How to apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization if you are an EU/EEA citizen: Guide for 2023


UPDATED: 14.7.2023.
EU/EEA citizens can apply for Croatian citizenship (hrvatsko državljanstvo) if they meet certain conditions, just like anyone else.
If you have Croatian heritage, then you may qualify based on descent, so view that guide here.
This guide is specifically for EU/EEA citizens who wish to apply for Croatian citizenship under naturalization, which is residence-based and has the same rules as third-country (non-EU/EEA) citizens.
Application for Croatian citizenship is a long process that includes a Croatian language and culture test and a requirement that you must relinquish your foreign citizenship.
In this post, we cover:
- Who qualifies for naturalization
- Citizenship Act Article 8
- Benefits for EU/EEA citizens
- How EU/EEA can apply for naturalization
- How we can help you apply for citizenship
The facts are these…
How EU/EEA citizens can apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization
Who qualifies to apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization?
According to the Croatian Citizenship Act, EU/EEA citizens can apply for Croatian citizenship on the basis of naturalization.
To apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization, you must meet the following requirements:
- You are older than 18
- You no longer hold foreign citizenship or have submitted evidence that you will be released from your foreign citizenship after being granted Croatian citizenship
- You have resided in Croatia for 8 continuous years and hold the status of a permanent resident
- You passed the Croatian language and culture test unless you are older than 60
- From your behavior, it can be inferred that you respect the legal order and customs in Croatia
Minors can be granted Croatian citizenship based on naturalization if:
- Both parents are also acquiring citizenship based on naturalization
- One of their parents is also acquiring citizenship based on naturalization, AND the child is living in Croatia and has valid permanent residency
- One of their parents is also acquiring citizenship based on naturalization, AND the other parent has no citizenship, or citizenship is unknown – even if the child lives abroad
What Article 8 of the Croatian Citizenship Act says?
The rules for applying for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization are defined by Article 8 of Zakon o hrvatskom državljanstvu (Croatian Citizenship Act). This law is available here.
Below is an excerpt from Article 8.
Članak 8. (NN 102/19)
Prirođenjem može steći hrvatsko državljanstvo stranac koji je podnio zahtjev za primanje u hrvatsko državljanstvo ako udovoljava ovim pretpostavkama:
- da je navršio 18 godina života;
- da ima otpust iz stranog državljanstva ili da podnese dokaz da će otpust dobiti ako bude primljen u hrvatsko državljanstvo;
- da živi u Republici Hrvatskoj s prijavljenim boravkom 8 godina neprekidno do podnošenja zahtjeva i ima odobren status stranca na stalnom boravku;
- da poznaje hrvatski jezik i latinično pismo, hrvatsku kulturu i društveno uređenje;
- da poštuje pravni poredak Republike Hrvatske, da je podmirio dospjela javna davanja te da ne postoje sigurnosne zapreke za njegov primitak u hrvatsko državljanstvo.
Smatrat će se da je udovoljeno pretpostavci iz točke 2. stavka 1. ovoga članka, ako je zahtjev podnijela osoba koja je bez državljanstva ili koja će ga prema zakonu zemlje čiji je državljanin izgubiti samim prirođenjem.
Ako strana država ne dopušta otpust ili za otpust postavlja pretpostavke kojima se ne može udovoljiti, dovoljna je izjava osobe koja je podnijela zahtjev da se pod pretpostavkom stjecanja hrvatskog državljanstva odriče stranog državljanstva.
Ispunjenje pretpostavke iz stavka 1. točke 4. ovoga članka, utvrđuje se provjerom poznavanja hrvatskog jezika i latiničnog pisma, kulture i društvenog uređenja.
Osobe starije od 60 godina ne moraju ispunjavati pretpostavke iz stavka 1. točke 4. ovoga članka.
Članak 8a.
Strancu koji je podnio zahtjev za primitak u hrvatsko državljanstvo, a u trenutku podnošenja zahtjeva nema otpust iz stranog državljanstva ili nema dokaz da će otpust dobiti ako bude primljen u hrvatsko državljanstvo, može se izdati zajamčenje primitka u hrvatsko državljanstvo ako udovoljava ostalim pretpostavkama iz članka 8., stavka 1., ovoga zakona.
Zajamčenje se izdaje s rokom važenja od dvije godine.
