It's become official today that Croatia is approved to join the Schengen group of European countries with border-free travel on Jan. 1, 2023. (Before it was announced, I saw stories that for arrivals by air it would happen on the late March date when airlines start their Summer schedules.) The bids of Bulgaria and Romania are denied for now:
www.afar.com
www.dw.com
This means that people from outside of Schengen making flight connections in Schengen countries to Croatia will have passport control at the connecting airport, and people looking to spend more than 90 days in Europe without a visa will no longer have the option of having some of that time in Croatia to meet the 90-day Schengen limit.
It's been a matter of interest to me, looking at the logistics of our originally planned Italy-Croatia trip felled by Covid in spring 2020, and that we were able to get to Croatia later in the year, helped by that country being able to make its own entry rules.
Croatia Joins Schengen, Europe's Free Travel Zone
As of January 1, 2023, you'll no longer need to go through passport control when traveling between Croatia and 26 other European countries.
www.afar.com
Croatia to join Schengen but Bulgaria, Romania bids rejected – DW – 12/08/2022
Croatia will join the unrestricted movement arrangement from January 1. However, an EU official confirmed the bids from Bulgaria and Romania to join the Schengen Area have been blocked.
www.dw.com
This means that people from outside of Schengen making flight connections in Schengen countries to Croatia will have passport control at the connecting airport, and people looking to spend more than 90 days in Europe without a visa will no longer have the option of having some of that time in Croatia to meet the 90-day Schengen limit.
It's been a matter of interest to me, looking at the logistics of our originally planned Italy-Croatia trip felled by Covid in spring 2020, and that we were able to get to Croatia later in the year, helped by that country being able to make its own entry rules.
