Every passenger at Zagreb Franjo Tuđman Airport (ZAG) crosses three control points: security screening on Level 2, passport control (for any flight crossing the Schengen border), and customs. Croatia is in the Schengen Area since 1 January 2023, the EU's Entry-Exit System (EES) became fully operational on 10 April 2026, and ETIAS launches Q4 2026. The 100 ml liquids rule still applies at ZAG in 2026; the airport has not installed CT scanners.
Last updated: May 25, 2026. EU rules, EES, ETIAS timing and Croatian customs allowances cross-checked against the European Commission, carina.gov.hr and zag.aero.
Security Screening at Zagreb Airport
Where security is at ZAG
Security sits on Level 2, after check-in and before the gates. From arrivals (Level 0) you go up to Level 2, drop your bag, then walk to the central security area. After security, you are airside on Level 1. Transferring passengers from outside Schengen rejoin the same checkpoint after passport control. Our terminal map page covers the layout.
What happens at the checkpoint
Boarding pass scan, then tray-loading. Laptops and large electronics out, liquids bag out, jacket off, belt depending on the lane, pockets emptied. Bags go through X-ray; you walk through a metal detector or millimetre-wave scanner. If something flags, manual check. Allow 15 to 25 minutes from entry to airside on a typical morning; longer at peak. See live departures for notices.
The 100 ml liquids rule (still applies at ZAG)
Liquids in hand luggage must be in containers of up to 100 ml, all fitting in one transparent resealable bag of up to 1 litre, one bag per passenger. The rule covers water, gels, creams, lotions, perfume, toothpaste, aerosols and similar. Several European airports have installed CT scanners that allow up to 2 litres; Zagreb is not one of them in 2026.
When the rule changes
The EU is rolling out CT scanners across major airports; the new equipment allows the 2-litre limit. Rollout has been uneven and Zagreb has not been confirmed for an upgrade. Until ZAG publishes a change, the 100 ml rule applies.
Duty-free liquids and STEB bags
Liquids bought airside at an EU airport over 100 ml can be carried as hand luggage on a single ticket through Schengen, provided they stay sealed in the tamper-evident bag (STEB) with the receipt visible (EC Regulation 820/2008). On a self-transfer or any re-screening connection, duty-free liquids over 100 ml that exit the STEB seal will not pass security a second time. Save the liquids for the final airport.
Electronics, laptops and lithium batteries
Laptops and large electronics come out into a tray. Tablets and e-readers usually stay in the bag at ZAG. Lithium-ion batteries (laptops, phones, power banks) travel in hand luggage, not checked. Power banks up to 100 Wh ride in hand luggage; 100 to 160 Wh require airline approval; over 160 Wh are forbidden. See luggage rules for the airline allowance.
Sharp items, sports equipment, musical instruments
Anything with a sharp edge or point over 6 cm goes in checked baggage. Knitting needles and most nail clippers are allowed in hand luggage. Blunt-impact sports equipment goes in checked. Musical instruments small enough to fit overhead are usually allowed as hand luggage with airline pre-approval.
Prohibited items list (the practical version)
Banned in hand luggage at ZAG: firearms and ammunition, replicas, explosives, sharp blades over 6 cm, blunt instruments capable of injury, work tools over 6 cm, chemical and toxic substances, lithium batteries over 160 Wh, and any liquid over 100 ml outside the transparent bag. The full list is on zag.aero with the EU framework on ec.europa.eu. If uncertain, put it in checked baggage.
Medicines and medical supplies
Prescription and essential medicines are permitted in hand luggage in reasonable quantity. Liquid medicines over 100 ml are allowed with a prescription or doctor's note in English or Croatian; declare at the checkpoint. Hypodermic needles for medical use are allowed with the medication. Mobility aids and CPAP machines are permitted; see reduced mobility assistance if you need help.
When security is busiest at ZAG
Two daily peaks: 06:00 to 09:00 and 16:00 to 19:00. Sunday evening and Friday afternoon can extend by 30 to 45 minutes. Midday 11:00 to 14:00 is usually the shortest queue. Arrive 120 minutes before an international flight; in peak, add 20 minutes.
Fast Track at security
ZAG sells a Fast Track product giving access to a dedicated lane. Paid skip, available to any traveller, most useful in peak windows. See our fast track at security page for pricing and location.