This translates as:
Article 8 (NN 102/19)
A foreigner who has applied for Croatian citizenship may acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalization if they meet the following preconditions:
- they have reached 18 years of age;
- they have a release from foreign citizenship, or they submit proof that they will receive the release if they are admitted to Croatian citizenship;
- they have been living in the Republic of Croatia with registered residence for 8 years continuously until the submission of the application, and they have been granted the status of a foreigner on permanent residence;
- they know the Croatian language and Latin alphabet, Croatian culture, and social organization;
- they respect the legal order of the Republic of Croatia, they paid the due public benefits, and there are no security obstacles to their admission to Croatian citizenship.
The presumption referred to in item 2, paragraph 1 of this Article shall be deemed to have been met if the application was submitted by a stateless person or a person will lose it by naturalization under the law of the country of which they are a citizen.
If a foreign state does not allow release or imposes preconditions for dismissal that cannot be met, a statement by the person who submitted the request to renounce foreign citizenship on the assumption of acquiring Croatian citizenship is sufficient.
Fulfillment of the presumption referred to in paragraph 1, item 4 of this Article shall be determined by checking the knowledge of the Croatian language and the Latin alphabet, culture, and social organization.
People over the age of 60 do not have to meet the preconditions referred to in paragraph 1, item 4 of this Article.
Article 8a
An alien who has applied for Croatian citizenship and at the time of applying does not have a release from foreign citizenship or no proof that they will receive a release if they are granted Croatian citizenship, may be granted a guarantee of Croatian citizenship if they meet the other conditions of Article 8. , paragraph 1, of this Law.
The guarantee is issued with a validity period of two years.
Benefits for EU/EEA citizens while applying for Croatian citizenship
During the process of applying for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization, EU/EEA citizens have the same rights as third-country citizens with regards to the procedure itself. This means that they do not have any special benefits just because they are citizens of the EU/EEA member states.
During the application process, EU/EEA citizens must pass the Croatian language and culture test.
[Read: All about the Croatian citizenship test]
Once granted Croatian citizenship, you must relinquish all foreign citizenship. You can only have Croatian citizenship. Dual citizenship is not an available option when applying based on naturalization.
How EU/EEA citizens can apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization
Below is a step-by-step guide on how EU/EEA citizens can apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization.
#1 Confirm your basis
Before starting the process itself, you must be sure that you qualify to apply for Croatian citizenship on the basis of naturalization.
There are two primary questions you need to answer that determine whether or not you qualify:
- Do you hold permanent residence? – your answer needs to be YES
- Have you lived in Croatia continuously with legal residence for at least 8 years? – your answer needs to be YES
[Read: Find out if you qualify for Croatian citizenship]
#2 Prepare the documentation
If you don’t provide all the required documentation, your application won’t be valid. Be sure that you’ve collected all the documents.
You must provide:
- One of the following application forms:
- Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship by the birth of an adult (Obrazac 1) – download here
- Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship by the birth of an adult and a child/children (Obrazac 2) – download here
- Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship by the birth of a child/children (Obrazac 3) – download here
- Biography with supporting documentation, including reasons for applying, written in Croatian
- Birth certificate (apostilled/legalized and officially translated)
- Proof of citizenship, such as:
- Verified copy of a passport
- Verified copy of an ID card
- Domovnica equivalent
- Background check issued by the country where you have lived the previous 12 months proving you have not been criminally prosecuted not older than six months (apostilled/legalized and officially translated) – view a guide here
- Valid identity document with a visible photo (apostilled/legalized and officially translated)
- Proof of permanent residence in Croatia – view a guide here
- Proof of passing the Croatian language and culture test
[Read: All about the Croatian citizenship test]
Children younger than 18 also need to provide:
- Extract from the birth register if they are born outside Croatia
- Proof of citizenship
- Written consent of the other parent
Every foreign public document that you provide must be original, apostilled/legalized, and officially translated into Croatian. In certain cases, other rules may be specified by bilateral and multilateral international agreements.
You can learn how to prepare your foreign documents for use in Croatia here.
Read more about the apostille and full legalization of documents here.
If you want to be sure that you’ve properly prepared your application for Croatian citizenship, we are here to help. Our expat-vetted network of immigration lawyers can help you during the application process. Contact us, and we will introduce you to one of our lawyers.
#3 Submit the application
After you collect the documentation, you must apply at the MUP administrative office/police station closest to your place of residence. A legal representative or authorized proxy can submit your application if you are a disabled person.
[Read: How to find administrative police stations in Croatia]
The application process could take time, months to years. The cost to submit an application may include a symbolic administrative fee.
#4 Receive a decision
After you are granted Croatian citizenship, you will receive a document called Rješenje o primitku u hrvatsko državljanstvo (Decision on the admission to Croatian citizenship). This is a formal document that states that you have been approved for citizenship.
