Must I enter Croatia from the Schengen area?

I have an Indian passport and a multiple-entry Schengen visa valid from 12 July to 5 August. I wish to travel to Croatia from 14 July to 22 July and then onto Schengen countries.

Can I travel directly to Croatia first and then to the Schengen area, must I travel to a Schengen country first, before going to Croatia and returning the Schengen zone?

Best Answer

Croatia is not in Schengen, but it does unilaterally exempt foreigners holding a valid (double or multiple entry) Schengen visa from needing a Croatian visa.

This exemption applies no matter where the traveler arrives in Croatia from, and does not require the Schengen visa to have been used yet. (However, arguably a double-entry Schengen visa cannot have been used twice since the visa is subsequently not valid for its original purpose.)

For official information, see http://www.mvep.hr/en/consular-information/visas/visa-requirements-overview/