Bringing Money into Croatia: Legal, Safe, and Efficient Options for Expats and Investors
TL;DR: Moving funds into Croatia is straightforward once you know the lanes. Croatia uses the euro (EUR), is inside the EU and Schengen, and is wired into SEPA. That means fast, inexpensive bank transfers are the norm, while cash has clear ceilings and declaration rules. This guide walks individuals and business owners through compliant, low-friction ways to move money for living costs, property, investments, or company capitalization—without tripping anti-money-laundering (AML) alarms.
SEPA/International Bank Transfers (preferred): Clean audit trail, bank-to-bank, euros land directly into your Croatian IBAN.
Cash (limited and declarable): Allowed, but capped in practice and heavily regulated.
Cards and ATM withdrawals: Fine for small needs; not a funding strategy.
E-money/Fintech (Wise/Revolut, etc.): Useful but still AML-screened; pair with a local account for stability.
Gifts/loans from family or corporate parent: Allowed, but understand Croatian gift-tax rules and document the source.
Each path has compliance checkpoints. The more money, the more documentation you (or your bank) will need.
Local Reality
Croatia adopted the euro on 1 January 2023, and participates in SEPA credit transfers. Domestic clearing runs through systems overseen by the Croatian National Bank, with instant payments infrastructure expanding. For everyday life, salary, rent, property reservations, or capitalizing a d.o.o., a regular or instant SEPA transfer is your cleanest lane.
How to do it right
Open a Croatian account (personal or business) and obtain your HR-IBAN and the bank’s BIC/SWIFT.
Use your home bank or reputable fintech to send a SEPA transfer in EUR.
Memo/source of funds: Add a clear payment purpose (e.g., “equity contribution,” “property reservation,” “living expenses”).
Documents your bank may ask for:
Purchase agreement or reservation contract (real estate).
Company incorporation documents/Resolutions (capital contributions).
Payslips or tax returns (savings).
Gift/loan agreement if funds are from family or an affiliated company.
Timing and costs
SEPA transfers usually arrive within 1–2 business days; many banks now process instant payments for smaller amounts, and EU rules are pushing ubiquity of instant EUR transfers. Fees are typically low compared to SWIFT.
Good to know
If you’re moving large sums, expect enhanced due diligence (standard EU AML practice).
For business capitalization, send from a named account that matches the shareholder/investor’s name and keep board or shareholder resolutions tidy.
Cash is legal to carry, but it’s the least efficient and most policed method.
Border declarations
€10,000 or more in “cash” (banknotes/coins in any currency, certain bearer instruments, some precious metals) triggers written declaration obligations at the EU’s external borders. Croatia also empowers officers to require declarations when moving between EU states. The point is transparency: declare when asked and be ready to show legitimate origin.
“Unaccompanied cash” (sent by post/courier/cargo) at €10,000+ can trigger declarations for sender/recipient.
Using cash once in Croatia
Businesses and anyone conducting a registered activity in Croatia must not accept or make cash payments of €10,000 or more in a single or linked series of transactions. Over that, the payment must go through a bank account.
Banks may question large cash deposits, and they may refuse deposits if AML checks fail. Bring proof of origin (sale contract, withdrawal slip from your previous bank, inheritance decision, etc.).
Bottom line: If you must carry cash, declare when required and keep proof of origin handy. For most scenarios, wire beats cash.
Cards/ATMs: Handy for small, routine expenses. Daily ATM caps and bank foreign fees make this a poor choice for major funding.
Fintechs (e.g., e-money institutions): These can be efficient for day-to-day transfers, but AML checks still apply. Where possible, bridge into a Croatian bank account for stability (salary, rent, utilities, taxes). Keep transaction narratives clear and store receipts.
Standard flow
Reservation/deposit via bank transfer to the seller or notary escrow.
Balance via bank transfer before or at closing, aligned with the notarized sale contract.
Closing costs (taxes/fees) usually paid by bank transfer.
