the face, increasing the chances of getting the virus through the mouth, nose or eyes)
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Children over the age of two up to the lower grades of primary school can wear a mask only in activities that are limited in time (activities lasting a maximum of one or two hours) and when they are under the constant supervision of parents/guardians (for example when on public transport, in a health care facility or when going to the store, although parents are advised to take their children to the store only if absolutely necessary)
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People with certain forms of disability such as certain mental health impairments including autism spectrum disorders if people resist or do not tolerate a face mask, people with intellectual disabilities, people with severe physical / motor impairments due to possible breathing difficulties or inability to remove the mask without the help of another person
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People who need to transmit information to a hearing-impaired person, including interpreters for the deaf and blind and other accompanying persons, in a situation where the message cannot be written or transmitted to a hearing-impaired person in sign language, but only by reading from the face and lips
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The hearing impaired in situations where the mask prevents effective communication and adequate understanding of the transmitted message
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Persons with difficulty breathing due to chronic diseases (these situations should not be confused with a respiratory infection with fever or other signs that may be characteristic of COVID-19 disease when wearing a mask is mandatory)
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Persons with altered consciousness or loss of consciousness
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All persons who for other reasons cannot remove the mask without the help of another person.
The Public Health Institute publishes its latest recommendations in Croatian only on the Koronavirus.Hr website: https://www.koronavirus.hr/preporuke-hzjz/990
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Previous decrees:
January 2022: The Decree was passed on 08/01/2022, and published on the Koronavirus info website (in Croatian only) to come into force on Tuesday January 11th 2022.
-Outdoor gatherings are limited to 50 people in one place. Public events or gatherings may be attended by up to 200 people with EU Covid passports, if approved by the local Civil Protection Authority.
- Indoor gatherings are limited to 25 people in one place. Public events or gatherings indoors may be attended by up to 100 people with EU Covid passports, subject to approval by the local Civil Protection Authority.
- Public events or gatherings for all types of celebrations must end by 24:00, apart from cinema showings which commenced by 23:00 at the latest and wedding parties in which all attendees have an EU Covid passport.
- Protective medical masks or face masks are compulsory at funerals; condolences should be offered without close contact, and cemetery officials must ensure that the pandemic prevention measures are observed.
- Working hours for bakeries and shops selling bread and bakery products are limited up to midnight.
- Alcoholic drinks must not be sold between midnight and 6 am.
- In premises where food and drinks are served, guests must be seated at tables, with strict observation of the epidemiological measures set out by the Croatian Institute of Public Health (i.e. the number of guests allowed on the premises at one time, physical distancing of at least 1.5 metres between groups of guests, medical or face masks to be worn when not sitting at the table eating or drinking, proper ventilation, cleansing and disinfecting of the premises etc.). Working hours may extend from 6 am to midnight.
- Private celebrations and gatherings of all kinds, including weddings, in premises including those offering catering are allowed on condition of observing the epidemiological measures for up to 20 people, or 50 if they all have an EU Covid passport.
- The epidemiological measures must be strictly observed in gymnasia and fitness centres; in all indoor events such as workshops, children's parties and recreational activities.
- Amateur cultural events are allowed with strict observance of the epidemiological measures and special regulations laid down by the Croatian Public Health Institute. All participants (performers, organizers, audience etc) must have EU Covid passports.
- Exhibitions, fairs and other types of commercial and tourism events selling or displaying products in indoor areas are allowed with strict observance of the epidemiological measures and special regulations laid down by the Croatian Public Health Institute. All staff and attendees must have EU Covid passports.
- Masks are compulsory at outdoor fairs and other events where products are displayed or sold.
- Conferences and congresses can be held on condition that all present hold an EU Covid passport, wear masks, and obey the epidemiological measure and instructions of the Croatian Public Health Institute, especially as regards physical distancing.
- Sports competitions and training sessions can only be held without spectators, and on condition of strict adherence to the epidemiological measures and instructions from the Croatian Public Health Institute.
- Foreign language schools can operate on condition of strict adherence to the epidemiological measures.
- The theoretical part of driving instruction must be conducted online or by some other means at a distance; driving lessons can last for a maximum of 45 minutes; temperatures must be measured before entering the vehicle; there must ba a gap of at least ten minutes between candidates so that the vehicle can be aired and disinfected; a record must be kept of all the pupils and their lessons.
- Masks must be worn by everyone (except the organizers) attending art exhibitions in indoor areas.
- Masks are compulsory in cinemas, museums, galleries and other indoor areas.
- Masks are compulsory at meetings of representative bodies.
- It is recommended that wherever possible religious services are followed on television or the radio. When the faithful gather in a sacral building, they must wear masks.
- It is recommended that local and regional authorities do not organize public events for large numbers of people, unless all the attendees are holders of the EU Covid passport. Such events can only be held with the approval of the local Civil Protection Authority.
Following these explicit instructions, the document of the new measures goes on to identify some refinements and exceptions to the statements above, and there are lengthy explanations of the decisions.
Measures signed by the Head of the Croatian Civil Protection Authority Dr. Davor Božinović, who is also Vice-President of the Government and the Minister of Internal Affairs.
