Travel insurance for Croatia: what you actually need
Croatia has been a full member of the European Union since 2013 and joined the Schengen Area on 1 January 2023. That means the rules here follow common EU and Schengen standards rather than any country-specific tourist-insurance scheme. For most visitors, travel insurance is not a legal condition of entry, but it is strongly recommended: a single hospital stay or medical evacuation can cost far more than any policy.
What you need depends on how you enter. Visa-exempt travellers (for example US, UK, Canadian and Australian citizens, and EU nationals) do not have to show insurance at the border, though it is highly advisable. Travellers who need a Schengen visa to visit Croatia must hold travel medical insurance with a minimum of EUR 30,000 in coverage as part of their visa application.
Is insurance mandatory?
For visa-exempt tourists, travel insurance is not mandatory to enter Croatia, but it is strongly recommended. For travellers who require a Schengen visa, valid travel medical insurance is mandatory: the EU Visa Code requires a minimum of EUR 30,000 in coverage, valid across the whole Schengen Area for the entire stay, including emergency hospital treatment and repatriation. Rules can change, so always confirm the current requirements with an official source before you travel.
Based on EU and Croatian government sources, including the EU Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009), the European Commission, and Croatia's Ministry of the Interior (mup.gov.hr).
What a good policy should cover
- Emergency medical treatment and hospitalisation, with a coverage limit of at least EUR 30,000 (this is the mandatory minimum for Schengen-visa applicants).
- Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation, including repatriation of remains in case of death.
- Cover that is valid throughout the entire Schengen Area, not just Croatia.
- A policy duration that matches your full stay, so the dates on the certificate cover every day of the trip.
- Cover for any activities you plan, such as hiking, diving, sailing or watersports, which are often excluded from basic plans.
- Clear terms on the deductible (excess), so you know what you would pay out of pocket on a claim.
Mandatory or just recommended?
For visa-exempt travellers there is no fine and no automatic refusal of entry simply for arriving without insurance. The real risk is financial: without cover you would pay the full cost of any treatment, ambulance, hospital stay or medical flight home yourself. For this reason, insurance is recommended for everyone, even though it is not checked at the border for most tourists.
For travellers who need a Schengen visa, the situation is different: travel medical insurance meeting the EUR 30,000 minimum is a documented requirement of the visa application itself. Without a compliant policy, the visa can be refused, which in practice prevents the trip.
Where to get a policy
The right option depends on your nationality, the length of your stay and whether you also need a Schengen-compliant certificate for a visa. Below are three common routes.
SafetyWing
For long-term travellers and digital nomads (EN-friendly)
A subscription-style policy billed monthly, popular with remote workers and long-stay travellers. Convenient for open-ended trips, but check the terms carefully: SafetyWing's plans exclude travel to certain countries, including Russia and Belarus, so they are not suitable if your itinerary includes those destinations.
Affiliate links are coming soon
EKTA
For travellers from CIS countries and Ukraine
A useful alternative for travellers from Ukraine and CIS countries, including those whose routes pass through destinations that Western insurers exclude. EKTA issues Schengen-compliant certificates quickly online, which can be helpful when applying for a Croatia/Schengen visa.
Affiliate links are coming soon
Standard Schengen travel insurance
For Schengen-visa applicants
A conventional single-trip Schengen travel medical policy from a recognised insurer, written specifically to meet the EUR 30,000 minimum, full-area validity and repatriation requirements. This is the straightforward choice if you mainly need a compliant certificate for your visa file.
Affiliate links are coming soon
How to choose travel insurance for Croatia
Good to know
- EU and EEA citizens can use the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and UK residents the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), to access state healthcare in Croatia on the same basis as locals. Note that co-payments apply and neither card covers private treatment or repatriation, so private travel insurance is still recommended.
- The single emergency number across Croatia and the whole EU is 112, which connects you to ambulance, police and fire services.
- Many policies include a waiting period before certain benefits apply, so buy your insurance when you book rather than at the last minute.
- Car hire usually needs its own cover: standard travel insurance does not include vehicle damage or third-party liability, so review the rental company's insurance and any excess separately.
If something happens
- In a medical emergency, call 112 first to reach an ambulance and emergency services anywhere in Croatia.
- Contact your insurer's assistance line as soon as you can, ideally before treatment, so they can authorise care and arrange direct billing where possible.
- Keep every receipt, invoice, prescription and medical report, as you will need them to support a claim or to seek reimbursement.
- If you used an EHIC or GHIC and still paid out of pocket, contact your home health authority after returning to request any reimbursement available.