All possible administrative costs for this procedure are available here. You can view payment information here.
#5 Obtain the rest of your documents
Once you have your rješenje, you can then request additional identity documents. A list of those documents with links to guides on how to obtain them has been included below:
- Croatian birth certificate – view a guide here
- Croatian proof of citizenship called domovnica – view a guide here
- Croatian passport – view a guide here
- Croatian osobna iskaznica (ID card specifically for citizens) – view guide here
Need help with your Croatian citizenship application?
Interested in applying for Croatian citizenship but not sure where to start? We can point you in the right direction.
Our expat-vetted lawyer network can take care of your application from beginning to end. We have excellent English-speaking lawyers across the country that specialize in citizenship and are in constant communication with the ministry. These are the same lawyers who help us vet all of our information on this site. Learn how we built this network here.
You do not have to live in Croatia to take advantage of this service.
For one flat rate, they can:
- Validate your claim (which includes confirming if you qualify and checking the citizenship status of your relative)
- Prepare a plan specific to your case to ensure you have the best chance of approval
- Target possible red flags and prepare solutions
- Collect birth records in Croatia (new copies are required)
- Confirm exact requirements with your embassy or consulate and coordinate with them on your behalf
- Provide guidance on preparing a successful CV biography (and coordinating translation into Croatian)
- Prepare your family tree
- Prepare supporting documentation
- Coordinate translations for foreign documents, as needed
- Assist with any issues or questions that arise after submission. They are with you throughout the process from start to approval.
As part of this service, you’ll have a dedicated Expat in Croatia caseworker who will follow up periodically to ensure you’re getting everything you need. You’ll also be able to reach out to them as well if any issues arise.
Having Expat in Croatia and our lawyer network on your side will give you the best shot at approval. It takes 1-2 years on average for applications to be processed, so best not to risk denial. This is citizenship, after all, and obtaining citizenship is a big deal.
View reviews from people who have used our services for citizenship here.
To get help with your application for citizenship, complete the form below, and will match you with an expert.
See what our clients have to say about working with us…
Brett B.
United States
Introduced to a Professional, Professional Assistance
On short notice I accepted a work trip to Europe and decided to stop in Zagreb prior to my job in Paris. Having obtained citizenship approval the purpose of this trip was to file birth records and my marriage record as well as obtaining domovnicas for my family and to apply for my passport. Filip coordinated everything on very short notice, including vetting our documents and coordinating a new translation due to a copy and pasting error within 3 hours. Ines met me and obtained the domovnicas for my family on my behalf. The registrar wished to have another document to complete registering my marriage and my wife and my birth certificates but Filip has told me exactly what to get. Finally Filip accompanied me to the MUP to file for my first passport. He guided me through the process and, unbelievably, I had my first Croatian Passport in my hands three hours later (not exaggerating)! These are the second group of professionals Expat in Croatia has referred me to, and again my expectations were exceeded. Thank you so much Filip and Ines for your attention to detail, guidance, timeliness, and professionalism all on short notice. The remainder of my family will be using your services once they receive their decisions as well. Thank you!

Tom C.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
Expat in Croatia linked me up to Filip in Zagreb, who helped me from beginning to end of my applications for Croatian citizenship by descent. (My wife also applied by marriage.) Filip gave very helpful guidance on the process speaking broadly, as well as concrete revisions to our application documents for filing, review of my family history documents, and arrangement of translation and apostilling. All that, quickly and efficiently. Filip was generally available for questions on the go, including as we left our citizenship interview. I am also a lawyer, so speaking personally, it was a good experience to see such professionalism from another lawyer in a jurisdiction where I would be completely on my own otherwise.
Natalie N.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
My husband and I met consulted with Expat in Croatia in order to learn about obtaining Croatian citizenship. We met with Sara Dyson initially and she was able to answer all of our general questions with regard to citizenship. She also put us in contact with our attorney, Ines, in order to begin the application process. I was very pleased with Sara’s expertise on the matter. Our attorney, Ines, was very thorough and professional. She clearly explained the process step by step and answered all of our questions and concerns throughout the entire process. Our appointment with the Chicago consulate went very smoothly and it was all thanks to Ines’ hard work! We couldn’t be more pleased with the experience and I would recommend Expat in Croatia and their professionals to anyone looking into Croatian citizenship.
