How to Get an OIB – Croatian Identification Number: Guide for 2023
UPDATED: 20.11.2023.
If you are a resident or citizen of Croatia, you will most likely need a personal identification number called OIB. There are many services that are tied to an OIB and you may be asked to show it in different situations.
In this post, we cover:
The facts are these…
How to Get an OIB (Croatian Identification Number)
What is a Croatian OIB?
OIB stands for osobni identifikacijski broj. It is a personal identification number given to residents and citizens in Croatia, similar to a social security number in the United States or an NHS number in the UK. OIB can be assigned to both individuals and companies.
The OIB consists of eleven random numbers that do not correlate to your personal identity for security purposes. Every assigned OIB is unique and unchangeable.
When you get an OIB, you’ll be given a one-page two-part document that can serve as identification in conjunction with a photo ID like your passport until such time that you get a residence permit or Croatian identification card.
[Read: Available visas and residence permits for Croatia]
OIB is necessary for any financial transaction. When registering for state health insurance or opening a bank account, you’ll need your OIB along with your passport for identification.
Do I need a Croatian OIB?
You will need an OIB if you plan to:
- Buy property in Croatia – view a guide here
- Open a bank, phone, or utility account in Croatia – view a guide here
- Sign up for Croatian state health insurance – view a guide here
- Own a business and/or pay taxes in Croatia – view a business guide here
- Register to any official records
- Get an EU/EEA pet passport for your furry creature
It is not necessary to have an OIB to rent a property. If you are without one for any reason when signing a rental contract, your passport number can be used as an identification number instead.
[Read: How to legally rent out accommodation to tourists in Croatia]
Certificate of OIB
After a Tax Administration assigns you an OIB, you can also pick up a certificate called Potvrda o OIB-u. You must pick up this certificate in person at a Tax Administration. A certificate isn’t required in all scenarios and depends on why you need an OIB.
In some scenarios, you only need to provide an OIB number to a specific institution. This is excellent if you are outside Croatia because you won’t have to visit Croatia to pick up the certificate.
However, sometimes you will have to provide a Certificate of OIB. If this is your case, you will have to pick it up at Porezna uprava (Tax Administration).
How to get an OIB in Croatia
Applying for one is easy and can be done as soon as you arrive in Croatia or even before you arrive. There is no need to begin the residency application process first. All you need is your passport and a completed application. Getting OIB is free of charge.
To apply for an OIB identification number, follow the next steps.
#1 Complete the application form
Complete the application form called Application for the determination and assignment of the personal identification number (OIB).
A copy of the application form is available in the following languages:
#2 Enclose an identification document
Make a copy of one of your identification documents to confirm the data in the application form.
Acceptable identification documents include:
- European identity card
- Notarized copy of your passport issued in the country of citizenship
- Osobna iskaznica (for Croatian citizens)
If obtaining OIB for a company, you must enclose a deed of establishment instead of the identification document. This is a decision or registry extract from the competent court, written in Croatian or translated to Croatian by a certified court interpreter.
NOTE: If someone else applies on your behalf, a power of attorney must also be enclosed. It must be written in Croatian or translated to Croatian by a certified court interpreter and notarized.
[Read: How to get something notarized]
#3 Visit the Tax Administration
Online
The application can be submitted via the contact web form Pišite nam.
Here are the steps:
- Go to the web form Pišite name, which is available here
- Open the drop-down menu Odabir teme at the bottom of the page
- Choose the option Zahtjev za određivanjem i dodjeljivanjem OIB-a (Application for the determination and assignment of the Personal Identification Number)
- Open the drop-down menu Odabir podteme
- Choose the option Zahtjev za određivanjem i dodjeljivanjem OIB-a (Application for the determination and assignment of the Personal Identification Number)
- Open the drop-down menu Područni ured
- Choose the location/city of your Tax Administration
- Write a short description of your query in the text box Sadržaj upita (a short explanation that you want to get a Croatian OIB)
- Attach copies, scans, or images of required documents to the section Priložene datoteke
- Insert your contact information into the section Kontakt podaci:
- OIB – leave it empty
- Ime i prezime (name and surname)
- Adresa e-pošte (mail address)
- Telefon (phone number)
- Mark the option *Upoznat sam sa svrhom obrade podataka confirming you accept the terms of personal data protection
- Submit the form by clicking Pošalji
You should get your OIB within 8 days by email. However, you won’t get a Certification of OIB via email. To get it, you must go to the Tax Administration in person.
The Tax Administration will inform you when and where you have to go to pick up your Certification of OIB. To pick up the Certification of OIB, you must bring them the enclosed documents you provided via the web form in person.
In-person
Usually, you can visit any of the Tax Administration tax offices in Croatia. Here is the complete list of tax offices by city, including contact phone numbers and addresses.
Once you submit your application, you can get your OIB number within minutes, depending on how busy the office is when you apply. If you cannot get it immediately, it will be prepared for you to pick up later or mailed to your official registered address.
Keep the document with your number in a safe place. If you ever lose the document, you can apply for a replacement. You’ll likely never need this document again after you get your first residence permit. Your OIB number will be printed on your residence permit and health insurance card.
[Read: Why you must have health insurance]
By email
Foreign citizens who receive Croatian pensions can also send a request for a Croatian OIB to the Tax Administration via email. Send copies, images, or scans of required documents and an application form to oib@porezna-uprava.hr.
The Tax Administration will provide you with your OIB within 8 days. However, if you need a Certification of OIB, you must pick it up in person. They will inform you where and when you have to go. You also need to bring them all the documents that you enclosed in your request.
[Read: How to retire in Croatia]
View other Croatian documentation posts
- All types of available visas for entry into Croatia
- Available visas and residence permits for Croatia
- How to apply for a Croatian passport
- How to apply for a national ID card in 2021
- How to apply for the work permit in Croatia
- How to get a library card in Croatia
- How to get a copy of a Croatian birth certificate
- How to get a seasonal work permit in Croatia
- How to get domovnica – Croatian proof of citizenship
- Residence Permit Process: Getting your national ID card
Sources:
Porezna uprava
Dokumentacija potrebna za određivanje i dodjeljivanje OIBa
New procedure for submitting the Application by Porezna uprava
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.
