COVID-19 News

CROATIA

COVID-19 – Basic Croatia facts for new travellers on date 05^th March 2021

On 13th of January 2021, the Civil Protection Headquarters of the Republic of Croatia issued a Decision temporarily prohibiting and restricting the crossing of persons across all border crossing points of the Republic of Croatia. However, in accordance with the guidelines of the competent authorities, exceptions have been made as follows:

• Passengers coming directly from the countries and / or regions of the European Union, i.e. countries and / or regions which are Member States of the Schengen Area and Schengen Associated Countries, and which are currently in the so‑called green list of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, regardless of their citizenship, will be allowed entry into the Republic of Croatia under the same conditions as before the onset of the COVID-19 disease (they do not need to present a negative PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 nor are they assigned the measure of self-isolation) if they show no signs of disease and they have not been in close contact with an infected person.
• Graphic representation of countries by colour according to the risk of the COVID-19 disease can be found on the website of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
• If the aforementioned persons transited to the border crossing points of the Republic of Croatia through other countries / regions without delay, they should prove at the border crossing point that they did not stay in transit areas and in that case, they will not be required to have a negative PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 not older than 48 hours, nor stay in self-isolation.
• All other passengers who, regardless of their citizenship, come to the Republic of Croatia from EU / EEA member states / regions, and which are currently not on the so-called green list of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, must present a negative PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 that is not older than 48 hours (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point) or have the PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 done immediately upon arrival in the Republic of Croatia (at their own expense), with the obligation of self-isolation until they receive a negative test result.
• Citizens of EU Member States (including Croatian citizens), i.e. of Schengen Member States and Schengen Associated States, as well as members of their families and third-country nationals who are long-term residents under Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents and persons entitled to reside under other EU directives or national law or who have national long-term visas coming from third countries, upon entering the Republic of Croatia must present a negative PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 that is not older than 48 hours regardless of their citizenship (counting from the time of taking the swab to arriving at the border crossing point) or have the PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 done immediately upon arrival in the Republic of Croatia (at their own expense), with the obligation of self-isolation until they receive a negative test result. 

Third-country nationals not covered by the abovementioned points may enter the Republic of Croatia from third countries if they are:

• healthcare workers, health researchers and caregivers for the elderly;
• frontier workers (as well as e.g., athletes as stated in the exceptions for passengers within the EU / EEA);
• workers in the transport sector;
• diplomats, staff of international organizations and persons invited by international organizations whose physical presence is necessary for the good functioning of those organizations, military personnel and police officers, as well as humanitarian and civil protection personnel in the performance of their duties;
• passengers in transit;
• persons travelling for schooling purposes;
• sseafarers (supported by the PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 not older than 48 hours or by PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 immediately upon arriving to the Republic of Croatia and by self-isolating until they receive a negative test result);
• persons travelling for urgent personal / family reasons, business reasons or other economic interest (supported by the PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 not older than 48 hours or by PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 immediately upon arriving to the Republic of Croatia and by self-isolating until they receive a negative test result).

In order to shorten the procedure at the border crossing point, we advise all foreign passengers, regardless of their citizenship, to fill the announcement in advance at Enter Croatia

