Entry and sojourn of foreign boats and yachts intended for sports and leisure in Croatia

Author

Tiziana Paris, Attorney at Law

ENTRY BY SEA

The commander of a vessel, which sails into the Republic of Croatia by sea, is required to sail by the shortest route to the nearest port open for international traffic for the purposes of border control, and is required to perform the following:

1. Pass through border control
2. Verify the list of the crew and passenger who are on the vessel with the harbormaster's office or its branch office
3. Pay the required navigation safety fees
4. Pay the sojourn tax
5. Report the stay of foreign nationals on the vessel accordingly with specific regulations

ENTRY BY THE LAND OR AFTER WINTER VACATION

The commander of a vessel that has been brought to the Republic of Croatia by land or is located in a harbor or another approved place within the Republic of Croatia is required to do the following before going to sea:

1. Pay the required navigation safety fees
2. Pay the sojourn tax
3. Report the stay of foreign nationals on the vessel in accordance with specific regulations

AUTHORIZATION OF VESSEL USERS

A vessel in the ownership of a natural person or persons, can, for the period of sailing in the Republic of Croatia, carry the owner of the vessel, members of the immediate family and persons whom the owner of the vessel has given written permission to. The owner’s signature on the written authorization must be verified by an appropriate local of foreign authority.

DOCUMENTS ON VESSEL

For the purpose of verification, original copies of the following documents must be on boars the vessel sailing in the Republic of Croatia:

1. Proof that all fees have been paid
2. Proof that the vessel is seaworthy
3. Proof that the person who is commanding the vessels capable of controlling the vessel, in accordance with the regulations of the country under whose flag it is sailing, and in accordance with the regulations of the Republic of Croatia
4. Proof of third party insurance
5. Proof of ownership or authorization for use of the vessel

LICENCES FOR OPERATING SMALL BOATS AND YACHTS

For the command of small boats and yachts, a person must be qualified in accordance with the regulations of the state under whose flag the boat or yacht is sailing, and if in the home state there is no such kind of written qualification for the command of a boat, then the regulations of Croatia shall be implemented.

SAILING OUT FROM THE REPUBLIC OF CROATIA

Before sailing out from the Republic of Croatia the commander of a vessel is required to:

1. Pass through border control
2. Verify the list of the crew and passengers who are on the vessel with the port authority or branch of the port authority

After completing the mentioned obligations, the commander is required to leave the internal waters and territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia via the shortest possible route.

IMPORTANT INFORMATIONS FOR FOREIGN BOATS AND YACHTS INTENDED FOR SPORTS AND LEISURE IN CROATIA