Croatia Moving Guide: Documents, Duties & Shipping Notes
Source: IAM Country Guide · Updated 2026-09-08 · Download the Croatia Country Guide (PDF)
Documents
Documents required for importing used household goods, personal effects, and related shipments.
From EU member statesNo customs procedures or controls apply. Movement of goods between EU member states and Croatia is considered intra-EU shipping. However, when transferring a motor vehicle from another EU member state, a tax declaration must be filed for the special tax on motor vehicles.
From non-EU (third) countries- Copy of passport, notarized by a notary public in Croatia
- Copy of visa, extended stay permit, work permit, or proof of residence
- Copy of lease or purchase contract in Croatia
- Detailed, valued inventory, signed by the owner of the goods (in Croatian and English, 2 copies)
- Original bill of lading (OBL) or airway bill (AWB)
- Power of attorney (required for foreigners)
- Certificate of temporary residence abroad issued by the competent Croatian diplomatic mission or consular office abroad, or other appropriate document proving the period of uninterrupted stay abroad (must demonstrate minimum 12 months)
- Employment contract or company registration documents (self-employed)
- EORI number
For returning Croatian citizens (additional)- Statement from Croatian embassy at origin showing the owner has lived abroad for more than 12 months
- Croatian ID card
- EORI number
For diplomats- Detailed packing list
- Copy of passport
- Original letter of protocol from the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Copy of diplomatic passport
- EORI number
Specific Information
Import timeline: Goods may be imported within 12 months from the date of the move, at once or on several occasions. The deadline may be extended for justified reasons such as political situations or natural disasters.
Pre-arrival import: Natural persons who intend to move to Croatia can also qualify for duty and VAT exemption, but they must physically move within 6 months from the day of customs clearance.
Prohibition of alienation: Imported household goods under customs duty exemption are under customs supervision and cannot be sold, lent, pawned, rented, or used for another purpose within 12 months of import, without prior notification of the competent customs office and payment of customs duties and VAT. The SDC source states 24 months; the official gov.hr source states 12 months. The gov.hr figure is used as the authoritative source.
Items qualifying as household goods: Furniture, household appliances, electrical appliances, works of art, hobby tools, smaller agricultural tools and devices, personal vehicles (cars), trailers, mobile homes, vessels, pets, riding animals, and reasonable quantities of consumables (approximately one month's supply of food). Goods must be intended for household or leisure use, not for professional business activities.
EORI number: Required for all importers, including returning citizens.
Exercising the exemption multiple times: The right to customs duty exemption can be exercised again if you return to a foreign country and then return to Croatia, provided all conditions are met again. There is no one-time limit.
Duties & Taxes
Duty-free conditions (from non-EU countries): Personal property is exempt from customs duties and VAT if the following conditions are met: the beneficiary has spent a minimum of 12 consecutive months in a third country before moving; the items were owned and used in their household for a minimum of 6 months before the day of the move; the property is intended for the same household or leisure purpose in Croatia. The owner must arrive in Croatia prior to or at the time of shipment arrival.
Duties if not qualifying: Approximately 35-45% of the total value apply if the owner does not qualify for duty and tax-free import.
Prohibited & Restricted Items
Prohibited Items- Firearms and ammunition (without proper permits)
- Stuffed animals (taxidermy)
- Narcotics and illegal drugs
- Counterfeit goods
Alcohol, wine, spirits, and tobacco are restricted/dutiable and are prohibited only in quantities exceeding the duty-free allowances without proper declaration and payment of duties.
Restricted / Dutiable ItemsAll weapons and ammunition: permit required, must be reported to the police upon entry. PERMIT REQUIRED
Antiques, artifacts, carpets, paintings: when importing jewelry, art, or antiques, these items must be registered upon arrival in Croatia. No restriction on registered items as long as a document from the Croatian Ministry of Culture is available to show the presence of the item in Croatia.
Duty-free allowances (travelers from non-EU countries):
- 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 100 cigarillos or 250 g of tobacco
- 1 liter of spirits (over 22% vol.) or 2 liters of wine or 2 liters of liqueur (under 22% vol.)
- 250 ml of cologne or 50 g of perfume
- Goods of a non-commercial nature up to EUR 430 (air/sea) or EUR 300 (other modes); EUR 150 for passengers under 15
Duty-free allowances (travelers from EU member states):
- 800 cigarettes, 400 cigarillos, 200 cigars, 1 kg of tobacco
- 10 liters of spirits (over 22%), 20 liters of alcoholic beverages (under 22%), 90 liters of wine (max 60 liters sparkling), 110 liters of beer
EU food restrictions: You cannot bring meat, milk, or products containing them into Croatia from non-EU countries, with limited exceptions for medical reasons (infant milk, infant food, pet food).
Consignment Instructions
Recommended: Contact the destination agent to ensure all requirements have been met prior to import, especially for differences regarding air and sea shipments.
Owner arrival requirement: The owner of the goods must arrive in Croatia prior to the shipment. If importing before physically moving, the owner must move within 6 months of customs clearance.
Inventory requirements: A detailed, valued inventory must be prepared in both Croatian and English, signed by the owner, and provided in 2 copies.
EORI number: Must be obtained before customs clearance can proceed.
Vehicle homologation: For any vehicle being registered for the first time in Croatia (whether from an EU or non-EU country), contact the State Office for Metrology before moving to request information about the vehicle approval (homologation) procedure.
Customs Administration contact: Ministry of Finance, Customs Administration, Alexandera von Humboldta 4a, 10 000 Zagreb. Tel: +385 1 6211-300 or 0800-1222. Web: https://carina.gov.hr/
Regulatory Updates
Croatia joined the Schengen Area and adopted the euro (EUR) on 1 January 2023. This has significant implications for customs procedures. Moves from other EU member states are now treated as intra-EU transfers with no customs procedures or controls. The customs regulations below apply primarily to imports from non-EU (third) countries. The Croatian kuna (HRK) is no longer in circulation; all values are now in euros.
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