Import tax in Croatia

Croatia Customs Duty

Duty rate €3 flat (IOSS) or 0-16.5%
Low-value threshold €150
VAT rate 25%
Currency EUR

Croatia applies the EU's standard import rules with its own 25% VAT rate, one of the highest standard rates in the EU. Orders under €150 from IOSS-registered sellers pay a flat €3 customs duty per item since 1 July 2026; non-IOSS orders under €150 stay duty-free for now, and Croatia has used the euro since joining the eurozone in January 2023.

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Croatia Key Free Trade Agreements (FTAs)

  • EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement

    In force since 2019 - eliminates around 97% of industrial tariffs with Japan, phased over up to 15 years for some lines.

  • EU-South Korea FTA

    In force since 2015 - around 99% of duties (by trade value) eliminated within 5 years of entry into force.

  • EU-Canada CETA

    Provisionally applied since 2017 - 99% of tariff lines duty-free; remaining, mostly agricultural, items phased out over 7 years.

  • EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA)

    In force since 2020 - eliminates 99%+ of tariffs, phased to 2027-2030; textiles and footwear are treated as slower, sensitive categories.

  • EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA)

    In force since 2021 - zero tariffs and quotas on qualifying goods, no phase-in, subject to rules-of-origin requirements.
Free customs duty calculator

Calculate Your Import Cost to Croatia

Enter a purchase value to see the exact VAT, duty, and fees you'd pay importing into Croatia - using the rates on this page, computed live.

Destination country
Croatia

What is IOSS?

IOSS (Import One-Stop Shop) is an EU scheme that lets a non-EU seller collect VAT from you at checkout instead of leaving it to be collected at the border. If a seller is IOSS-registered, VAT is already included in the price you paid - if not, the courier collects it, often with a handling fee, before your parcel is delivered.

Key Takeaways

  • Croatia's standard VAT rate is 25%, among the highest in the EU, tied with Denmark and Sweden.
  • Books, medicines, and daily newspapers qualify for a reduced 5% VAT rate in Croatia, a steep discount from the 25% standard rate.
  • As an EU member state, Croatia follows the same EU-wide €150 threshold and IOSS-based duty rules as every other member.
  • Orders under €150 from IOSS-registered sellers pay a flat €3 customs duty per item type, since 1 July 2026.
  • Croatia joined the eurozone on 1 January 2023, so import costs are quoted in euros with no currency conversion at the border.

Duty Rates by Product for Croatia

15 product categories · click category for full details

Product MFN Duty HS Code FTA Available
Smartphones, laptops & tablets 0% 84-85 (ITA) —
Other electrical appliances & components 0-2.4% 84-85 —
Clothing & apparel 12% 61-62 EU-Japan EPA: full elimination (phased)
Footwear, leather upper 8% 64 —
Footwear, textile upper 16.5% 64 —
Toys & games 4.5% 95 —
Jewelry, precious metal 2.5% 71 —
Jewelry, imitation/costume 4% 71 —
Watches 4.5% 91 (9102) —
Cosmetics & beauty products 6.5% 33 EU-Japan EPA: full elimination (phased)
Books & printed matter 0% 49 —
Furniture 0% 94 —
Leather goods & handbags 1.7-9.7% 42 —
Home goods & kitchenware 0-6.5% 69, 73, 82 —
Sports equipment 0-4.7% 95 —
Verify rates at EU TARIC Consultation Database

Key Takeaways

  • Croatia’s standard VAT rate is 25%, among the highest in the EU, tied with Denmark and Sweden.
  • Books, medicines, and daily newspapers qualify for a reduced 5% VAT rate in Croatia, a steep discount from the 25% standard rate.
  • As an EU member state, Croatia follows the same EU-wide €150 threshold and IOSS-based duty rules as every other member.
  • Orders under €150 from IOSS-registered sellers pay a flat €3 customs duty per item type, since 1 July 2026.
  • Croatia joined the eurozone on 1 January 2023, so import costs are quoted in euros with no currency conversion at the border.

