Acquiring Croatian Citizenship

Persons who do not hold Croatian citizenship (foreign nationals) may submit an application for acquiring Croatian citizenship

Persons who do not hold Croatian citizenship (foreign nationals) may submit an application for acquiring Croatian citizenship and become Croatian citizens through naturalization if they meet the requirements laid down in the Croatian Citizenship Act.  

Croatian citizenship may be acquired through naturalization on the following legal grounds:
  • on grounds of residence in Croatia
  • on grounds of birth in Croatia
  • on grounds of marriage or civil partnership with a Croatian citizen
  • on grounds of emigration
  • on grounds of the Republic of Croatia’s interest
  • on grounds of affiliation with the Croatian nation
  • on grounds of reacquisition of Croatian citizenship
Underage children may acquire Croatian citizenship through naturalization in the following cases:
  • if both parents acquire citizenship through naturalization
  • if only one parent acquires citizenship through naturalization, whereas the child resides in Croatia and was granted permanent residence
  • if one of the parents acquires citizenship through naturalization pursuant to Article 11(1) or Article 16 of the Croatian Citizenship Act
  • if only one parent acquires citizenship through naturalization, the other parent is a stateless person or of unknown citizenship, whereas the child lives abroad.
Affairs regarding the acquisition of Croatian citizenship through naturalization are handled by the Ministry of the Interior.

Submitting Applications

Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship through naturalization shall be submitted in person at a local police department or police station according to the place of granted temporary or permanent residence. Exceptionally, in case of disabled persons, the application may be submitted by their legal representative or authorised person. If the applicant was not granted temporary or permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia, the application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship through naturalization shall be submitted through a competent diplomatic mission or consulate of the Republic of Croatia abroad.

The application form to be submitted may be downloaded here or from the Ministry of the Interior’s website 

Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship through naturalization for an adult person

Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship through naturalization for an adult person and child/children

Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship through naturalization for a child/children.

The following supporting documents shall be enclosed in addition to the application form:
  • curriculum vitae and letter of motivation for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship
  • certified copy of a valid identity document (passport, identification document for foreign nationals) with a clearly visible photograph
  • evidence of citizenship status (certificate of citizenship, certified copy of a valid passport or identity card)
  • extract from the registry of births issued on a standard form pursuant to international agreements and conventions
  • extract from the registry of marriages issued within the last 6 months (for married persons)
       If the application is submitted on grounds of marriage to a Croatian citizen, the marriage shall be registered in the Registry of Marriages in the Republic of Croatia
  • extract from the Registry of Civil Partnerships (for civil partners)
  • evidence of no criminal record issued by the competent foreign authority of the country whose citizenship the applicant holds and in which they have permanent residence, in the original language or a duly certified copy with Croatian translation, issued within the last 6 months
  • the applicant’s consent to an authenticity check of foreign documents supporting the application
  • when submitting applications in the Republic of Croatia, the administrative fee shall be paid upon receiving the decision on the acquisition of Croatian citizenship or the decision on rejecting the application
  • submitting applications abroad is subject to a consular fee, which is to be paid upon submission of the application.
If the application is submitted to include underage children as well, the supporting documents shall include a valid document proving the child’s identity (if in the child’s possession), extract from the registry of births, evidence of the child’s citizenship status and written statement from the second parent consenting to the acquisition of Croatian citizenship through naturalization for an underage child (the Act defines exceptions, i.e. cases when the application may be submitted by only one parent). Extract from the registry of births is not required if the child’s birth has been registered in the Registry of Births in the Republic of Croatia.
 
Different grounds for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship require additional supporting documents.

The applicant may obtain information regarding the status of their submitted application by sending a written request by post or e-mail.

Evidence of Knowledge of Croatian Language and Culture

Persons submitting applications for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship on grounds of residence in Croatia, not including persons over the age of 60, are obliged to demonstrate knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin alphabet, Croatian culture and social structure of Croatia.

Knowledge of Croatian culture and social structure shall be demonstrated through a questionnaire on understanding Croatian culture and social structure that the applicant completes independently, without consultation in front of a police official.

Knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin alphabet shall be proven through proper evidence, which in some cases may include mere submission of the application form for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship through naturalization (e.g. foreign nationals who held refugee status in the Republic of Croatia for at least ten years up to the date of submission of the application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship or aliens whose place of permanent residence on the date of 8 October 1991 was in the Republic of Croatia and who are beneficiaries of the returnee, restoration or housing programmes).

Obtaining the Certificate of Nationality

After acquiring Croatian citizenship and registering in the Registry of Citizens of the Republic of Croatia, the certificate of nationality may be obtained in any registry office in the Republic of Croatia.
Further information is available via phone: 01/6101 544 or 6101 564.

Procedures for acquiring Croatian citizenship on various grounds, together with details on the supporting documents required, are described on the Ministry of the Interior’s website

Acquiring Croatian citizenship - Instructions and procedures.