Croatian citizenship can be acquired on the following basis:
- by birth on the territory of the Republic of Croatia
- by origin
- by naturalization (descendants of emigrants, spouses of Croatian nationals, special interest to Croatia)
- pursuant to international treaties
Documents Required for Croatian Citizenship
The following documents need to be submitted personally (unless the applicant has a disability) to the nearest police administration or police station if you are residing in Croatia, or in case you reside abroad, to a diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia:
Application form for acquiring Croatian citizenship, which can be downloaded here:
Along with the application, you will need to submit:
- Your resumé/CV (curriculum vitae) containing: personal data, education, employment, address, marital status, information about children, information about parents, information about next of kin who has Croatian citizenship
- Your birth certificate and an Apostille (provided by the Secretary of State in the state where the birth certificate was issued). Apostille can be obtained by sending your original document to the Secretary of State Office by mail. Both birth certificate and apostille need to be translated into Croatian
- Your marriage certificate and an Apostille, if married. Both marriage certificate and apostille need to be translated into Croatian if married outside Croatia
- Background check (not older than six months) issued by the Department of Justice in your state, proving that you have not been criminally prosecuted, along with an apostille. Both apostille and criminal history information need to be translated into Croatian
- A photo ID document (photocopy, translated into Croatian)
- Certificate of having passed Croatian language and culture test
- Proof of lineage (if applicable)
NOTE: All names MUST match on all of your documents.
Depending on the basis for the application, other documents may be required.
If you are applying for the Croatian citizenship in a diplomatic mission or in the consular office of the Republic of Croatia outside Croatia, then the fee will be in accordance with their consular fees.
After submitting your documents, it may take up to a year for you to be granted Croatian citizenship. Croatia allows dual citizenship, i.e. you are allowed to hold Croatian citizenship while being a citizen of another country. Once you become a citizen of Croatia, which is part of the European Union, you will be having all the privileges of EU citizenship as well.
Croatian Citizenship Based on Origin
If you are applying for Croatian citizenship based on your origin, the following rules apply:
- Both parents were Croatian citizens at the time of the your birth (there are exceptions to this)
- You were born in Croatia and at least one parent was a Croatian citizen at the time of your birth
- You were born abroad and at least one parent was Croatian citizen at the time of your birth (you should register your birth by the age of 18 at a Croatian embassy abroad or at a competent authority in Croatia)
- You were born abroad, but have been adopted by Croatian citizens
If you are living abroad and hold a foreign citizenship, but were born in Croatia, you can also apply for citizenship based on origin, under the following conditions:
- You have permanent residence in Croatia at the time of your application
- You have given up your foreign citizenship
- You can prove that you respect the legal order and customs of Croatia
Croatian Citizenship Based on Naturalization
Pursuant to the Croatian Citizenship Act, foreigners who fulfill the following conditions may apply for Croatian citizenship:
- If you are more than 18 years old and have the ability to work
- If you no longer hold your foreign citizenship or will soon be released from your foreign citizenship if your Croatian citizenship is granted
- If you have resided in the Republic of Croatia continuously for 8 years and are a permanent resident
- If you are familiar with Croatian language and culture
- If you respect the legal order and customs in the Republic of Croatia
If you are an emigrant, or a descendant of an emigrant up to the third degree of lineal kinship, you may apply for Croatian citizenship even if the above five (5) points do not apply to you and you do not have residence registered in the Republic of Croatia
Children who are minors can be granted Croatian citizenship on the basis of naturalization provided the following:
- If both parents of the child have been granted citizenship on the basis of naturalization
- If only one of the child’s parents was granted Croatian citizenship on basis of naturalization, provided the child is living in Croatia and has been granted residence
- If only one of the child’s parents was granted Croatian citizenship based on naturalization, even though the other parent has no citizenship and the child lives abroad
Citizenship based on a marriage to a Croatian national
- Spouses of Croatian citizens that at the time of application hold permanent residence in Croatia only need to show that they hold permanent residence and that they respect the legal order and customs of the Republic of Croatia
Special Interest to the Republic of Croatia
- If you are a foreign national and your Croatian citizenship would benefit the Republic of Croatia, you may apply for citizenship by naturalization, provided you show that you respect the legal order and customs of Croatia. Your spouse may apply for citizenship based on family reunification.
- The deciding authority is the Ministry of the Interior, which has the final say regarding the validity of an application for citizenship based on a special interest to the Republic of Croatia
A Member of Croatian People
If you do not hold Croatian citizenship, but have affiliation to Croatian people with the proof of a legal document, or if you can prove that you were active in promotion of the interests and rights of the Croatian people and/or have participated in Croatian scientific, cultural and sport associations abroad, you may apply for Croatian citizenship, provided you show that you respect the legal order and customs.
Citizenship Based on International Treaties
There is a possibility for your citizenship to be regulated on the basis of international treaties. For more information, please visit the official website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia.
Re-admission to Croatian Citizenship
- If you have had Croatian citizenship, but were asked to release it in order to become a citizen of another country, you may request to be granted Croatian citizenship again.
- To qualify, you must show that you respect the legal order and customs of the Republic of Croatia AND that you also have a valid residence in the Republic of Croatia at the time of your application.
This information is intended as a guideline only. For the most up-to-date information on obtaining Croatian citizenship, please refer to the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia.
