Short-stay tourist visas for Croatia are not easy to extend. Dire circumstances like force majeure, humanitarian reasons, or serious personal reasons are the only reasons for Croatia visa extension for Indians.
To apply for a Croatia visa extension, you must submit a request at a police administration or station before your current visa expires.
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Types of Croatia Visa Extension
Croatia offers Indian nationals a short-stay Schengen ‘C’ visa for tourism. Here are the relevant visa types and extension details:
- Single-Entry Tourist Visa: Not extendable under normal circumstances.
- Double-Entry Tourist Visa: Not typically extendable.
- Multiple-Entry Tourist Visa: Generally not eligible for extension.
Exception: A Croatia tourist visa extension for Indians may be extended under rare circumstances, such as humanitarian or serious personal reasons. The extension duration is determined case-by-case and limited to the time necessary to resolve the circumstances preventing departure.
Number of Extensions: Any extension granted is a one-time exception. Multiple extensions are not permitted.
Key Grounds for Extension:
- Force majeure or humanitarian reasons preventing timely departure
- Serious personal reasons justifying extended stay.
Croatia Visa Extension Fees for Indians
The fees for extending a Croatia tourist visa are based on the reason for the extension:
| Visa Type | Age | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Short-stay Visa (C Type) | All ages | Free (for force majeure or humanitarian reasons) |
| Short-stay Visa (C Type) | All ages | 30 EUR (for serious personal reasons) |
There are no additional fees or charges for premium services, as extensions are handled on a case-by-case basis.
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Are You Eligible for Croatia Visa Extension?
You may be eligible for a Croatia tourist visa extension for Indians under these specific circumstances:
- Humanitarian Reasons: If you are prevented from leaving Croatia due to unforeseen circumstances like natural disasters, political instability, or medical emergencies. The extension is free of charge.
- Serious Personal Reasons: If you have compelling personal reasons to stay longer, such as attending a family event or dealing with an urgent matter, a fee of 30 EUR applies.
- Validity: Your extension request must be filed at a police administration or station before your current visa expires.
- Compliance with Visa Conditions: You must have adhered to the terms of your original visa, such as not working or engaging in activities prohibited under a tourist visa.
- Sufficient Funds & Travel Insurance: You must provide adequate funds to support yourself and travel health insurance covering the extended stay.
- Location: The extension request must be submitted to Croatia by a police administration or station. You cannot apply from outside Croatia.
Note: The valid grounds for extension are the same for all Croatia tourist visas issued to Indians.
Documents Required for Croatia Visa Extensions
Submit these Croatia visa extension documents for Indians to apply for a visa extension:
- Completed and signed visa application form
- Valid travel document (passport)
- Documents proving the reasons for extension (e.g., medical certificates, proof of force majeure, etc.)
- Proof of sufficient financial means for the extended stay
- Proof of travel health insurance for the extended period
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How to Apply for a Croatia Visa Extension
The Croatia visa extension application for Indians is strictly offline.
Online Application
There is no current online process. To apply for a Croatia visa extension, you must visit a police administration or station in Croatia and submit the required documents before your Schengen visa expires.
Offline Application
Here is a stepwise walkthrough of the offline application process for extending your Croatia tourist visa:
Step 1: Gather Required Documents: Ensure you have a valid passport, completed visa application form, documents proving reasons for extension, proof of sufficient funds, and proof of travel health insurance for the extended stay.
Step 2: Choose the Correct Police Administration/Station: Identify the nearest or most convenient police administration or police station in your location within Croatia.
Here are five major cities in Croatia with police administrations or stations where you can apply for a visa extension:
- Zagreb: Police Administration of the City of Zagreb, Petrinjska ulica 30, 10000 Zagreb
- Split: Police Administration of the Split-Dalmatia County, Ulica Domovinskog rata 1, 21000 Split
- Dubrovnik: Police Administration of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County, Ul. Andrije Hebranga 5, 20000 Dubrovnik
- Rijeka: Police Administration of the Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Ul. Riječka rezolucija 13, 51000 Rijeka
- Osijek: Police Administration of the Osijek-Baranja County, Županijska ulica 2, 31000 Osijek
Step 3: Submit the Application: Go to the selected police administration or station and submit the completed application along with all required documents before your current visa expires.
Step 4: Wait for Preliminary Approval: The police administration/station will obtain preliminary approval from the Ministry before extending the visa. You may need to provide additional information during this process.
Step 5: Receive the Extended Visa: If approved, the extended visa will be issued as a new visa sticker. You can stay in Croatia until the decision is reached.
Step 6: Appeal Process (If Necessary): If the extension is refused, you have 15 days to appeal through a competent Croatian diplomatic mission or consular post. The Ministry responsible for foreign affairs will decide on the appeal.
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Croatia Visa Extension Processing Time & Next Steps
The processing time for a Croatia visa extension may be 2-4 weeks, but you can stay in Croatia until a decision is made. Here’s the process:
- The police must obtain preliminary approval from the Ministry, which can add another 1-2 weeks.
- Once approved, the extended visa will be issued as a new visa sticker.
FAQs
1. How can an Indian apply for a Croatia visa extension?
To apply for a Croatia visa extension for Indian citizens:
- Ensure your reason aligns with Croatia’s permissible grounds for extension.
- Visit the nearest police administration or station in Croatia before your current visa expires.
- Submit the completed application form and all required documents.
- Attend an interview if required.
- Wait for the final decision.
2. What are the reasons for granting a Croatia visa extension to Indians?
Croatia grants tourist visa extensions to Indians only in exceptional cases. These cases include situations of force majeure, humanitarian reasons or personal reasons.
3. How long before expiration should Indians apply for a Croatia visa extension?
It’s best to apply at least two weeks before your current Croatia tourist visa expires to allow sufficient processing time.
4. Can an Indian extend a Croatia visa beyond its standard validity?
Indians can stay up to 90 days within a 180-day period in Croatia on a tourist visa. Extensions beyond this are very rare and only granted in highly exceptional circumstances.
5. How long does a Croatia visa extension take?
A Croatia visa extension typically takes 2-4 weeks to process after submitting all required documents.
6. How much does a Croatia visa extension cost?
The fee for a Croatia visa extension is:
- Free for force majeure or humanitarian reasons
- 30 EUR for serious personal reasons
This payment is required at the time of application submission.
7. What documents are needed for a Croatia visa extension for Indians?
The documents needed for a Croatia visa extension for Indians are:
- Completed and signed visa application form
- Valid passport
- Documents proving reasons for extension
- Proof of sufficient financial means
- Proof of travel health insurance for extended stay
8. What happens if my Croatia visa extension is denied?
If your Croatia visa extension is denied, you must leave Croatia before your current visa expires to avoid penalties like fines, entry bans, or legal consequences.
