How to apply for a Croatian passport: Guide for 2023

UPDATED: 6.9.2023.
A passport is proof of your identity and Croatian citizenship. If you travel outside Croatia, you must carry your passport with you. A passport is called putovnica in Croatian.
You can apply for and hold a passport, regardless of whether you live in Croatia or not. Perhaps you’ve always lived in Croatia but have never applied for a passport, or you’ve just been granted Croatian citizenship and now qualify for a passport.
If you do not have Croatian citizenship, find out if you qualify here. If you qualify, check out our guide on how to apply for Croatian citizenship, available here.
In this post, we cover:
- Application in person
- Application via e-Građani
- Application abroad
- Processing time
- Exceptions for disabled
- How to renew a passport
- Power of the Croatian passport
- How to get help with your citizenship application
The facts are these…
How to apply for a Croatian passport
How to apply for a Croatian passport in person in Croatia
You can apply for a passport at any administrative police station in Croatia, regardless of whether you live in Croatia or not. The request must be submitted by the applicant, by parents for their minors, or by an authorized representative for incapacitated persons.
[Read: How to find administrative police stations in Croatia]
If you have an emergency case, you can submit an urgent request for a passport only in person at a police station. Your passport will be ready for issue within 48 hours in Zagreb or within three days at any other administrative police station in Croatia.
Requirements
To submit a request for a passport in person, you must provide:
- Zahtjev za izdavanje putovnice (Request for issuing the passport) provided by the police
- Proof of Croatian citizenship
- Domovnica
- Certificate from the register’s office that you are entered into the register of citizenship called Knjiga državljana
- Decision on gaining Croatian citizenship called Rješenje
- Osobna iskaznica
- Other documents that verify identity and Croatian nationality
- 35 x 45 mm photo for a biometric passport
- Old passport if you have one
- For minors: a birth certificate and a certificate of Croatian citizenship
- Proof of payment for the application fee
Children older than 12 years must be present to give fingerprints for the biometric passport.
How to apply for a Croatian passport via e-Građani
If you have an e-identity card, the request for a passport can also be submitted via the e-Građani (e-Citizen) web application. You can view our guide on e-Građani here.
Having residence in Croatia isn’t required to use this method. Please note that expedited requests cannot be made online. Croatian ID card is called osobna iskaznica.
[Read: How to apply for a national ID card (osobna iskaznica)]
When applying via e-Građani, requirements are the same as when applying in person at MUP.
The passport must be picked up personally at the police station, or it can be delivered to your residence in Croatia. If you don’t have a residence in Croatia, you have to pick a police station where you will pick up your passport.
E-građani enables to submit a request for:
- First issue of e-passport
- Replacement of the existing passport
- Issuing another passport of the same type (for consular representatives)
It is not necessary to enclose scanned photography. Photography, fingerprints, and signatures will be taken from the MUP database.
When using e-Građani, you must sign the request with your electronic signature by using the electronic ID card.
Detailed instructions on how to get a passport via e-građani are available here.
Another passport of the same type
If you are submitting a request for issuing another passport of the same type, you also must enclose:
- Request letter explaining in detail why you need another passport
- Proof that indicates the justification of the request
- Confirmation that a previously issued passport is in possession of the competent authority in another country due to obtaining a visa to enter that country
- Certificate from a foreign employer on the reasons you need two passports due to the performance of specific tasks
- Proof that the first passport contains stamps or notes that unable entry to certain countries (for example, Israel and Arab countries)
- Other proof, depending on the case
How to pay the administration fees in Croatia
If you don’t enclose proof of payment, your request will be denied.
You may pay the fees in person at a bank or post office or using online banking with your Croatian bank. Here are instructions on how to make payments in Croatia.
Where it is noted [YOUR OIB] in the model number in the above payment instructions, replace this placeholder with your OIB number so that your payment is tied to you.
[Read: How to Get an OIB Croatian Identification Number]
All possible administrative costs for this procedure are available here.
Payment information is available here.
How to apply for a Croatian passport from abroad
To apply for a Croatian passport abroad, you must visit a Croatian embassy or consulate in person. Parents can renew passports for their children. Legal representatives can renew passports for people who don’t have the ability to work.
Requirements
To submit a request for a passport in person abroad, you must provide:
- Zahtjev za izdavanje putovnice (request for issuing the passport) provided by the embassy or consulate
- Proof of Croatian citizenship
- Domovnica
- Certificate from the register’s office that you are entered into the register of citizenship called Knjiga državljana
- Decision on gaining Croatian citizenship called Rješenje
- Osobna iskaznica
- Other documents that verify identity and Croatian nationality
- 35 x 45 mm photo for a biometric passport
- Identification document
- Old passport
- Osobna iskaznica
- Proof from the book of births not older than 6 months
- People who have foreign proof must follow the rules of international agreements and conventions with Croatia
- People born in Croatia must enclose proof from the Croatian Book of births called Matica rođenih
- Wedding certificate or excerpt from the book of birth for persons who got married or changed their name
- Proof of residence
- Administrative fees, which vary depending on the embassy or consulate
[Read: How to register a person in the Croatian book of births (Matica rođenih)]
Processing time of Croatian passport application
For regular applications, your passport will be ready for pick-up within 30 days. If you have applied for a rush on the application, it will be ready for issue within 48 hours in Zagreb or within three days at any other administrative police station.
Additional processing time may be added when applying from abroad.
Exceptions of Croatian passport for disabled people
Fingerprints
If a person doesn’t have a forefinger or if it is injured, a fingerprint of a middle finger or some other finger will be taken. If a person doesn’t have one arm, a fingerprint of a middle finger or some other finger will be taken.
[Read: Background checks and fingerprints for third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA citizens)]
View our interview with the Croatian travel blogger for people with disabilities here.
Passport photo
Blind people don’t have to take off their dark glasses for photography.
If a person wears headgear for medical reasons, a person doesn’t have to take it off for their photo as long as their forehead, cheekbones, and chin are visible.
How to renew a Croatian passport
Croatian passports are not renewed. You must apply for a new passport after your old one expires.
The rules are the same when applying in person and via e-Građani. You must provide the same documents.
To request a new passport, provide:
- Zahtjev za izdavanje putovnice (request for issuing the passport) provided by the embassy, consulate, or police station
- 35 x 45 mm photo for a biometric passport
- Old passport
- Proof of your address called prebivalište
- Administrative fees
[Read: Prebivalište and boravište: two addresses that must be registered with the police]
Power of a Croatian passport
With a Croatian passport, you can travel visa-free to 149 countries and to 44 countries using visa-on-arrival. There are only 49 countries in the world where a visa is required. In addition, since Croatia is in the European Union, citizens can travel and work freely within the EU/EEA.
[Read: Available visas and residence permits for Croatia]
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 see 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…
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.
Sources:
Izdavanje putovnice u policijskoj upravi ili postaji
Izdavanje putovnice putem portala e-Građani
Izdavanje putovnice u inozemstvu
Putovnica by MUP
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.