All about the Croatian citizenship test

Croatian Citizenship Test
Image by Forbes

UPDATED: 14.3.2023.

When applying for Croatian citizenship, some applicants are required to pass the Croatian citizenship test as part of the requirements. This test is actually two tests that evaluate your understanding of the Croatian language as well as culture and history.

The Croatian citizenship test is broken into two parts:

  • Poznavanje hrvatskog jezika i latiničnog pisma (Knowledge of Croatian language and Latin alphabet)
  • Poznavanje hrvatske kulture i društvenog uređenja (Knowledge of Croatian culture and social structure)

This article covers the most important information about both tests. The official testing rules are available by Narodne Novine on their site here.

In this post, we cover:

The facts are these…

All you need to know about the Croatian citizenship test

Who is required to take the Croatian citizenship test?

When applying for Croatian citizenship, you will be required to take the citizenship tests if you are applying for citizenship based on residence (naturalization).

[Read: How to apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization if you are an EU/EEA citizen]

If you’re interested in learning more about Croatian citizenship and whether you qualify, read this post.

You are EXEMPT from taking the test if:

  • You are applying for citizenship based on descent – view a guide here
  • You are older than 60
  • You are a child younger than 18
  • You have completed a language certificate in Croatian – view a guide here
  • You can prove Croatian language knowledge by completing your citizenship application ON YOUR OWN
  • You are a spouse or civil partner of a Croatian citizen and meet the residence requirements – view a guide here
  • You are applying for citizenship as a special interest to Croatia – view a guide here
  • You are applying for citizenship under re-admission
  • You are applying for citizenship as a member of the Croatian people – view a guide here

What are the Croatian citizenship tests?

Citizenship test #1 – Knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin alphabet

Poznavanje hrvatskog jezika i latiničnog pisma (Knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin alphabet) can be confirmed by providing one of the following documents:

  • Certificate showing you passed the Croatian language and Latin alphabet – the exam can be taken at:
    • Visoko učilište (higher education institution)
    • Srednjoškolska ustanova (secondary school)
    • Ustanova za obrazovanje odraslih (adult education institution), which has the approval of the Ministry of Education
  • Certificate of completion of primary, secondary, or higher education in Croatia
  • Certificate from a foreign educational institution or a certificate of B1 proficiency in the Croatian language

A list of institutions that conduct the Croatian language and Latin alphabet test is available here.

Certain people can prove Croatian language knowledge by completing their application for acquiring Croatian citizenship if they are:

  • People with izbjeglički status (refugee status) for at least 10 years
  • People with status korisnika programa povratka, obnove ili stambenog zbrinjavanja (status of the user of the return, renovation, or housing program) and held a permanent Croatian address called prebivalište on October 8, 1991

In this case, you must fill out the application in front of an officer at MUP (administrative police station), Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova (The Ministry of Internal Affairs), or at a diplomatska misija (diplomatic mission)/konzulatni ured (consular office abroad).

You must fill out the form completely on your own, without another person’s presence or assistance.

[Read: How to find administrative police stations in Croatia]

Citizenship test #2 – Knowledge of Croatian culture and social structure

Poznavanje hrvatske kulture i društvenog uređenja (Knowledge of Croatian culture and social structure) consists of 15 questions in the fields of government, history, culture, customs, art, literature, sports, economy, tourism, and geographical location of the Republic of Croatia.

There are 110 possible questions. Of these 110 questions, 15 questions will be selected, and you must answer at least 10 questions correctly to pass the test. You have 60 minutes to take the test.

All 110 questions are available here (scroll down until you find the section “PRILOG 1”).

Where will you take the test?

Poznavanje hrvatske kulture i društvenog uređenja is administered by an officer at MUP (administrative police station), Ministarstvo unutarnjih poslova (The Ministry of Internal Affairs) or at a diplomatska misija (diplomatic mission)/konzulatni ured (consular office abroad).

The kind of questions on the test

There are 2 types of questions on the test:

  • Multiple choice
  • Fill in the blank

Getting your results

After you finish the test, the official person evaluates it immediately and informs you whether you passed. To pass the test, you must answer correctly 10 of 15 questions.

If you didn’t pass the test, you can request to see what you got wrong and right, but you can’t take the test with you out of the institution.

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 nationality, after all, and obtaining nationality is a big deal.

View reviews from people who have used our services for citizenship here, or jump to this section to view the last 20 reviews.

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…


View our other citizenship posts


Sources:
Zakon o hrvatskom državljanstvu
Pravilnik o načinu provjere poznavanja hrvatskog jezika i latiničnog pisma by Narodne Novine
Popis ustanova koje provode ispit by Ministarstvo znanosti i obrazovanja

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.

Sharing is Caring:

We only send one email a week on Tuesdays. And no spam, we don't like that either!

Subscribe to the Expat in Croatia Newsletter and get our FREE Croatia Starter Kit.
I'm already subscribed.