NEW SERVICE AT THE BiH-CROATIA BORDER FROM NOVEMBER 1

Travellers entering Croatia from Bosnia and Herzegovina will be able to use a new digital service, eODPP, from November 1. The service will allow them to declare goods in advance and check potential customs charges before arriving at the border crossing.

The service will be available through the e-Customs website, with declarations permitted up to 120 hours, or five days, before crossing the border.

EASIER GOODS DECLARATION

Through the new application, travellers will be able to check whether the goods they are carrying are subject to customs duties, declare items exceeding the applicable duty-free allowances and calculate any charges in advance.

Users will not need to register or create an account to access the service.

However, submitting a declaration in advance will not eliminate customs inspections. Customs officers will continue to check both the declaration and the goods when travellers arrive at the border crossing.

The Croatian Customs Administration has stressed that the introduction of the digital service does not mean customs duties will be charged on all goods brought into the country, but only on items for which such charges are legally required.

HOW MUCH GOODS CAN YOU BRING IN DUTY-FREE?

Travellers entering Croatia, and therefore the European Union, by road from Bosnia and Herzegovina may bring non-commercial goods in their personal luggage with a total value of up to 300 euros without paying customs duties.

For children under the age of 15, the value limit is 150 euros.

Travellers are also permitted to bring in certain quantities of tobacco and alcoholic beverages within the applicable allowances:

40 cigarettes;

one litre of spirits;

four litres of wine;

16 litres of beer.

People under the age of 17 are not entitled to duty-free allowances for tobacco and alcoholic products.

RESTRICTIONS ON BRINGING FOOD ACROSS THE BORDER

Travellers arriving from Bosnia and Herzegovina are not allowed to bring meat, milk or products made from them into Croatia, according to the Croatian Customs Administration.

Special rules apply to residents of border areas, who may bring goods worth up to 40 euros per day without paying customs duties.

The new digital service is intended to make border crossings easier to prepare for and help travellers check their obligations in advance. However, travellers must continue to comply with the applicable customs regulations and other European Union rules.