What your bank (or notary) may ask for
Pre-contract/contract, identification, proof of funds (savings, previous sale, loan).
If funds are gifts or intra-family loans, keep a gift/loan agreement on record.
Tip: For high-value transfers close to the signing date, pre-inform your bank and share the contract to avoid a last-minute compliance hold.
Share capital must land in the company’s temporary/bank account with a clear purpose (“uplata temeljnog kapitala”).
From whom: The money should come from the registered shareholder’s named account (or a documented shareholder loan).
Keep the paper trail: Board/shareholder resolutions, bank certificates, registry filings, and payment confirmations. Expect the bank to request KYC/UBO and source-of-funds documentation.
Croatia has a 4% inheritance and gift tax that can apply to cash and movable assets, with exemptions and thresholds that matter:
Cash and movables are taxable at 4%, but movables have a €6,700 per-item threshold below which they’re exempt.
Spouses and direct descendants (and certain close relations) can be exempt from gift/inheritance tax on many transfers.
If you receive a large cash gift from, say, a parent, document it (gift agreement, ID copies) for the bank and, where applicable, notify the Tax Administration per their guidance to secure the exemption.
Always keep bank transfer proof and gift documentation aligned (names, purposes, dates).
Why it matters: Banks will ask “what is this money?” Tax rules decide whether a gift is taxable or exempt; AML rules decide what documents are enough. Handle both together.
Croatia follows EU AML standards. Expect extra scrutiny when you have:
Large or unusual amounts relative to your profile.
Cash deposits, especially repeated ones.
Third-party transfers (money arriving from someone who is not you, your employer, or your company—e.g., a friend, relative, or an affiliate).
Complex routing (money bouncing through multiple accounts or fintechs without a clear reason).
What helps: Clear invoices or contracts, salary slips, gift/loan agreements, sale deeds, tax returns. Add a purposeful payment reference. Be proactive with your banker.
“I’m moving €60,000 of savings for living costs and a car.”
Open a Croatian EUR account; send in two or three SEPA transfers with “living expenses” noted; keep copies of payslips/tax returns proving savings origin.
“Parents are gifting me €40,000 toward my flat.”
Draft a gift agreement, confirm whether your relationship qualifies for exemption, transfer bank-to-bank from the parent’s account, and file any required notifications with the Tax Administration so the exemption is on record. Keep everything for the bank.
“My company abroad will fund our Croatian subsidiary.”
Send from the parent’s account with a clear purpose (“share capital,” “intercompany loan,” or “cost-sharing per agreement”). Keep resolutions, loan agreements, and UBO documentation ready.
“I want to carry €12,000 cash from home.”
Be prepared to declare at the border when requested, carry withdrawal proof and purpose, and deposit promptly with documents. But honestly—use a wire.
Do
Prefer SEPA transfers and keep supporting documents.
Name-match: sender’s name should match the person or entity that “should” be paying.
Add a clear payment purpose.
For property or corporate funds, pre-alert your bank and share contracts.
For gifts, document the relationship and check exemption rules before money moves.
Don’t
Try to split cash into smaller chunks to avoid thresholds. “Linked transactions” are still counted together.
Rely on ATMs/fintech wallets for big moves.
Assume “it’s my money” replaces source-of-funds evidence. It doesn’t.
Follow your sale contract. In many cases, funds go to notary escrow or directly to the seller’s account per contract terms. Your bank will want to see the contract and IDs before releasing larger sums.
For Croatia, bank transfers are your safest, fastest, and most compliant path. Cash is allowed but regulated—declare when required and expect scrutiny. Gifts are fine if documented and, when eligible, exempt from tax. When the amounts rise, so does the need for paperwork. Keep the story clean: who’s paying, why, and from where.
Need help structuring a high-value transfer, documenting a family gift, or aligning a property purchase with AML and tax rules? Book a paid consultation with Relocation Croatia to move funds cleanly and confidently—no surprises on arrival.