Croatia comes with legal challenges. Some procedures are too complicated to do on your own. Even simpler procedures can easily derail. Maybe a cousin recommended a lawyer they know, but then you don’t hear from them for months. You can do all the right things and still run into issues.
Sometimes, it is best to leave it to a professional. To serve our audience to the fullest, we have carefully and considerately built a network of vetted Croatian attorneys across the country who practice law with honor, honesty, skill and dedication.
When you use any of our lawyers, you also get a dedicated Expat in Croatia caseworker who will be there with you along the way to make sure you’re getting everything you need. We are proud to be the first to offer this type of service in Croatia.
We are happy to share with you everything about our vetted legal network so you know exactly what to expect when you work with us.
Jump to a section:
- How we built our network
- How we vet our lawyers
- High level of service
- How we work
- Shared knowledge
- Coverage
- Specialities
- Lawyer reviews
- Get an introduction to our lawyer network
How we built our network
It all started with one.
Building a network of lawyers was always part of the plan. We specialize in bureaucracy, so it was natural to collaborate with lawyers to vet our information as well as to help our audience.
We didn’t want to send our clients and readers to just anybody. So we waited, patiently, until we found that first lawyer with integrity and high standards, who believed in what we were doing.
From there, the first lawyer introduced us to a trusted colleague. And then another. And then another. We now have a vetted network of 16 law practices covering a variety of specialties across the country to whom we have sent thousands of people.
We are proud to share that these lawyers have hired more than 15 Croatians to support the work we have sent them. Expat in Croatia is not just about helping people live in Croatia. We also seek to support the Croatian community wherever possible – our lawyer network is one way we do that.
“My husband and I met consulted with Expat in Croatia in order to learn about obtaining Croatian citizenship. 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.” – Natalie, United States
How we vet lawyers
Every lawyer has been recommended through personal referrals from people we trust implicitly.
Next, they are vetted by the head of our legal network as well as by Sara Dyson, founder of Expat in Croatia, during multiple discussions and in-person meetings. Foreigners have different needs than Croatians, so we discuss those differences to gauge if they are well-suited to the task. We evaluate their level of English as well.
Through this process, we also learn about their specialties, experience and personality, so we can match people to the lawyer best suited to handle their case.
After that process is finished, we sparsely refer people to them over months as a test. During this time, we keep extra close contact with the clients to ensure they are getting exactly what they need, while also periodically checking in with the lawyer to get their perspective.
Once they have shown a reputation for providing consistent, exceptionally professional services, they join the network in an official capacity.
High level of service
The culture of legal work in Croatia may be different than what you’re used to.
Keeping in touch – especially when there are no updates – is not standard practice. Lawyers and Croatian clients can go weeks, months, even years without speaking – and this is considered normal from both sides.
This can prove problematic when dealing with foreigners who are not sure who they can trust and constantly need to know what is going on.
Not so in the EIC network! Every lawyer we work with sets clear expectations, provides transparency, outlines explanations and follows up periodically – even if there isn’t yet movement on a procedure. The standard is very high and is constantly being improved and adjusted according to evolving needs.
“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.” – Rebecca, New Zealand
How we work
From the beginning, you’ll have a dedicated point-of-contact on the EIC side who will personally introduce you to the lawyer best suited to handle your case. You’ll be provided a PDF biography that includes their photo, bar profile, contact information and specialties.
After the introduction, the lawyer will schedule a conversation over the phone, video chat or in person so you can get to know them and they can learn more about your case.
Based on that conversation, the lawyer will explain how they can help and the associated cost, at which point you can decide how you’d like to proceed.
Once you’re ready to go, you’ll be provided a dual-language contract from our sister company that outlines the terms of the work to be done, so that all expectations are crystal clear.
Expat in Croatia is with you always.
Your personal EIC contact will be there for you through the process. They will follow up with you periodically to see how everything is going. While issues are rare in our network, sometimes they do happen and are usually due to cultural differences. If you ever have any problems, your EIC contact will do all they can to resolve it for you.
You’re never abandoned. We stay with you along the way.
Shared Knowledge
Our network currently consists of 16 independent law practices. They work as a team to serve everyone.
