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Croatia
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Croatia

Central European EU/NATO member; two-time World Cup finalist now taxing tourist rentals per bed.

Croatia confirmed a tourist-rental levy on 27 July, with per-bed rates of €70 to €150 from January 2027 after landlord pressure softened the proposal.

Last refreshed: 22 September 2026 · Appears in 4 active topics

Key Question

Croatia's new per-bed tourist tax: will it curb overtourism or push rentals underground?

Timeline for Croatia

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Background

Croatia is a Central European and Adriatic state whose policy choices often sit between its European institutions, tourism economy and national sporting identity. Its July rental levy shows how visitor accommodation remains a live domestic issue, rather than a marginal regulation.

Croatia belongs to the EU and NATO. Its national football team has also become a durable source of international visibility: Croatia reached the World Cup final in 2018 and the semi-final in 2022.

That record gives Croatia an outsized sporting profile for a small state. Modric's 200th cap on 23 June illustrated the continuity of the generation that carried those tournament runs.

Key Issues
Tourist levy

Croatia softens its rental levy

On 27 July, Croatia set a tourist-rental levy of €70 to €150 per bed, due to begin on 1 January 2027. The government expects about €60m in annual revenue, but landlord associations secured softer rates than the proposal made in May.

The dispute puts Croatia's Reliance on coastal tourism against the interests of landlords supplying visitor accommodation. For the state, the levy is a way to capture more revenue from that market. For rental owners, the final rates show that organised opposition can still alter a national policy before it takes effect.

World Cup campaign

Croatia closes Modric's tournament

On 23 June, Luka Modric earned his 200th Croatia cap in a 1-0 World Cup win over Panama. At 40, he became only the fourth player in men's international football to reach that mark.

Croatia then beat Ghana on 27 June, when Modric assisted a goal aged 40 years and 291 days, the oldest recorded World Cup assist. Portugal ended Croatia's run with a 2-1 victory on 2 July. The campaign again placed The National side's identity around its long-serving captain, while also marking the likely end of his international career.

Common Questions

Croatia locks in a flat bed tax

Why did Croatia lower its tourist-rental tax rate before introducing it?
Finance Minister Tomislav Coric retreated from a harsher May 2026 proposal after negotiation with landlord associations, settling on flat €150/€100 per-bed rates.Source: Lowdown nomads-and-communities
How much is Croatia's new tourist-rental tax?
Finance Minister Tomislav Coric finalised a flat per-bed tourist-rental tax of up to €150 a bed in the most tourism-developed municipalities and €100 elsewhere, effective 1 January 2027 pending public consultation.Source: Lowdown nomads-and-communities
When does Croatia's per-bed tourist tax take effect?
1 January 2027, pending public consultation on the finalised rates.Source: Lowdown nomads-and-communities

Reference

Who scored for Croatia against Panama at the 2026 World Cup?
Ante Budimir scored on 54 minutes as Croatia beat Panama 1-0 in Toronto on 23 June 2026, the same match in which Luka Modric earned his 200th international cap.Source: Lowdown
What is Croatia's best World Cup result?
Runner-up in 2018 (lost the final 4-2 to France) and third place in 2022. The 2018 run, led by Modrić who won the Golden Ball, remains Croatia's finest hour.Source: Lowdown
How did Croatia do at the 2026 World Cup?
Croatia lost 4-2 to England on 17 June, then beat Panama 1-0 on 23 June (Modric's 200th cap) to reach the knockout stage, but were eliminated in the Round of 32 on 2 July, beaten 2-1 by Portugal. The exit closed Modric's international career at 40, already framed as his farewell tournament.Source: Lowdown
Why did Croatia get a reasoned opinion from the EU?
The European Commission issued Croatia a reasoned opinion in April 2026 for failing to transpose Directive 2024/1711 on consumer energy price protection by the January 2025 deadline, placing it one step from Court of Justice referral.Source: European Commission
Is Luka Modrić playing in the 2026 World Cup for Croatia?
Modric played and captained Croatia through the group stage and into the Round of 32, where Croatia were eliminated 2-1 by Portugal on 2 July 2026. At 40, this is widely regarded as his farewell World Cup.Source: Croatian Football Federation / sports media
How big is Croatia compared to other World Cup teams?
Croatia has a population of roughly 4 million, making it one of the smallest nations ever to reach a World Cup final. Their 2018 run to the final and 2022 third-place finish make them one of the great overachievers in the tournament's history.
Does Croatia get visa-free entry to Thailand as an EU country?
Provisionally yes. On 16 July 2026, Thailand's restructured visa-exemption scheme placed Croatia, along with all 27 EU member states, in a single 30-day exemption tier, but the change awaits Royal Gazette publication before taking legal effect.Source: nomads-and-communities
Who does Croatia play at the 2026 World Cup?
Croatia open against England on 17 June 2026 in Arlington, Texas, a rematch of the 2018 semi-final that Croatia won. Modrić, now 40, is expected to captain the side.Source: event

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 September 2026. Editorial standards.