FROM JANUARY 1ST, STRIKER CONTROLS AT THE BORDERS WITH CROATIA

Because of this decision of the European Commission, citizens from Bosnia and Herzegovina are the happiest, as they can still cross the border into Croatia for free. The most controversies that ETIAS caused were not the additional checks and security checks of passengers, but the fee of seven euros, which every citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia or some other third country had to pay at the border crossing.

However, according to the Schengen rules, citizens of third countries, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, can stay in Croatia for a short period of time, if they meet all the prescribed conditions, for a maximum of 90 days within a period of 180 days.

If a person has stayed in the Schengen area for 90 days, he must leave that area, and the length of the previous stay is calculated for the period of 180 days preceding each day of stay. For example, if a person has spent 45 days in the Schengen area in the past 180 calendar days, he can stay in the territory of any EU country for another 45 days – the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia explains, writes Slobodna Dalmacija.

The length of stay is calculated using the so-called Schengen calculator. In the Schengen calculator, all dates of entry and exit from the Republic of Croatia are entered according to the border stamps printed in the passport in the previous 180 days.

During a short-term stay, a citizen of a third country must have registered accommodation. However, many BH citizens have summer cottages by the sea in the Makarska and Pelješac areas. They often travel across the border, so the new Schengen rules did not sit well with them.

“I understand that Croatia is in the European Union, but different rules should apply to those who have real estate in Croatia. Why seven euros at the border”, said a BiH citizen who owns a cottage in Gradac.

Unlike ETIASA, which for now remains only on paper, the Schengen rules for the movement of goods and passengers are much stricter and will certainly be applied at international border crossings.

What has changed at these crossings since the first day of the New Year and what can citizens who cross the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina every day, whether to go to school, work or see a doctor, expect from the new rules?

In general, checks on passengers coming from third countries will be more detailed. However, the majority of these daily migrations are Croatian citizens who live on the other side of the border in BiH, so there should not be any significant changes for them when crossing the state border and entering the Republic of Croatia.

Namely, all Croatian citizens residing outside the EU area are treated as citizens of the European Union and “softer” control rules are applied to them. In addition, all crossing points for border traffic with Bosnia and Herzegovina remain in operation and their status is not affected by the Schengen rules. This is a great relief for local residents in the five-kilometer border zone who use border passes to enter the Republic of Croatia.

As for the entry into the Republic of Croatia of various goods and food from, for example, Bosnia and Herzegovina, nothing has changed with the entry into Schengen. Meat and dairy products are still prohibited. However, a limited amount of fruits and vegetables, as well as eggs, egg products and honey, can be entered. Limited amounts of fish and fish products are also allowed.

Thus, you can transfer up to 20 kilograms of fresh, salted, cleaned, dried or cooked fish, prawns, crabs, mussels and oysters across the border without any problems, 125 grams of caviar, while it is forbidden to bring in one pate or 10 dekagrams of salami, milk in a tetrapack or yogurt. Other dairy products, cheese, cream, butter are also strictly prohibited.

It is allowed to legally bring into the Republic of Croatia only up to two kilograms of milk powder or baby food, the same amount of pet food, honey or eggs.

As for plants, plant products, fruits and vegetables, only tropical fruits can be brought into the Republic of Croatia for personal consumption: bananas, pineapples, dates, durian and coconut. The introduction of soil and substrate for planting as well as vine, citrus and seed potato seedlings is prohibited.

Potatoes, cut flowers, bulbs and tubers, carrots, beets, celery, radishes, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, radicchio, endive, ginger, saffron, turmeric, tomatoes, apples, pears, melons and watermelons can be brought into the Republic of Croatia from third countries only with the submission of a phytosanitary certificate issued by the competent authority of the country from which the vegetables are imported.

40 cigarettes, 20 cigarillos, 50 grams of tobacco, 10 milliliters of e-liquid, four liters of wine, 16 liters of beer, 10 liters of fuel in a portable container and two liters of alcoholic beverages can be legally brought into the Republic of Croatia.

In addition, passengers who carry cash in the amount of 10,000 euros or more in their luggage are obliged to report it to the customs officer. They are also required to register a pet, which must have a veterinary certificate or a passport.