Brice R.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
I really did not know where to start but Expat Croatia (Sara) introduced me to Antonela (Immigration lawyer) and she is the best. The citizenship process can be a bit daunting but having someone in Croatia to help is so necessary. I also feel that Antonela and Mia provide a service that is great value for what they charge. My advice to anyone who is applying for citizenship is to be diligent and patient. We were able to find all the necessary paperwork and I did secure Croatian citizenship for myself, my wife and our three children. (My grandmother was born in Croatia). The citizenship process took just over 2 years. We are now working on getting our Croatian passports which of course while a straightforward process, does take several months.

Paola P.
United States
Free Guidance, Introduced to a Professional
We reached out to Expat in Croatia for assistance in finding a lawyer to help us with our application for citizenship by descent, and their recommendation of Antonela S. was a perfect match! We were dealing with gathering documents from three different countries and submitting our applications in a fourth, so we needed all the expertise (and hand-holding) we could get. Antonela and her staff, particularly Mia, were very responsive considering all of our correspondence was via email and across several time zones. We recently submitted our applications and the consular officer who reviewed our documents remarked that everything was well-organized and complete. Aside from our satisfaction with EIC’s professional recommendation, we have found this site to be a wonderful resource for so many aspects of Croatian life and culture!
Rebecca G.
New Zealand
Introduced to a Professional
I needed support with an application for Croatian citizenship by descent and found Expat in Croatia through their comprehensive article on the subject. They answered my questions and introduced me to Ivan R. Let me be clear that Ivan exceeded all my expectations on knowledge, conscientiousness, patience, and support during this process. From the very first meeting it was clear that he is very familiar and thorough with these applications. Unexpectedly, finding evidence documents for my application was much more complicated than either of us had anticipated, but Ivan was there every step of the way until we finally pieced the puzzle together. I submitted my application yesterday and they said it was perfect. I am immensely grateful for Ivan’s help and I highly recommend Ivan and Expat in Croatia to others hoping to navigate this process with minimal delays. Thank you.
Barbara (Richard) H.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
The Expat in Croatia newsletter has been an indispensable guide for us while waiting to acquire Croatian citizenship. Since receiving citizenship this month, we decided to book a consultation to address more specific questions as we move closer to actually moving to Croatia. We chose CAM (Carol Anne) to be our consultant and found her to be the perfect “fit” for us. She has experienced everything that we will be dealing with as she moved from Canada to Croatia. Whether it is information about shipping items, registering a car, health insurance, or getting a tax consultant to navigate important financial details, she provided everything and more. We found her to be thorough, professional, personable, and smart. She is also funny and charming. We love CAM! We will continue to use this resource, consulting with CAM as needed or as more questions arise.
Jenn K.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
EIC has a Wonderful team of professionals to help guide us through our process of obtaining Croatian citizenship by descent. We had initial consultation with Sara, and then one of the attorneys, Andrea. Although we are gathering our documents on our own, we will be hiring them to oversee the process and help us with requirements we are unable to complete on our own during and after our applications are submitted . We would highly recommend Expat in Croatia !
Lori P.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
We needed assistance with purchasing property and moving forward with applying for Croatian citizenship. We had a great conversation with Sara and CAM, they explained both processes clearly and provides us with numerous resources. They have also facilitated contact with a Croatian lawyer to work with us on both processes. It has been helpful to understand timelines and requirements, and they have provided contact with professionals that can be responsible for the aspects that we cannot do on our own.
Megan B.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
My sister and I are working on our Croatian citizenship via our heritage and cannot be more thankful for Expat in Croatia. Lorena was able to connect us with the immigration attorney who helped guide us through the process. I highly recommend connecting with this website as they offer a variety of helpful services.
Nick C.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
There was a 6 month wait at the consulate to get an appointment to submit my application, in addition to the time it takes to actually process the application, so this can be a lengthy process. With that in mind, I feel confident my application is without error – thanks to Expat In Croatia and their legal network. They really took the uncertainty out of the process, and demonstrated the highest level of professionalism from start to finish, which included locating a 19th century birth certificate. In addition to this, their website is probably the most comprehensive resource on the internet. Expat In Croatia will make a genuine effort to help you, and they know what they’re doing.
Monique A.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
Lorena guided us to the legal support of Andrea, who has been crucial in helping us with our application for Croatian Citizenship by Descent. Without Andrea’s help, we would be lost! Thank you Lorena for getting us to the right person for our family’s application process. We really appreciate it!

Lindsey F.
United States
Consulting
My husband and I met with Sara to discuss our options regarding moving to Croatia. My husband is of Croatian descent but we were unsure of what we would need to present and to who, once we arrived in Croatia. Sara, through her expansive knowledge, was able to direct us to the correct experts and offer alternatives. She made navigating the Croatian immigration process much easier. Sara and her team are exceptional. I cannot recommend them enough; I look forward to continued correspondence with her as we continue through the process.
