Arrival by sea
Any commander of a boat which sails into Croatian waters is obliged to use the shortest available route in the nearest port/harbour open to the international traffic. He must comply with the rules of the border control regulations and do the following:
Obtain the vignette (boat licence), register the list of crew members and passengers in the Master Harbour’s Office or one of its branches.
A complete list of crew members and passengers is not mandatory for bots which are not equipped for longer stay.
A sailboat is placed at a visible spot marked in the vignette. The vignette is mandatory for sailboats over 3 m long, as well as sailboats up to 3 m long if the strength of their power engines exceeds 5 kW.
The vignette is not mandatory for oar-operated sailboats, regardless of their length, such as kayaks, beach canoes, pedal boats etc.
The vignette is not mandatory for boats left protected inside a harbour or other authorised spot in the Republic of Croatia. The vignette is valid for one year since the date of issue. Only one vignette can be issued for a sailboat in one year. The vignette is issued by the Harbour Master’s Office or one of its branches.
Border crossings: Umag, Poreč, Rovinj, Raša (Bršica), Rijeka, Mali Lošinj, Zadar, Šibenik, Split, Ploče, Korčula, Dubrovnik, Vela Luka, Ubli.
Border crossings during the season: ACI Umag, Novigrad, Sali, Božava, Primošten, Hvar, Stari Grad (Hvar), Vis, Komiža i Cavtat
Any commander of a boat at which passengers or crew take turns is obliged to submit the list of people on board to the Harbour Master’s Office. The list must consist of the names of all the persons on board and is compiled in the application form.
The vignette coupon serves as a certification of the list. The total number of people on board should not exceed the double capacity plus 30 per cent of the unit capacity.
Children under 12 do not need to be on the list and as such do not count in the total number of people allowed on board in inland waters and territorial sea of the Republic of Croatia.
If the inspection control concludes that a person is not registered on the list it will be considered as cabotage over the boat.
A boat sailing in the Republic of Croatia is obliged to have the following original documents and in the purpose of valid check:
-vignette
-registered list of crew and passengers on board
-proof that the boat is equipped for sail
-proof that the commander of the boat is trained to steer the boat, in accordance to the national regulations of the country under which flag it sails, i.e. in accordance with national regulations of the Republic of Croatia.
- proof of insurance against the damage inflicted upon third parties
- proof of ownership or a certificate for the use of the boat