Application for an amnesty
You can apply for an amnesty once the judgment becomes final, but this will not delay the criminal sanction
If you are granted an amnesty, you are given full or partial pardon, the sentence pronounced is substituted for a more lenient one or you are given parole, you are granted early rehabilitation, the legal consequence of the conviction, injunction in the form of a driving ban, ban on practising a profession, performing an activity or duty or deportation of an alien from the country is set aside or shortened.Amnesties are granted by the President of the Republic of Croatia in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia and the Amnesty Act.
Initiation of the amnesty procedure
An amnesty procedure is initiated by submitting an application for an amnesty, which can be submitted once the judgment becomes final.It is submitted to the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration of the Republic of Croatia (Amnesty Department) and can be handed in in the mailroom of the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration, Vukovarska 49, Zagreb, or delivered by post to the aforementioned address.
If you are a convict serving your sentence of imprisonment, submit your application for an amnesty to the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration via the penitentiary or prison where you are serving your sentence.
What should an application include?
You should state the following in your application:- The name of the court which have the first-instance judgment and judgment number
- Your personal information
- Information on the family and financial situations (e.g. number of children, in particular underage, maintenance obligation, yours and your family members’ medical condition, whether your family has a source of income and what it is, as well as any circumstance you believe might work in your favour).
- Legal or common-law spouse
- Lineal blood relative,
- Legal representative
- Adopted parent
- Adopted child
- Brother
- Sister
- Foster parent.
You will be receive a notice of the amnesty decision via the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration.
Application resubmission
You can resubmit your application six months from the date of the last amnesty decision if the judgment imposed a sentence of three years of imprisonment or a more lenient sentence on you.
If the judgment imposed a sentence of more than three years of imprisonment on you, you can resubmit your application one year from the date of the last amnesty decision.
If you are convict sentenced to life imprisonment, you can resubmit your application 10 years from the date of the first amnesty decision; afterwards, you can resubmit your application three years from the date of the last amnesty decision.
For more information, you can contact the Ministry of Justice and Public Administration from Monday to Wednesday between 9.00 AM and 11.00 AM, by calling:
- 01/3714-273
- 01/3714-201
- 01/3714-245
- 01/3714-357