Michael C.
Australia
Consulting
Very good service. If you are thinking of immigrating to Croatia a chat with Sara is mandatory. There are so many things one must consider. e.g. Immigration procedures and mandatory health care payments etc.
Bernadette B.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
My experience to date with Expat in Croatia has been terrific. The website contains a wealth of information which is vetted and updated regularly. After reviewing the website, I scheduled a consultation with Sara Dyson to discuss the process of obtaining citizenship by descent for myself and my siblings. In less than an hour Sara provided a comprehensive, detailed explanation of the process. She answered all my questions about housing, healthcare, and life in Croatia; and the references provided in a follow-up email were extremely helpful. I am especially impressed with the service they offer matching people applying for citizenship with Croatian lawyers who can assist them. It’s not a simple handoff; an Expat in Croatia representative remains engaged through the entire process and acts as a liaison between the client and the attorney. We will definitely be taking advantage of that service as we pursue our dream of obtaining Croatian citizenship. I look forward to working with Sara, Carol Anne and the entire Expat in Croatia team.
Anna G.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
My brothers and I reached out to Expat in Croatia, knowing nothing about the process or if we were even eligible to apply for citizenship. We worked with Steve, who determined that were eligible and connected us with Ines, our Croatian attorney. Ines was incredibly helpful throughout the process, answering all of our questions and helping to guide all 7 of us to get the paperwork needed to submit. The process took some time, but that mostly was on the end of the United States documentation needed, as we had to jump through a lot of hoops with various states to get the paperwork needed (especially in the State of NY, where we had to effectively sue to release our ancestral records). Once we had everything assembled (a Herculean effort as we dealt with records from 6 different states, including NY, which was tough!), we made our appointment with the consulate in Chicago and the consulate employee was also very helpful. Our meeting lasted about an hour, as she went through all of our documents and made sure we had everything we needed. We had everything we needed and even some additional documentation that was recommended and drafted by Ines. The Consulate even mentioned that it was a VERY good idea to work with an attorney for this, as it will help the process go even smoother. I cannot say enough good things about Expat in Croatia and Ines. Without them, we never would have been able to get this done! And now we wait for a few years for our approvals 🙂
Anna O.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
I am very grateful for Sara and the EIC team! I stumbled across Sara & EIC a few years ago and have acquired so much useful and interesting information through them. Sara and team are so friendly, professional and passionate with everything Croatia! I had a consulting session with Sara a few weeks ago, and it was very helpful. I’m so excited to hear where the team and services are heading. They offer so many invaluable services. I am also trying to achieve dual citizenship through lineage (both grandparents born in Croatia) and worked with one of their vetted professional lawyers, Ines, through the process. Ines is also wonderful. It’s so reassuring to know that if I am able to get to Croatia, there are people to help support me and show me the ropes. Thank you Sara & Team!
Bruce P.
South Africa
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
The consultation was very informative and presented professionally with all important points covered. The follow up email was prompt covering all that was relevant with an introduction to the vetted professional.
Nick A.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
My family needed help applying for Croatian citizenship. We were put in contact with Krešo, and he was very helpful, providing us with the information we needed to successfully submit our application. I would highly recommend working with Krešo for any similar needs!
Vandy S.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
We worked with Ines. Before contacting her, we had collected all the supporting documents ourselves – birth certificates, family tree, evidence of emigration, etc. – and had these ready when we had our initial consultation. At the consultation, Ines laid out the citizenship application process for us in detail. She answered all of our questions then, and also throughout the process. Ines was an indispensable help to us, especially since we were applying in Montenegro as temporary residents of that country. She handled the translations of all our documents, helped us with our applications and CVs, kept everything in order and on track, and communicated with several officials, both Croatian and Montenegrin on our behalf when English wasn’t their first language. Having Ines in our corner made the process run smoothly. We were glad that we had her expertise behind us.
View our other citizenship posts
- 11 things to know before applying for Croatian citizenship
- All about the Croatian citizenship test
- Croatian Central State Office for Croats Abroad
- How children of Croatians can register their citizenship
- How to apply for Croatian citizenship (hrvatsko državljanstvo)
- How to apply for citizenship based on descent
- How to apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization if you are an EU/EEA citizen
- How to get proof of citizenship (domovnica)
- How to relinquish Croatian citizenship
Sources:
Acquisition of Croatian Citizenship by e-Građani
Procedure instructions: Acquisition of Croatian Citizenship by MUP
Zakon o hrvatskom državljanstvu
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.