Croatian citizenship

Application  for acquiring Croatian citizenship
Foreign nationals (persons who do not have Croatian citizenship) can submit an application for acquiring Croatian citizenship by naturalisation if they meet the requirements laid down by the Croatian Citizenship Act.
The application for acquiring Croatian citizenship by naturalisation must be submitted in person at a police administration or a police station. Exceptionally, in case of persons with a disability, the application can be submitted by their legal representative or authorised person. The application for acquiring Croatian citizenship by naturalisation may also be submitted at a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia
The procedure for acquiring Croatian citizenship is carried out by the Ministry of the Interior at its headquarters, and decision is made by the minister.
Foreign nationals become Croatian citizens on the day of the delivery of a positive decision.
Upon the delivery of a positive decision, the applicant is entered into the Register of Citizens at the competent registry office.
The certificate of nationality is issued at the competent registry office.

The following documents must be enclosed in addition to the request for acquiring Croatian citizenship:
 

  • application
  • questionnaire
  • curriculum vitae
  • extract from the birth register 
  • certificate  of  citizenship
  • evidence of no criminal record issued by the competent foreign authority of the applicant’s country of citizenship and the country of his or her permanent residence, an original or a duly certified copy with Croatian translation, issued within the last 6 months.
  • certified copy of a valid identity document.
  • an administrative fee amounting to HRK 20.

If the application is also submitted for underage children, the child’s extract from the birth register must also be enclosed as well as certificate  of  citizenship  and a written consent of the child who is older than 14 . 

Depending on the grounds for acquiring Croatian citizenship, other documents need to be submitted as well, such as:

 
  • for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship on grounds of residence in Croatia – documents that prove granted stay and the length of stay in the Republic of Croatia   (identification document for a foreign national, certificate of residence, travel document with the information on the residence noted ).
  • for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship on grounds of being born in the Republic of Croatia – documents which prove the  granted stay and the length of stay in the Republic of Croatia   (identification document for a foreign national, certificate of residence, travel document with the information on the residence noted).
  • for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship on the grounds of marriage to a Croatian national – documents which  prove a permanent residence, marriage certificate issued within last six months, certificate of nationality of a spouse.

Those belonging to the Croatian people must provide documents which prove their previous declaration of nationality in legal transactions – a certified copy of employment records, military records, school certificates, student’s transcript or original documents if the information on nationality is given, extract from the birth register, extract from the marriage register, and other.  Other proof of belonging to the Croatian people includes providing evidence of protecting the rights and promoting the interests of the Croatian people as well as evidence of active participation in Croatian cultural, science and sports organisations abroad.  Those whose parents belong to the Croatian people may enclose proof of their parents’ declaration of nationality with the application. Applications for acquisition of Croatian citizenship submitted by 1 January 2012, i.e. until Act on Amendments to the Croatian Citizenship Act came into force (Official Gazette, no.: 130/11), belonging to the Croatian people was proved as defined by provisions of General Administrative Procedure Act.
Emigrants – documents that prove their emigration from the territory of the Republic of Croatia. Descendants of emigrants should also prove that they are related to the emigrant in a straight line till 3rd degree of relationship (children, grandchildren, great grandchildren).

A foreign national whose acquisition of Croatian citizenship through being of interest to the Republic of Croatia– opinion of the competent ministry about their interest for the person’s acquisition of Croatian citizenship.

Persons who renounced Croatian  citizenship – proof of acquiring foreign citizenship and termination of Croatian citizenship.

In case of a positive decision, an administrative fee is charged in the Republic of Croatia amounting to HRK 1,500..  A consular fee is charged at a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia abroad.

If the application is submitted in the Republic of Croatia, the amount of the administrative fee specified in the reference number is paid at a post office/FINA office/bank by a general payment slip indicating:
  • Recipient: Državni proračun Republike Hrvatske
  • Account number: 1001005-1863000160; Reference number: 5002-713 
  • An official issuing decisions fills in other information on the slip

Determining Croatian Citizenship
An application for determining Croatian citizenship can be submitted by persons whose information is not entered into the registers of citizens of the Republic of Croatia, but who acquired this status pursuant to the regulations which were valid until the entry into force of the Croatian Citizenship Act.  

Whether the legal requirements for subsequent entry of information into the registers of citizens have been met or not is determined in accordance with the regulations valid at the time the applicant was born.

The following documents must be enclosed for determining Croatian citizenship:
  • application
  • questionnaire
  • extract from the birth register 
  • certified copy of a valid identity document
  • certificate proving that the applicant’s information was not entered in the registers of citizens at the registry office in which they should have been entered at the time of the applicant’s birth under the regulations that were valid at the time
  • certificate of citizenship or certificates stating that both or one of the applicant’s parents are registered in the registers of Croatian citizens
Application for the Termination of Croatian Citizenship
An application for the termination of Croatian citizenship can be submitted by Croatian citizens if, apart from having Croatian citizenship, they also have foreign citizenship, or a foreign country guarantees to grant them the citizenship on the condition that they terminate Croatian citizenship. Their Croatian citizenship can be terminated if they fulfil the requirements prescribed by law.
The application for the termination of Croatian citizenship must be submitted in person at a police administration or a police station.  Exceptionally, in case of persons with a disability, the application can be submitted by their legal representative or authorised person. The application for the termination of Croatian citizenship may also be submitted at a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia.

The following documents must be enclosed for termination of Croatian citizenship:
  • application
  • questionnaire
  • curriculum vitae
  • extract from the birth register 
  • certificate of nationality (domovnica) 
  • certified copy of a valid identity document
  • an administrative fee amounting to HRK 20.

If the application is also submitted for underage children, an extract from the child’s birth register has to be enclosed, certificate of nationality (domovnica) as well as the consent of a child older than 14; also a proof of foreign citizenship or a guarantee from a foreign authority granting the  citizenship to the applicant including a certified translation into the Croatian language by a certified court interpreter.
 
Renouncement of Croatian citizenship:
 

  • Instead of application, Statement on renouncement of Croatian citizenship must be submitted
  • Proof of foreign citizenship
  • Proof of permanent residence abroad

In case of a positive decision, an administrative fee is charged in the Republic of Croatia amounting to HRK 3.600,00. A consular fee is charged at a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia abroad. 

If the application is submitted in the Republic of Croatia, the amount of the administrative fee specified in the reference number is paid at a post office/FINA office/bank by a general payment slip indicating:


Recipient: Državni proračun Republike Hrvatske
Account number: 1001005-1863000160; Reference number: 5002-713 
An official issuing decisions fills in other information on the slip. 
The procedure for determining Croatian citizenship is conducted for persons who had acquired the status of a Croatian citizen pursuant to the legislation valid up to the day on which the Croatian Citizenship Act entered into force (8 October 1991), but their information was not entered into the Register of Citizens by mistake. 
Contact

Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Croatia
Tel:   +385 1 6122 111
Address: Ulica grada Vukovara 33, 10000 Zagreb
Link : Croatian Citizenship Act
(Official Gazette, no.: NN 53/1991, 70/1991, 28/1992, 113/1993, 4/1994, 130/2011 and 110/2015)