• The information you will need when you complete the form is:
  – The reason for Travel
  – Starting country (country you are travelling from)
  – Valid From and Valid to: these are your arrival and departure dates in Croatia
  – Lead Person in your group: name; date of birth; phone number; document type (passport), document number and issuer
  – Citizenship
  – Email address
  – The same details for each member of your party
• When staying in the Republic of Croatia, all passengers, regardless of their category and country from which they came, are obliged to follow the general and special instructions and recommendations of the Croatian Institute of Public Health.
• Starting from October 12, it is mandatory to wear protective or surgical masks in all enclosed spaces where it is not possible to maintain a distance of 1.5 m. Furthermore, it is highly recommended to use protective masks in certain public spaces and outdoors, especially in cases where the required distance cannot be maintained.
• Passengers in transit may travel through the Republic of Croatia provided that it is possible to enter or transit through the neighbouring country. It is necessary to leave the Republic of Croatia as soon as possible and no longer than 12 hours from the moment of entry, which will be checked by the border police.
• Public transport (trains and buses) is operating across the country. Public transport can be filled to a maximum of 40% of the total capacity, and passengers and the driver are required to wear a protective mask in the correct manner.
• Starting from November 28^th it is forbidden to sell alcohol beverages from 10pm to 6am.
• Effective March 1, outdoor terraces of all catering facilities (including cafes and restaurants) all allowed to work from 6 am to 10 pm. When staying on the terraces of catering facilities, it is necessary to adhere to epidemiological measures and maintain physical distance.
• Croatia Airlines maintains flights from Zagreb to and/from most major cities throughout Europe.
• Many other commercial airlines have updated flight schedules. Please check their websites for flights to Croatian cities.
• Domestic flights are operating and flights between Zagreb and Split, as well as Zagreb and Dubrovnik, along with flights from Zagreb to Pula and Zadar are available.
• For the latest information on COVID-19 cases in Croatia, please visit the Croatian Government’s COVID-19 website on the following link: https://www.koronavirus.hr/en
• The Croatian Tourism Association (HUT) has created a useful interactive map with marked active Covid-19 cases that may be found on the following link https://www.croatiacovid19.info/
• Various recommendations and guidelines for the tourism sector may be found on the following link of the Croatian Institute of Public Health: https://www.hzjz.hr/aktualnosti/covid-19-pandemic-recommendations-in-english/
• Frequently asked questions and answers regarding the conditions of entry into the Republic of Croatia may be found on the following link of Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia: https://mup.gov.hr/uzg-covid/english/286212

BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA

COVID-19 – Basic Bosnia & Herzegovina facts for new travellers on date 05^th March 2021

• Foreigners who meet the conditions for entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina prescribed by the Law on Foreigners may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina upon presentation of a negative PCR test for SARS-COV-2 virus not older than 48 hours until arrival at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Without presenting a negative PCR test for SARS-COV-2 virus, the following may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina:
  – citizens of Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia, when they enter Bosnia and Herzegovina directly from the country of which they are citizens, as well as their minor children and spouses who are citizens of other countries,
  – drivers and co-drivers of freight vehicles when performing international transport of goods by road, provided that their stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina does not last longer than 12 hours,
  – foreigners transiting through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the purpose of returning to the country of usual residence, without staying in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
  – a minor foreigner whose parent is a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as a foreigner who is the spouse of a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Currently, when entering Bosnia and Herzegovina, no quarantine or self-isolation measures are prescribed, while upon entering Bosnia and Herzegovina, all persons are obliged to follow the instructions and respect all orders of the competent epidemiological and health authorities (social distance, protective masks, hand disinfection, etc.).
• It is mandatory to wear protective or surgical masks in all public places both open and closed and maintain social distance of 2 meters.
• Gathering of citizens is limited to a maximum of 30 people in open and closed public places, with the obligation to respect the physical distance of at least two meters between persons, wear protective masks and sanitise hands with suitable sanitisers.
• Restaurants and cafes are open in line with the recommendations issued by the Institute for Public Health of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
• Movement of people on the entire territory of the Bosnia and Herzegovina is temporarily prohibited between 23:00 and 5:00.
• Frequently asked questions and answers regarding the conditions of entry into the state border of BIH due to coronavirus pandemic may be found on the following link of Bosnia and Herzegovina Border police web site: http://www.granpol.gov.ba/Faq/Read?pageId=21