Passport Control and the Schengen Border at Zagreb
Croatia is in Schengen since 1 January 2023
Croatia joined the Schengen Area on 1 January 2023. Since then, the air border between Croatia and another Schengen country is no longer an external border. Flights between Zagreb and other Schengen airports (Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Vienna, Rome, Madrid and many others) do not involve passport control at ZAG, only a random ID check by Croatian police.
What that means for EU and EEA citizens
EU and EEA citizens (plus Swiss and Liechtenstein nationals) arriving from another Schengen country pass through an ID-check lane. An EU ID card or passport is sufficient. From outside Schengen, EU/EEA travellers go through passport control in the EU/EEA lane, normally faster than the all-passports lane.
What that means for non-EU citizens
Non-EU and non-EEA citizens arriving from outside Schengen go through standard passport control: passport check and biometric enrollment under EES. Allow 30 to 60 minutes at the morning arrival bank; less off-peak. From another Schengen country, no formal passport control applies.
The Entry-Exit System (EES), live since 10 April 2026
EES is the EU-wide digital border system that replaced manual passport stamping for non-EU and non-EEA travellers entering or leaving Schengen. After a progressive rollout from 12 October 2025, EES became fully operational on 10 April 2026. At ZAG, a non-EU passenger crossing the Schengen border has their passport read electronically and their fingerprints and facial image recorded. Data is reused on later crossings, which are faster. There is no passport stamp; entry and exit dates are recorded automatically.
ETIAS, launching late 2026
ETIAS is the European Travel Information and Authorisation System for visa-exempt non-EU travellers (US, Canada, Australia, UK and many others). It is not active yet. The European Commission has confirmed a Q4 2026 launch with a phased transition into April 2027. The fee is €20 (raised from a previously announced €7); the authorisation is valid for three years or until the passport expires and allows multiple entries. ETIAS is not a visa. Apply only via the official EU portal; third-party services charging more are not affiliated.
The 90/180 day rule for visa-exempt non-EU visitors
Visa-exempt non-EU travellers can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. The 90 days are cumulative across the entire Schengen Area, not per country. Days in Croatia before 1 January 2023 do not count toward the current limit. EES tracks entries and exits automatically, so the clock is now precise; overstays are flagged on subsequent entry.
Connections at ZAG
Schengen-to-Schengen connection (Frankfurt to Zagreb to Split): you stay airside and do not cross passport control at ZAG. Non-Schengen-to-Schengen (London to Zagreb to Split): you clear passport control and EES at ZAG before continuing. Schengen-to-non-Schengen (Zagreb to London via another Schengen hub): outbound passport control happens at the connecting airport. Our transit and connection rules page covers self-transfer and minimum connection times.
Customs and What You Can Bring
Arriving from inside the EU
Goods for personal use moving between EU countries are not subject to customs duties or import VAT. There are no "duty-free" purchases on intra-EU flights. Indicative limits distinguish personal use from commercial import; the table below lists them.
Arriving from outside the EU
Goods brought into Croatia from a non-EU country are subject to Croatian and EU customs rules. Personal allowances apply up to limits set by category; anything over is subject to duty, VAT and excise. The table further down lists the 2026 limits per carina.gov.hr.
Tobacco allowance for non-EU arrivals
Air arrivals: 200 cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos, or 50 cigars, or 250 g smoking tobacco, or a proportional mix. Land or sea arrivals face the lower Croatian-specific limit of 40 cigarettes. Travellers under 17 have no tobacco or alcohol allowance.
Alcohol allowance for non-EU arrivals
1 litre of spirits over 22% vol, or 2 litres up to 22% vol or sparkling wine; plus 4 litres of non-sparkling wine; plus 16 litres of beer. Travellers must be 17 or over.
Other goods value limit
Air and sea travellers can bring other goods up to €430. Land travellers get €300. Travellers under 15 get €150 regardless of mode. Values are per traveller; family allowances do not combine.
Currency declaration
Carrying €10,000 or more in cash (or equivalent in any currency, plus negotiable instruments such as travellers' cheques) into or out of the EU requires a written declaration. Failure to declare can result in fines and seizure. The threshold is per traveller.
Restricted items
Meat, dairy and animal products from outside the EU are restricted or banned. Plants and seeds may require phytosanitary documents. Medicines for personal use need a prescription. Cultural goods leaving Croatia require an export permit. Firearms and CITES-protected wildlife products require permits.