Every jurisdiction, specialty and case are different. Our lawyers are in contact with each other daily sharing their experiences, challenges and knowledge. This means a client of a lawyer in Dubrovnik can benefit from the knowledge and experience of a lawyer in Pula or Zagreb – and vice versa.
This is truly one of the most unique aspects and biggest strengths of our network. You are not just represented by one lawyer, but by an entire legal team with varying backgrounds. They function as colleagues, not competitors.
The lawyers are our colleagues too. When we need to vet some information, we are on the phone or email with them – talking through a topic so we can present the most accurate information possible to our readers.
This information exchange is mutual. Our lawyers specialize in law, but may not be familiar with the intricacies of how health insurance works or where a South African can obtain a background check. Sometimes they give us a call so they can fill out the picture and give the most holistic service possible to their client.
We work so closely together that we do an annual team building event with the Expat in Croatia team, our lawyers and their teams. Last year, it was Plitvice. This year, it was Paklenica. We’ve introduced a brand new culture to legal work in Croatia and the best part is that we all just love it to death.
Coverage
Our network currently consists of 16 vetted law practices located in Dubrovnik, island Vis, Pula, Rijeka, Šibenik, Split, Zadar and Zagreb. These lawyers serve their surrounding areas, so if you are in Slavonija or on island Lastovo, our network can still assist in your case. Jump to our contact form by clicking here.
Specialties
A wide variety of specialities are covered within our network including:
- Immigration, including citizenship and residence
- Family law including divorce and custody
- Civil law
- Property law
- Corporate law including trademarking and copyright
- Criminal law
All of our lawyers have multiple specialities – so, your lawyer for Croatian citizenship can also help you with purchasing a property or opening a company.
Examples of the most common procedures:
- Application and registration for Croatian citizenship
- Application for temporary or permanent residence
- Property sale (or purchase)
- Sorting out messy real estate problems
- Wills and inheritance
- Rental contracts
- Job contracts
- Divorce
- Opening a company
- Name changes
- Registration of marriage or birth
Reviews
Below is just a taste of the experiences of our clients. See all of our reviews here or jump to the contact form by clicking here.
Vlasta N.
Canada
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
Thank you so much to these wonderful ladies for the fantastic service. I needed help with some Croatian business issues, terms & processes. They connected me with an appropriate professional – another lovely lady who I immediately connected with and felt she really understood my issue, & she was able to answer all my queries in English – bonus! I would highly recommend these fabulous, friendly ladies and service to anyone who needs some assistance. Again, many thanks.
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.
Tara H.
New Zealand
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
My journey with Expat in Croatia started with a consulting session with Sara, From here I decided to work with a vetted lawyer to help me with my Temporary Residence application and dealing with the infamous Croatian bureaucracy. I was paired with the lovely Andrea and her team, who were amazing. It was awesome to know everything was taken care of, and that everything was explained to me clearly and carefully. I was given updates of my application status, accompanied when having to get things done such as ID photos, dealing with MUP etc., and all the forms filled out for me. This experience was definitely worth the money as it saved me a lot of stress; I enjoyed it so much I’m using another Expat in Croatia lawyer to help me with my Citizenship application!
Jelena P.
Australia
Introduced to a Professional
Amazing service. Very friendly and helpful. I needed some advice on residency options. Their vetted partners were prompt, kind and easy to communicate with.
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 !
Ninka S.
United States
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
I had first consultation with Carol Anne (CAM). She did a great job, very informative and willing to help . I would recommend Expat to my friends. Steve was very responsive to my emails and he connected me to Filip who we hired to help my son and his girlfriend. So far great experience but I know it is a process. We needed help with temp residence for my son’s girlfriend who was looking for looking to stay longer the 90 day . My son has USA /Croatian Citizenship.
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.
Tania M.
Croatia
Introduced to a Professional
We needed help with temporary residency, yes we got the help needed and we now have temporary residency. There was some struggles but Ivan was professional and helpful and took us through the process of what was needed. The information and letter from the Office of Croats abroad was helpful to our case and Ana at Korcula police station had not seen one before and said it would help others of her clients if they had this.