MONTENEGRO

COVID-19 – Basic Montenegro facts for new travellers on date 05^th March 2021

• Montenegrin citizens and foreigners can enter Montenegro on all border crossings without having a test on the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) except people arriving from: UK, France, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Czech, Israel, Malta, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, USA, Brazil, South African Republic, India, Bahrein, Lebanon, San Marino, Luxembourg, Andorra, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Botswana.
• People arriving from: UK, France, Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, Ireland, Belgium, Czech, Israel, Malta, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, USA, Brazil, South African Republic, India, Bahrein, Lebanon, San Marino, Luxembourg, Andorra, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Botswana, can enter Montenegro with negative SARS-CoV-2 test not older than 72 hours, otherwise they will be subject to 14day quarantine.
• Individuals who have had contact with someone diagnosed with coronavirus or suspected to be infected with coronavirus will be subject to quarantine.
• In order to prevent the introduction into the country, contain and prevent spreading to other countries, as well as to protect the population against the novel coronavirus, the following temporary measures are ordered ban on leaving the housing facilities from 21:00 to 05:00 of the next day, except for:
  – persons who perform regular work tasks and provide services of public interest, and are indispensable for life and work of citizens (health system, inspection authorities, police, army, security services, fire services, utility services, media – including persons coming to media shows, etc.), as evidenced by the certificate issued by the employer;
  – students who are coming back from school, to the housing facility, as evidenced by the certificate issued by the educational institution,
  – persons caring for persons who due to illness, condition or consequences of injury are not able to independently perform their daily activities, as evidenced by the certificate issued by the chosen doctor of these persons and by the excerpt from a relevant registry of citizens proving the family relationship between these persons or a contract of care or support which proves the mutual legal relationship between these persons;
  – employees of foreign diplomatic and consular missions,
  – children with autism spectrum disorders and wheelchair users, accompanied by one person, for a maximum of 60 minutes;
  – persons taking pets out, for a maximum of 60 minutes.
• Ban on gathering in residential facilities for persons who are not members of the common family household except for persons who take care of persons who, due to illness, condition or consequences of injury, are incapable of independently performing daily life activities, as evidenced by the certificate issued by the chosen doctor of these persons and a certificate from the relevant registry of citizens proving the family relationship between these persons or a contract of care or support which proves the mutual legal relationship between these persons, as well as persons in case of emergency works in the residential building (electricity, water, etc.)
• Obligation of wearing protective face masks covering nose and mouth, in closed and open space, including children older than five years, with the obligation to respect physical distance of at least two meters between persons, except in the housing facilities.
• Obligation of passenger transport in public transport (bus and van) of passengers in road traffic (intercity, suburban, urban), and railway transport and employers who are providing transportation of employees with the vehicles for personal needs in road traffic is conducted with:
  – obliged wearing of protective masks for drivers and passengers,
  – obliged vehicle disinfection,
  – hand sanitizers at the entrance/exit from the vehicle,
  – ban for passengers to stand in the vehicle.
• Passenger transport in domestic maritime transport is conducted with:
  – obliged wearing of protective masks for maritime crew and passengers,
  – obliged disinfection of maritime facility,
  – ban for passengers to stand in the maritime facility.
• Ban on gathering of the population in indoor and outdoor public areas (public gatherings, public events, sports, political, cultural-artistic and private gatherings, weddings and other events), except for professional, scientific, work and official activities, with observance of the prescribed measures.
• Ban on rental of accommodation units for more than two persons, except for the members of the same family household.
• Operation of the night clubs/bars and disco clubs is prohibited.
• Restaurants/Caffes are open from 7 am to 6 pm (except in municipality of Budva, Podgorica, Nikšić, Cetinje, Kotor, Plužine, Tivat, Herceg Novi and Ulcinj where restaurants/caffes are closed)
• Trade of goods for the needs of Montenegro as well as the transit of passengers and goods shall be done without disturbance.
• Measures are prescribed based on the decision of the Sanitary Inspection, in accordance with the Protocol for treatment of patients and contacts of COVID-19 patients of the Public Health Institute of Montenegro.
• For the latest and detailed information on the measures and recommendations introduced, visit web site of the Government of Montenegro: http://www.gov.me/en/homepage/measures_and_recommendations/

