How to Get an OIB Croatian Identification Number: Guide for 2023

UPDATED: 21.06.2023.

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 your OIB in different situations.

In this post, we cover:

• What is an OIB
• Who must have an OIB
• How to get an OIB in Croatia

The facts are these…

How to Get an OIB Croatian Identification Number

What is an 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 identification card.

OIB is necessary for any kind of 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 an OIB?

You will need an OIB if:

• You plan to buy property in Croatia [Read: 8 things to know about buying Croatian property]
• You plan to open a bank, phone, or utility account in Croatia [Read: Do I need to open a bank account?]
• You plan to sign up for Croatian state health insurance [Read: How to sign up for state health insurance in Croatia]
• You plan to own a business and/or pay taxes in Croatia
• You plan to register to any official records
• You need to get an EU 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: Your rights as a renter in Croatia]

Certificate of OIB

After a Tax Administration assigns you an OIB, you can also pick up a Certificate of OIB (Potvrda o OIB-u). You must pick up this certificate in person at a Tax Administration. However, a certificate isn’t required in all scenarios. It depends on the reason why you need an OIB.

In some scenarios, you will only need to provide an OIB number to a certain institution. This is excellent if you are outside of Croatia because you won’t have to visit Croatia to pick the certificate.

However, sometimes you will have to provide a Certificate of OIB. If this is your case, will have to pick it up at Croatian 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. No need to begin the residency application process first [Read: Available visas and residence permits for Croatia]. All you need is your passport and a completed application. There is no fee or cost for the application.

To apply for an OIB identification number, you’ll need to follow these steps:

#1 Complete the application form

First, 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 Croatian – Download it here
• In English – Download it here
• In German – Download it here

#2 Enclose an identification document

Make a copy of one of your identification documents to confirm the data stated 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 need to 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 submits the application 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 Deliver the application to Tax administration

Online

The application can be submitted via the contact web form Pišite nam​.

Here are the steps:

1. Go to the web form Pišite nam which is available here.
2. Open the drop-down menu Odabir teme at the bottom of the page.
3. Choose the option Zahtjev za određivanjem i dodjeljivanjem OIB-a (Application for the determination and assignment of the Personal Identification Number).
4. Open the drop-down menu Odabir podteme.
5. Choose the option Zahtjev za određivanjem i dodjeljivanjem OIB-a (Application for the determination and assignment of the Personal Identification Number).
6. Open the drop-down menu Područni ured.
7. Choose the location/city of your Tax administration.
8. Write a short description of your query in the text box Sadržaj upita (a short explanation that you want to get a Croatian OIB).
9. Attach copies, scans, or images of required documents to the section Priložene datoteke.
10. Insert your contact information into the section Kontakt podaci:
    • OIB – Leave this section empty.
    • Ime i prezime (name and surname)
    • Adresa e-pošte (mail address)
    • Telefon (phone number)
11. Mark the option *Upoznat sam sa svrhom obrade podataka that confirms that you accept all the terms of personal data protection.
12. Submit the form by clicking the blue button Pošalji.

You should get your OIB within 8 days by email. However, you won’t get a Certification of OIB via email. To get a Certification of OIB, 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 will have to bring them the enclosed documents you provided via the web form in person.

In person

Usually, you can visit any of the Tax administration (Porezna Uprava) 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 are not able to get it immediately, it will be prepared for you to pick it up at a later date 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. Most likely, you’ll never need this document again after you get your first residence permit. Your OIB number will be printed on your residence permit and your 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.

View other personal documentation posts

• How to apply for a Croatian passport
• How to apply for a national ID card in 2021
• How to get a library card in Croatia
• How to get the COVID-19 passport (EU digital certificate)
• 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