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!
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!
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.
Brett B.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
Expat in Croatia introduced me to Ivona and Ema to guide my family through the citizenship application process. They located my great grandfathers birth certificate, listed the documents I needed to get for each family member, coordinated translations, and helped file with our application and advised us on our appointment with the Consulate. They were so thorough and courteous and we just started receiving our approvals. I cannot recommend Ivona and Ema highly enough, thank you so much Ivona and Ema and thank you Expat in Croatia for the introduction to your vetted partners!
Rick M.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
We received help with preparation for citizenship application. Our attorney located Croatian birth certificates, guided us through the process, arranged Croatia translations of documents and prepped us for the consulate meeting. Ljudevit was well organized, punctual, and very articulate in assisting us. He knows the process and requirements well. We couldn’t have asked for better guidance in the process.
Matt B.
United States
Free Guidance, Introduced to a Professional
The Expat in Croatia team was quick to respond and efficient connecting me with an attorney who helped me apply for Croatian Citizenship through descent. They took time to answer my questions to make sure I was comfortable with the process before starting. Best of all, the guidance I received from the attorney they recommended made the process a breeze. Submitting my application for citizenship with the consulate was so easy. Fantastic value for the service I received.
Pia S.
Slovenia
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
Overall, I was very pleased with Ivona, since she helped me through the process, gave me very straightforward information and when I went to the consulate to make the request for determing Croatian citizenship nothing was missing. I do not know the outcome of my request but the whole process left me very pleased.
kent p.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
I asked about a Lawyer to help with getting citizenship, and have had nothing but professional help, can’t thank expat enough for pointing us In the right direction,
Christine B.
Australia
Introduced to a Professional
My brother and I required help with applying for Croatian citizenship. We found Expat in Croatia to be very helpful, emails were responded to quickly and we were referred to a professional who’s service was second to none. Pricing was very reasonable. We were surprised with the speed at which we received responses and how helpful and supportive the team was. The whole process was extremely daunting at first but the team explained every step in simple terms and checked in on us to offer help when we were stuck. Cannot express how highly we recommend Expat in Croatia, it has been without doubt an absolute pleasure to work with them.
Duane R.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
I needed a consultation in regard to temporary residence and potential citizenship and also how I could get an OIB. Ivona was very helpful explaining the hurdles involved and she was able to procure an OIB for me, an important first step.
Duane R.
United States
Introduced to a Professional
Ivona was very helpful in helping us understand the requirements for temporary residence and eventual citizenship in Croatia. For now, she is getting my OIB which will be of help to use for banking and other services. She’s very professional and I would look forward to working with her in the future.
L & Z J.
Canada
Free Guidance, Introduced to a Professional
EiC (expat in Croatia) were very helpful. My wife and I had tried getting a visa ourselves. That did not work out. Much of the issues were due to Canadian government actions. The Canadian bureaucracy is arguably the worst in the world. We contacted EiC and they gave us great advice, and introduced us to lawyers in Zadar. Things went much smoother, and MUCH less heartburn. The lawyer even guided us through the government health care application (HZZ)
Claudia S.
Mexico
Consulting, Introduced to a Professional
My husband and I have been living in Split for more than a year. Since we’ve got here Sara has been a real mentor to us. I contacted her and she guided us through our Digital Nomad Visa application and introduced us to a lawyer who had the experience we needed for a successful residency application. Now, we needed more guidance to continue our legal stay in beautiful Split, and once again I looked for her advice, not only because she is a caring person but because she really knows “All you need to live and travel like a local in Croatia!” 🙂 She also followed up our legal journey until it was successfully done. I highly recommend Sara’s advice to all of you who are looking for a clear and extended understanding of the legal processes to come and enjoy Croatia. Thank you, Sara.
Julia W.
Australia
Free Guidance, Introduced to a Professional
I was stuck with visa issues for my daughter, i tried to obtain a visa for her for a long 6 months then i found Sara online and reached out! Sara and her team where absolutely amazing and they got me in touch with a great lawyer in Split (Ivan) he fixed everything for me and has been absolutely amazing in helping and sorting out all my issues so quickly. I am so grateful!!
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