Box Shipping - Import Regulations in Croatia

Import Regulations in Croatia

One should obtain special permits for the import and export of certain goods such as works of art, precious metals, weapons, military vehicles, ammunition, antiques, certain ores, drugs, poisons, etc. Such permit is issued by the appropriate Ministry (e.g. the Ministry of Defence for weaponry and ammunition, the Ministry of Culture for works of art, the Ministry of Health for medicines, etc.)

Goods entering Croatia in the normal way are charged with 22% VAT and it is the same rate as on domestic supplies. Some goods attract special excises, including oil derivatives, tobacco products, beer, nonalcoholic drinks, and certain new imported cars.

The typical ways of payment used in international commercial transactions can be used when doing business with Croatian companies. The payment transfer between countries with international agreements on payments in convertible currencies is carried out using the agreed-on convertible currency, the kuna or the convertible currency.

The tariffs are based on a standard international classification system and on the European Union tariff codes. The following customs procedures are recognized by the Croatian Custom Law: Import for Free Circulation, Transit, Inward Processing Under Suspension System, Inward Processing Under Drawback System, Customs Warehousing (five categories), Processing Under Customs Control, Temporary Admission, Outward Processing and Exportation.

The customs duties or taxes are not imposed on merchandise stored in a customs warehouse until it leaves the warehouse for the purpose of free circulation.

Those who stayed abroad for at least five years and are returning/immigrating to Croatia permanently, are exempted from paying customs duty on household utensils (except for personal cars), if they possessed and used those utensils for at least 12 months and did not use the customs concession before returning/immigrating to Croatia. Personal effects and household goods may be imported within a twelve-month period from the day of returning/immigrating to Croatia. The same regulations apply to economic inventory items, provided that they had been used abroad for at least 12 months for the same purpose for which they will be used in Croatia.