SLOVENIA

COVID-19 – Basic Slovenian facts for new travellers on date 05^th March 2021

After resurgence of coronavirus cases, the Government again declared an epidemic in the entire territory of Slovenia on 19 October 2020. A special border-crossing regime was set up early in March 2020, soon after first infections were reported, in order to contain the progress of the novel virus. Traffic-related measures, some of them temporary, were introduced at the border with Croatia and on the internal Schengen border (with Italy, Austria and Hungary) and border entry/exit restrictions were put in place for foreign nationals and Slovenian citizens. All of these restrictions continue to be valid and change depending on the assessment of the epidemiological situation.

Red list of countries:

• Countries with an unstable epidemiological situation or administrative divisions of countries are included on the red list.
• People entering the Republic of Slovenia, who are a resident of a country on the red list or who arrive from that country, shall be due to the potential infection with SARS-CoV-2 virus required to stay in quarantine for a period of ten days.
• Any person who presents a negative test for SARS-CoV-2 upon entry into Slovenia will not need to quarantine. The test must be performed by the PCR method in an EU Member State or Schengen Area country, or by organisations or individuals in third countries recognised as relevant by the Institute of Microbiology and Immunology and the National Laboratory of Health, Environment and Food (NLZOH), and published on the NLZOH website, and must not be older than 48 hours after taking the swab. The testing may also be performed by a rapid antigen test in an EU Member State or Schengen Area country and may not be older than 24 hours after taking the swab.
• Countries on the red list can be found on following website: https://www.gov.si/en/topics/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/border-crossing/
• All countries that are not explicitly listed on the red list are considered to be without a high risk of infection and persons coming from these countries or administrative units of countries may enter the Republic of Slovenia without being put under home quarantine and without submitting a negative test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2.

Exception to the quarantine and negative PCR or rapid antigen test requirements:

• persons who present a positive RAT or PCR test result* for SARS-CoV-2 older than 21 days, though not older than six months, or a medical certificate certifying that they have recovered from COVID-19 and that more than six months have elapsed since the onset of symptoms;
• persons who present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate proving that at least seven days have elapsed since their second Biontech/Pfizer inoculation, fourteen days since their second Moderna inoculation or twenty-one days since their second AstraZeneca inoculation;
• persons posted to carry out tasks in international transport or returning from such tasks;
• persons engaged in trade who carry out the transport of goods or persons into the Republic of Slovenia or carry out the transport of goods and passengers in transit and exit the Republic of Slovenia within 8 hours of entry, and persons engaged in trade who carry out the transport of goods or persons from the Republic of Slovenia and return to the Republic of Slovenia within 8 hours of exit;
• persons transiting the territory of the Republic of Slovenia and exiting the Republic of Slovenia within 6 hours of entry;
• persons with diplomatic passports;
• representatives of foreign security authorities (the police or a judicial authority) who carry out official tasks and exit the Republic of Slovenia as soon as possible after completing these tasks, and representatives of Slovenian security authorities (the police or a judicial authority) who carry out official tasks and return from a foreign country as soon as possible after completing these tasks;
• members of the Slovenian Armed Forces, the police or employees of state authorities returning from secondment abroad and employees of state authorities on a business trip abroad;
• persons who have been transported to the Republic of Slovenia in an ambulance or other medical vehicle and the accompanying medical staff in said vehicle;
• children under the age of 13 who cross the border together with a close family member who has not been put under home quarantine or has not been refused entry to Slovenia;
• members of the protection and rescue services, healthcare services, police and firefighting service or other persons who carry out humanitarian transport or provide assistance in rescue missions and eliminate the consequences of natural disasters and return to Slovenia within 48 hours of crossing the border;
• persons who own or lease land in the border area or on both sides of the state border and cross the state border with a neighbouring country for the purpose of carrying out agricultural and forestry works and return to Slovenia within 8 hours of crossing the border.