How Croatian Import Rules Work

Croatia is one of 27 EU member states, so it follows the EU’s shared customs and VAT framework rather than a country-specific system - the only thing that varies by country is the VAT rate itself, applied based on where the goods are delivered, not where the seller is based.

At 25%, Croatia’s VAT rate is well above the EU average and one of the highest standard rates in the bloc. Everything else follows the standard EU rules:

  • Under €150, IOSS seller: 25% VAT included at checkout, plus a flat €3 customs duty per item type.
  • Under €150, non-IOSS seller: 25% VAT collected by the courier, no customs duty.
  • Over €150: 25% VAT, customs duty (typically 0-16.5% by product category), and a carrier handling fee, regardless of IOSS status.

For the full EU-wide rules and every member state’s VAT rate, see the EU customs duty guide and full EU import rules explainer.

Croatia-Specific Considerations

Because Croatia’s standard VAT rate is so high, its reduced-rate categories matter more to cross-border shoppers than in most other EU countries. Books, medicines, and daily newspapers qualify for a reduced 5% VAT rate, while food, accommodation, and utilities fall under a 13% rate - both steep discounts from the 25% rate applied to typical consumer goods like electronics or clothing. As with the rest of the EU, the same reduced domestic rate generally applies to the equivalent imported goods.

Customs duty and clearance are administered by the Croatian Customs Administration (Carinska uprava), part of the Ministry of Finance, which applies EU customs regulations, excise duties, and other border-related tax rules nationwide. For postal shipments, Hrvatska pošta (Croatian Post) uses a simplified “usmena deklaracija” (oral declaration) process for parcels valued under 1,000 euros: the local customs office calculates the duty owed on a standard form without needing to contact the recipient directly, and the postal carrier collects payment upon delivery alongside the parcel.

Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, becoming the eurozone’s 20th member - among the more established recent adopters compared to Bulgaria’s 2026 changeover - so unlike some neighboring non-eurozone countries, there’s no currency conversion step between the price shown at checkout and the VAT or duty assessed at the Croatian border.

Frequently Asked Questions About Customs Duty in Croatia

Why is Croatia’s VAT rate so much higher than other EU countries?

Croatia’s 25% standard VAT rate is a domestic tax policy choice and one of the highest in the EU, alongside Denmark and Sweden. It applies to imports the same way it applies to Croatian goods and services generally, regardless of where the seller is based.

Are there cheaper VAT categories for common purchases into Croatia?

Yes. Books, medicines, and daily newspapers are taxed at a reduced 5% rate, and food, accommodation, and utilities at 13%, both well below the 25% standard rate that applies to most other consumer goods.

How does Hrvatska pošta clear my parcel through customs?

For parcels under 1,000 euros, Hrvatska pošta and Croatian customs use a simplified oral declaration process: the customs office calculates any duty owed on a standard form without contacting you, and the postal carrier collects payment when delivering the parcel.

Does Croatia use the euro for import costs?

Yes. Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, so VAT, customs duty, and handling fees on imports are all assessed in euros with no currency conversion needed.

See also

  • Australia - Australia charges 10% GST on every import. Orders up to A$1,000 (goods value only) have GST collected at checkout by the overseas seller under the ATO's Simplified GST scheme - no separate customs duty applies below that line. Orders over A$1,000 go through formal clearance with Australian Border Force: GST, an estimated customs duty, and an Import Processing Charge.
  • Austria - Austria applies the EU's standard import rules with its own 20% VAT rate, right at the EU average. Orders under €150 from IOSS-registered sellers pay a flat €3 customs duty per item since 1 July 2026; non-IOSS orders under €150 stay duty-free for now, and Austrian Post waives its own import handling charge on IOSS shipments under that threshold.
  • Belgium - Belgium applies the EU's standard import rules with its own 21% VAT rate, slightly above the EU average. Orders under €150 from IOSS-registered sellers pay a flat €3 customs duty per item since 1 July 2026; non-IOSS orders under €150 stay duty-free for now, though Belgian postal operator bpost adds its own administrative fee on non-exempt shipments.

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