# Balkans from India: Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro Visa Guide

> Planning Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro on one trip? Which visas you need, fees in INR, processing times, VFS centres and the order to apply in.

_Published: 2026-10-25 · Reading time: 5 min · Words: 1248_

## TL;DR

Croatia and Slovenia both issue Schengen short-stay visas, so one Schengen visa covers them; Montenegro is separate: a valid Schengen visa lets Indians enter it for up to 30 days (not beyond the visa's expiry); otherwise you apply through VFS, and its Consulate General in Istanbul decides. Croatia's tourist route is the slowest, with a standard 45 calendar days and no applications accepted less than 45 days before travel.

## Key takeaways

- One Schengen short-stay visa covers Croatia and Slovenia; Montenegro has its own B, C and D visas.
- Adult short-stay fees: Croatia INR 10200 / EUR 90, Slovenia INR 9760 (VFS), Montenegro EUR 35 / INR 3798.
- Croatia does not accept tourist applications with less than 45 days to travel; Slovenia's normal processing is 15 calendar days.
- Montenegro visas are decided by the Consulate General of Montenegro in Istanbul, with a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks.
- Croatia and Slovenia require EUR 30,000 travel medical insurance from approved Indian insurers.

**Croatia and Slovenia both issue Schengen short-stay visas, so one Schengen visa covers both; Montenegro is separate, though a valid Schengen visa lets Indians enter it for up to 30 days without a Montenegrin visa. From India, Croatia charges INR 10200 / EUR 90, Slovenia INR 9760 through VFS, and Montenegro EUR 35 / INR 3798. All three accept applications at VFS centres, and Croatia's tourist route needs at least 45 days' notice.**

## Article

Fees and processing times below are as published on the official VFS and government sources, checked on 10 October 2026. Each country has its own detailed guide: Croatia visa for Indians, Slovenia visa for Indians and Montenegro visa for Indians. For other destinations, browse the India visa hub.

### One Schengen visa, plus Montenegro's 30-day rule
Croatia's short-stay visa is a Schengen visa covering all C categories, and Slovenia's short-term visa is a Schengen C visa too. A single Schengen visa issued by either country therefore covers the Croatian and Slovenian legs of your trip.

Montenegro works differently. It runs its own visa categories: B (transit), C (short term) and D (long term, including work, digital nomad, family reunification and study). VFS Global accepts these applications in India, and the decision is at the discretion of the Consulate General of Montenegro in Istanbul.

A three-country itinerary can therefore need just one application. The Government of Montenegro's visa regime page for India says holders of a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit may enter, stay in or transit Montenegro for up to 30 days, but no longer than the visa's expiry. For a longer stay, or if your Schengen visa expires first, file a separate Montenegro application.

### Fees, timelines and centres side by side
CroatiaSloveniaMontenegroVisa for a holidayShort-stay Schengen (C)Short Stay Schengen (C)C Category – Short TermAdult feeINR 10200 / EUR 90INR 9760 (VFS); EUR 90 for persons over 12 (embassy)EUR 35 / INR 3798ChildrenChildren up to 12 exempt6–12 years: INR 4880 (VFS) / EUR 45; under 6: gratisUnder 14: INR 1899ProcessingTourist: standard 45 calendar days from receipt at the EmbassyNormal processing 15 calendar daysMinimum 2–3 weeks (indicative)Timing ruleTourist applications with less than 45 days to travel not accepted (business: 60 days)Lodge at least 15 calendar days before; VFS: not earlier than three months (embassy: up to six months)Depends on transit time between India and IstanbulCentres in IndiaNew Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, CoimbatoreBengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, New DelhiNew Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, KochiInsuranceMinimum EUR 30,000, from pre-approved insurersMinimum EUR 30,000, from the approved Indian TMI listProof of health insurance; minimum cover not published
### Croatia or Slovenia: which embassy gets your Schengen file
Under the common Schengen rules, you normally apply to the country that is your main destination, which usually means where you spend the most nights, or the country you enter first if the nights are equal. Confirm the rule on the checklist of the embassy you choose. The choice has real consequences for timing:

- Croatia as main destination. The standard decision time for tourists is 45 calendar days, and tourist applications with less than 45 days to travel are not accepted. Business applications need 60 days. Croatia's fee is also the higher of the two at INR 10200 / EUR 90.
- Slovenia as main destination. Normal processing is 15 calendar days, and you must lodge at least 15 calendar days before the visit. Note the conflicting earliest dates: VFS says not earlier than three months, the embassy up to six months.
Build your application around your real itinerary. Shifting nights on paper to reach a faster embassy creates a file that does not match your bookings, which is a bigger risk than a slow decision.