Red channel vs green channel at ZAG
After baggage reclaim, two channels exit customs. Red channel: goods to declare. Use if anything is over the allowance, you have €10,000 or more in cash, or you are unsure. Green channel: nothing to declare. Officers may inspect green-channel bags at random. Walking through with undeclared goods over the limit is an offence under Croatian customs law.
| Category | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Tobacco (one of) | 200 cigarettes / 100 cigarillos / 50 cigars / 250 g smoking tobacco / proportional mix |
| Spirits over 22% vol | 1 litre |
| Spirits up to 22% vol or sparkling wine | 2 litres (in place of, or proportional mix with, the line above) |
| Non-sparkling wine | Additional 4 litres |
| Beer | Additional 16 litres |
| Other goods value (air or sea) | Up to €430 |
| Other goods value (land) | Up to €300 |
| Currency declaration | €10,000 or more must be declared |
| Category | Indicative limit |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes | 800 |
| Cigarillos | 400 |
| Cigars | 200 |
| Smoking tobacco | 1 kg |
| Spirits over 22% vol | 10 litres |
| Spirits up to 22% vol (fortified wine, aperitifs) | 20 litres |
| Wine (sparkling: max 60 litres) | 90 litres |
| Beer | 110 litres |
Sources: Croatian Customs Administration (carina.gov.hr) and the European Commission. Verify values on the official site if your carry is close to a limit.
Tax-Free Refund When Leaving Croatia
Who qualifies
Non-EU residents (including UK residents post-Brexit) qualify for a VAT refund on goods bought in Croatia and taken out of the EU within a set window. Purchases must come from a retailer issuing a tax-free form, with a minimum spend per receipt in the low three-digit euro range in 2026. Confirm with the retailer at point of sale.
How to claim at ZAG
Customs validation is at the customs desk in the departures hall on Level 2. Purchases in your checked bag: validate before bag drop. Purchases in your hand luggage: validate before security. After validation, take the stamped form to the tax-free counter for cash, card credit or bank transfer.
Time required
Allow 20 to 30 minutes for validation on top of check-in time. At peak departure banks the customs queue can stretch to 45 minutes. Our check-in cut-off times page covers the airline-specific window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 100 ml liquids rule still apply at Zagreb Airport?
Yes. ZAG has not installed the CT scanners that allow up to 2 litres of liquids in hand luggage. The standard EU rule applies: liquids in containers up to 100 ml, all containers fitting in one transparent resealable bag of up to 1 litre per passenger.
Do I go through passport control at Zagreb if I'm flying from another EU country?
No, provided you fly from another Schengen country (almost all EU countries plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Liechtenstein). Croatia joined Schengen on 1 January 2023. EU and EEA citizens arriving from Schengen typically need only a quick ID check. From outside Schengen, passport control still applies.
What is the EES at Zagreb Airport?
The Entry-Exit System is the EU digital border system. It became fully operational on 10 April 2026. Non-EU and non-EEA citizens have biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) recorded electronically instead of a manual passport stamp. The first crossing enrolls you; later crossings reuse the data and are faster.
Do I need ETIAS to fly to Zagreb?
Not yet. ETIAS launches in Q4 2026 (most likely October or November). Once live, visa-exempt non-EU travellers (US, Canada, Australia, UK and others) will need to apply online. The fee is €20, the authorisation is valid for three years or until the passport expires, with a phased transition into April 2027. It is not a visa. Apply only via the official EU portal; third-party sites charging more are not affiliated.
How long can I stay in Croatia as a visa-free visitor?
Up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the entire Schengen Area, not just Croatia. Days in Croatia before 1 January 2023 do not count.
What is the duty-free allowance arriving at Zagreb from a non-EU country?
Passengers 17 and over can import (in one combination): 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g smoking tobacco; plus 1 litre of spirits over 22% vol or 2 litres up to 22% vol; plus 4 litres of non-sparkling wine; plus 16 litres of beer; plus other goods up to €430 (air) or €300 (land). Currency of €10,000 or more must be declared.
Do I need to declare cash arriving in Croatia?
Yes, if carrying €10,000 or more in cash (or equivalent in any currency, plus negotiable instruments such as travellers' cheques). Declare at customs on arrival. Failure to declare can result in fines and seizure.
Where do I claim my VAT (tax-free) refund at Zagreb Airport?
At the customs validation counter in the departures hall on Level 2. If purchases are in your checked bag, validate before bag drop. If in hand luggage, validate before security. After validation, collect the refund at the tax-free counter. Allow extra time on top of normal check-in.