Exceptions – no quarantine requirement for those presenting a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken within the last seven days

The following persons coming from a country on the red list who present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken within the last seven days are allowed to enter the Republic of Slovenia without having to home quarantine:

• daily commuting cross-border workers who have an employment relationship in another EU Member State or Schengen Area country, of which they provide proof or a signed statement justifying the reason for crossing the border as a daily commuting cross-border worker, and who return within 14 hours of crossing the border;
• persons who daily or periodically cross the border for reasons of education, training or scientific research in the Republic of Slovenia or an EU Member State or a Schengen Area country and provide sufficient proof thereof. If the person is a minor or cannot travel alone for other reasons, the same conditions of entry apply to the person driving them, who must return across the border immediately afterwards;
• citizens of EU Member States or Schengen Area countries coming from another EU Member State or Schengen Area country where they provided care and assistance to persons in need of support, care and assistance to family members, parental care or maintained contact with their child, performed maintenance work on a private property or land owned, leased or used, or eliminated imminent danger to health, life and property and returning across the border within 12 hours of crossing the border;
• persons who have a medical appointment in the Republic of Slovenia and exit the Republic of Slovenia immediately following their appointment. If a minor has a medical appointment, their guardian may enter Slovenia under the same conditions provided that they are traveling together.

Movement of people on the entire territory of the Republic of Slovenia is temporarily prohibited between 21:00 and 6:00 with the following exceptions:

• The elimination of immediate threats to health, life and property;
• travel to and from work and the performance of urgent work duties;
• access to and provision of emergency services;
• delivery of food or medicines;
• the travel of persons who have entered the Republic of Slovenia in order to transit to a neighbouring country or to their residence in the Republic of Slovenia.
• The Police has launched a web application called Enter Slovenia to facilitate travelling to Slovenia. The application guides the user through the purposes of travel (business or private), entry into the country for the purpose of residence or just transit. Using the application is not mandatory.
• All passengers using public transport are obliged to wear masks, disinfect hands, and comply with the rules regarding entry and exit from vehicles. All passengers are advised to purchase their tickets in advance.
• Inns, restaurants, pubs, cafés, confectioners, snack bars and bars remain closed. Food and beverages can be personally collected from designated takeaway locations from 6 am to 9 pm. The collected food and beverages cannot be consumed at the designated takeaway locations.
• Social distance and hand and cough hygiene must still be practiced at all times, and any sick individuals must be isolated.
• The recommendations of the National Institute of Public Health on mask wearing, hand disinfection, vehicle occupancy, and entering and exiting vehicles must be followed.
• A temporary ban on gathering is being imposed throughout the Republic of Slovenia. Temporarily are prohibited all: events, gatherings, celebrations, weddings, and religious ceremonies. Gatherings of more than ten people are prohibited.
• Masks are mandatory: in all closed public spaces, on public transport, in open public spaces or outside if physical distancing of at least two metres cannot be maintained, and in personal vehicles.
• Ski lifts and ski resorts are allowed to operate for skiers who submit a negative COVID-19 test result or a certificate of vaccination or evidence proving they have already recovered from COVID-19 and for children under 12 years of age accompanied by their parents.
• Person may enter Slovenia without any restrictions and the need to quarantine if he or she is to transit Slovenia within a 6-hour period.
• Current information and instructions about border crossings can be found on the link of Ministry of the Interior of Republic of Slovenia: https://www.policija.si/eng
• Public transport (trains and buses) is operating across the country but in a limited capacity.
• Checkpoints on international flight connections (Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport, Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport and Portorož Airport) and checkpoints on international maritime connections (Koper and Piran border crossing points for international maritime traffic) are being reopened.
• Latest information and measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 may be found on the following link of Government of Slovenia: https://www.gov.si/en/topics/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/.
•