### Adding Montenegro to the route
Montenegro's fee is the same across its B, C and D categories: EUR 35 / INR 3798 for adults and INR 1899 for children under 14. Diplomatic D visas for official purposes are gratis. VFS accepts payment in cash, by UPI or by debit or credit card.

The processing time from India is a minimum of 2 to 3 weeks and is indicative only, because the file travels between India and the Consulate General in Istanbul. Montenegro also has fewer centres than the other two: New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Kochi. Since both of your applications go through VFS, ask the centre how your passport is handled if you plan to file them close together.

### Insurance: one policy or two?
For the Schengen part, Croatia and Slovenia both want travel medical insurance with minimum coverage of EUR 30,000, valid for the whole stay and covering repatriation for medical reasons and emergency treatment. Both restrict you to approved Indian insurers: Croatia's list of pre-approved companies, and Slovenia's approved list of Indian TMI companies, where other Indian insurances are not accepted. Croatia also asks multiple-entry applicants to cover the first visit and sign a statement on subsequent stays.

Montenegro's VFS page asks for proof of health insurance for transit and short-term visas but publishes no minimum. If one policy covers your whole route, make sure its schedule shows the Montenegro dates as well as the Schengen dates, and that the insurer is on the approved list for your Schengen embassy.

### A planning sequence for the three-country trip
- Fix your itinerary and count nights per country to identify your Schengen embassy.
- Work backwards from departure. If Croatia is the main destination, your submission must be more than 45 days before travel; for Slovenia, at least 15 calendar days. Allow at least 2 to 3 weeks for Montenegro.
- Buy one insurance policy that meets the EUR 30,000 Schengen rules and also covers the Montenegro dates.
- Use verifiable flight reservations rather than non-refundable tickets until both visas are decided; embassies generally advise against buying tickets before a decision, and each checklist sets its own requirements.
- Book VFS appointments for both applications and confirm passport handling with the centre.

### Before you apply
- A valid Schengen visa covers Montenegro only for up to 30 days and not beyond the visa's expiry; for anything longer, apply for a Montenegrin visa.
- Do not file a Croatian tourist application inside 45 days of travel; it will not be accepted.
- Check that the insurer is on the approved list; a policy from another Indian insurer is not accepted for Slovenia.
- Recheck fees on the day: the INR amounts follow exchange rates and are subject to change.
Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, multi-country travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or reach us through the contact page.

### Frequently asked questions

#### Can I visit Montenegro on a Schengen visa from Croatia?
Yes, for up to 30 days. The Government of Montenegro says holders of a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit may enter, stay in or transit Montenegro for up to 30 days, but no longer than the visa's expiry. For a longer stay, apply through VFS at EUR 35 / INR 3798.

#### Is the Croatia or the Slovenia visa cheaper from India?
Slovenia's adult fee at VFS is INR 9760, against INR 10200 for Croatia; both are EUR 90 in euro terms. Choose the embassy by your main destination, not by fee.

#### Where is my Montenegro visa decided?
At the Consulate General of Montenegro in Istanbul. VFS collects applications in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Kochi, and the indicative minimum is 2 to 3 weeks.

#### Do children pay the Schengen fee for Croatia and Slovenia?
Croatia exempts children up to 12. Slovenia charges INR 4880 (VFS) for children aged 6 to 12, and children under 6 are gratis.

## FAQ

### Can I visit Montenegro on a Schengen visa from Croatia?

Yes, for up to 30 days. The Government of Montenegro says holders of a valid Schengen, US, UK or Irish visa or residence permit may enter, stay in or transit Montenegro for up to 30 days, but no longer than the visa's expiry. For a longer stay, apply through VFS at EUR 35 / INR 3798.

### Is the Croatia or the Slovenia visa cheaper from India?

Slovenia's adult fee at VFS is INR 9760, against INR 10200 for Croatia; both are EUR 90 in euro terms. Choose the embassy by your main destination, not by fee.

### Where is my Montenegro visa decided?

At the Consulate General of Montenegro in Istanbul. VFS collects applications in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Kochi, and the indicative minimum is 2 to 3 weeks.

### Do children pay the Schengen fee for Croatia and Slovenia?

Croatia exempts children up to 12. Slovenia charges INR 4880 (VFS) for children aged 6 to 12, and children under 6 are gratis.

## Sources

1. [VFS Global - Apply for Visa to Croatia in India and Nepal](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/croatia/india/english/) — VFS Global
2. [GOV.SI – Visa information of the Embassy New Delhi](https://www.gov.si/en/representations/embassy-new-delhi/visa-information/) — Government of Slovenia
3. [VFS Global – Apply for Visa to Montenegro in India](https://www.vfsglobal.com/one-pager/montenegro/india/english/index.html) — VFS Global
4. [Government of Montenegro – India: visa regime](https://www.gov.me/en/diplomatic-missions/embassies-and-consulates-of-montenegro/india) — Government of Montenegro