Croatia

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Croatia, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2.

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Croatia, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120.

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Croatia. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance.

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Croatia at 48 out of 100 (60th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e. somewhat corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.  

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations

Articles

The US State Department's page on CROATIA may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

DUE TO AN INCREASE IN CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19) INFECTION RATES, CROATIAN AUTHORITIES ARE TIGHTENING NATIONWIDE RESTRICTIONS ON OCTOBER 26. THE INCREASED RESTRICTIONS FOCUS ON GATHERINGS AND ASSEMBLIES.  PUBLIC GATHERINGS ARE LIMITED TO 50 PEOPLE. THE NEW RESTRICTIONS ALSO MANDATE END TIMES FOR ALL EVENTS. PROTECTIVE FACE COVERINGS REMAIN MANDATORY INDOORS AND ALL OUTDOORS SPACES WHERE SOCIAL DISTANCING OF 2 METERS (6 FEET) CANNOT BE OBSERVED. CROATIA IS MAINTAINING INTERNATONAL TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. FOREIGN NATIONALS CAN ENTER CROATIA FOR COMMERCIAL, TOURISTIC, OR PRESSING PERSONAL REASONS WITHOUT QUARATINE IF THEY PROVIDE EVIDENCE OF A NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST TAKEN WITHIN 48 HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL. ARRIVALS WITHOUT SUCH EVIDENCE WILL BE REQUIRED TO SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS, WHICH CAN BE REDUCED TO SEVEN (7) DAYS ON RECEIPT OF A NEGATIVE COVID-19 TEST RESULT.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to Croatia on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here.

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel Clinic

Health care in Croatia is generally good, but may be subpar in remote areas, often due to shortages of medical supplies and equipment. In a health emergency, dial 94 or 112 for an ambulance. Pharmacies are usually open from 8 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and from 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday. Zagreb and other large cities usually have at least one 24-hour pharmacy. If you need medication, bring enough for the duration of your stay, as not all medicines are readily available in Croatia; you may need to present proof of your prescriptions at customs.

Air pollution is a concern in urban areas, particularly Osijek, Zagreb, and Rijeka. If you have a chronic respiratory condition such as asthma, please consult a medical professional prior to your trip and carry appropriate medications.

The quality of drinking water in Croatia can be poor. Along the coast, drinking water may be contaminated by sea water. In other parts of the country, contamination via domestic waste water, industrial effluents, and nitrate-laden irrigation water is common. Water treatment facilities are barely adequate, and a fatal kidney disease, known as Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), has been linked to the long-term consumption of well water containing toxic organic compounds in villages along tributaries of the Danube River. To reduce the risk of gastrointestinal discomfort or illness, drink bottled, boiled, or purified water.

Street vendors and other unregulated food distributors may have poor hygiene standards and should be avoided. Travelers should also avoid raw or undercooked meat dishes and unpasteurized dairy products, which may harbor bacterial and parasitic pathogens.

Disease risks in Croatia include:

  • Tick-borne encephalitis. The highest risk occurs along the Drava and Sava rivers in the eastern part of the country between April and November.
  • Hantavirus and Tularemia, spread by rodents. Both are endemic but rare. Hikers and campers can be at risk when using infested trail shelters or camping in rodent-infested habitats.

Crime is a relatively low risk in Croatia. Most crimes against travelers are non-violent, such as pickpocketing and theft. Take extra steps to protect your wallet and cell phone in areas frequented by tourists, in restaurants, and on public transportation, and beware of distraction techniques intended to divert your attention. Beachgoers should not leave their belongings unattended.

Croatia was the site of intense conflict after the break-up of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. Remote sections of Eastern Slavonia, Brodsko-Posavska County, Karlovac County, Zadar, and Plitvice Lakes National Park may still harbor undetected mines and should be avoided. 

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Furthermore, some crimes are also prosecutable in the United States, regardless of local law. 

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. 

LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions regarding same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Croatia. Although lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) individuals are afforded full rights in Croatia, same-sex couples may face legal challenges in the areas of adoption and next-of-kin determinations. In 2014, Croatia enacted the Law on Life Partnership of Same Sex Couples allowing for formal registration of same sex unions. The LGBTI community is protected by anti-discrimination laws, and there are no legal or governmental impediments to the organization of LGBTI events. However, there have been incidents against LGBTI groups, notably during annual pride events, both in Zagreb and Split. Individual cases of attacks on members of the LGBTI community have also been recorded.