International: Croatia

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

A Separate Community Licence Is Required, Issued Directly by the National Ministry

Yes

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles in international transport. Unlike the domestic licence, which is issued at the county level, the Community Licence for international road cargo transport is issued directly and only by MMPI, the national Ministry, for vehicles or combinations exceeding 2.5 tonnes maximum permissible mass. This is a separate application to a different authority than the domestic licence covered on the Croatia page. Where a mover subcontracts the international road leg, the carrier’s own licence covers the transport it performs.

Application Process

Written application (registered mail, e-registry, or in person) to MMPI’s Road and Rail Transport and Infrastructure Directorate, Road Transport Sector, at its Zagreb address.

Per-Vehicle Copy Required

Yes, where the mover operates its own vehicles in international transport. A certified true copy of the Community Licence must be carried in each vehicle used for the international transport; the original is retained by the carrier. During roadside inspection, the driver must present the certified copy to the authorized inspecting official.

No Administrative Appeal: Only Administrative Court

Worth understanding clearly. Unlike the domestic licence (which can be appealed to MMPI if denied), a decision on the Community Licence cannot be appealed administratively; the only recourse is an administrative dispute before the competent administrative court.

Domestic Liability Law Continues to Apply: CMR Does Not Cover Furniture Removal

Yes. Croatia has ratified the CMR Convention, which generally governs international road carriage, but Article 1(4)(c) of the Convention explicitly excludes furniture removal from its scope, confirmed directly in the Convention’s own text and by UNIDROIT (its custodian body). This means a genuine international household-goods move does not automatically fall under CMR’s liability limits or consignment-note requirement; Croatian domestic transport-contract liability continues to apply by default. Customers should read the mover’s liability and claims terms before signing.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A mover operating vehicles over 2.5 tonnes for international road cargo transport needs a Community Licence issued directly by MMPI, a separate application and authority from the domestic county-issued licence covered on the Croatia page. A certified copy must be carried in every vehicle used for this traffic, with the original retained by the carrier. Unlike the domestic licence, a Community Licence denial cannot be appealed administratively and must go straight to administrative court. Where a mover subcontracts the international road leg, these licensing obligations attach to the carrier operating the vehicles, and the mover should use carriers that hold them. On liability, Croatia’s ratification of CMR doesn’t change the outcome for a genuine household-goods move, since CMR explicitly excludes furniture removal from its scope; Croatian domestic transport-contract liability continues to apply by default.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that carry goods internationally in their own vehicles over 2.5 tonnes must:

1. Apply directly to MMPI for a Community Licence. A denial cannot be appealed administratively; the only recourse is administrative court.
2. Obtain a certified true copy of the Community Licence for each vehicle, retaining the original, and have the driver present it during any roadside inspection.

Movers that subcontract the international road leg must:

3. Use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• Community Licence held from MMPI, separate from the domestic county licenceWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles over 2.5 tonnes in international transport)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own vehicles)

• Certified true copy of the Community Licence for each vehicle used in international transportWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles over 2.5 tonnes in international transport)Verified by DocumentRequired