How to apply for Croatian citizenship based on special interest (including the outline for my personal application): Guide for 2023

PUBLISHED: 30.1.2023.

Croatia has many paths to citizenship. Descent (you have a Croatian ancestor), origin (you were born to a Croatian), marriage (you are married to a Croatian), and naturalization (you’ve lived in Croatia long enough) are the most common paths.

If you have no Croatian heritage and are not married to a Croatian, usually, naturalization is the only option available.

There is one other path that is open to those who make significant contributions to the Republic of Croatia.

The path is regulated by Article 12 of the Law on Croatian Citizenship and is referred to as poseban interes, which means special interest.

When naturalizing, Croatia requires that you give up all other nationalities. Under poseban interes, you can keep your other nationalities – making it an attractive alternative.

This guide to citizenship will be a little different than the others. It will, of course, be structured as a detailed step-by-step guide, for which Expat in Croatia is infamous.

In addition, I will tell you my personal story about applying for citizenship based on Article 12. If you are not familiar, I am Sara Dyson, the founder of Expat in Croatia.

In June 2022, I applied for Croatian citizenship under Article 12 based on my work around Expat in Croatia. I will share my “case” for citizenship, what I included in my application, and the process thus far.

In this post, I cover:

• What the law says about Article 12
• Who is a good (and bad) candidate
• Table of contents for my personal application
• How to apply for citizenship under poseban interes
• How to get help with your Croatian citizenship application

The facts are these…

How to apply for Croatian citizenship based on special interest – poseban interes

What the Croatian law says about Article 12 – poseban interes?

Citizenship is regulated by the Zakon o hrvatskom državljanstvu (Law on Croatian citizenship), which you can see here.

The excerpts from the law on citizenship regarding special interest applications is as follows:

Članak 12 (NN 102/19)

Stranac čije bi primanje u hrvatsko državljanstvo predstavljalo interes za Republiku Hrvatsku, može prirođenjem steći hrvatsko državljanstvo iako ne udovoljava pretpostavkama iz članka 8. stavka 1. točaka 1. -4. ovoga zakona.

Hrvatsko državljanstvo može steći i bračni drug osobe iz stavka 1. ovoga članka koja je stekla hrvatsko državljanstvo, iako ne udovoljava pretpostavkama iz članka 8. stavka 1. točaka 1-4. ovoga zakona, ako godinu dana živi u Republici Hrvatskoj s odobrenim boravkom.

Na zahtjev Ministarstva unutarnjih poslova, nadležno ministarstvo odnosno središnji državni ured daje obrazloženo mišljenje iz kojeg nedvojbeno proizlazi postojanje interesa Republike Hrvatske za primitak u hrvatsko državljanstvo stranca iz stavka 1. ovoga članka.

Which translates to…

Article 12 (NN 102/19)

A foreigner whose admission to Croatian citizenship would be in the interest of the Republic of Croatia may acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalization even though they do not meet the requirements from Article 8, paragraph 1, points 1-4. of this law.

Croatian citizenship can also be acquired by the spouse of a person from paragraph 1 of this article who has acquired Croatian citizenship, even though they do not meet the requirements from article 8, paragraph 1, points 1-4. of this law, if they live in the Republic of Croatia with an approved residence permit for one year.

At the request of the Ministry of the Interior, the competent ministry or the central state office gives a reasoned opinion from which the existence of the Republic of Croatia’s interest in the admission to Croatian citizenship of a foreigner referred to in paragraph 1 of this article is undoubtedly derived.

As you can see, Article 8 is referenced a couple of times. Below are the referenced paragraphs so you can see the full picture. In the name of clarity, you can apply for citizenship under Article 12 even if you do NOT meet the following criteria listed under Article 8.

Članak 8. (NN 102/19)

Prirođenjem može steći hrvatsko državljanstvo stranac koji je podnio zahtjev za primanje u hrvatsko državljanstvo ako udovoljava ovim pretpostavkama:

1. da je navršio 18 godina života;
2. da ima otpust iz stranog državljanstva ili da podnese dokaz da će otpust dobiti ako bude primljen u hrvatsko državljanstvo;
3. da živi u Republici Hrvatskoj s prijavljenim boravkom 8 godina neprekidno do podnošenja zahtjeva i ima odobren status stranca na stalnom boravku;
4. da poznaje hrvatski jezik i latinično pismo, hrvatsku kulturu i društveno uređenje;

Which translates to…

Article 8 (Official Gazette 102/19)

A foreigner who has applied for Croatian citizenship can acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalization if they meet the following conditions:

1. that they have reached the age of 18;
2. that they have a release from foreign citizenship or submit proof that they will receive a release if they are admitted to Croatian citizenship;
3. that they live in the Republic of Croatia with a registered residence for 8 years continuously until the application is submitted and have an approved status of foreigner on permanent residence;
4. they know the Croatian language and Latin script, Croatian culture and social order;

Who is an ideal candidate for Croatian citizenship based on Article 12?

The very first statement from the law says, “A foreigner whose admission to Croatian citizenship would be in the interest of the Republic of Croatia”.

This may seem vague if you think too hard about it, so don’t. To be granted citizenship on this basis, Croatia needs to know it is in their best interest to do so because you provide a substantial benefit to the country.

Being a skilled worker is not a substantial benefit – no matter what the skill is. Employing people is also not enough either. You need to showcase a pattern of tangible contributions to Croatia that goes above and beyond – or show that you WILL provide tangible contributions.

For example, when you play for a national sports team, you must be a Croatian citizen. It is common for Croatia to offer citizenship to non-Croatians so that they can move to Croatia and play football or basketball.

Article 12 is most commonly used for this purpose, but it is not the only purpose.

Table of contents for my personal application for Croatian citizenship

My application was submitted to the Split police station in June 2022 and at the time of publishing, is still in process. Once approved (as it is expected to be), this post will be updated accordingly.

My application was 142 pages long and included:

• My completed application – download a blank copy here
• My CV biography (like a cover letter) – It was 4 pages
• 10 letters of recommendation
  • 4 from lawyers with whom Expat in Croatia collaborates
  • 1 from the lawyer who recommended me for Dobro jutro, Hrvatska, who was also on our Women’s Month panel from 2022
  • 4 from fans of Expat in Croatia
  • 1 from Marija Tkalec, our Content Manager
• 22 client reviews from this page on our web site, translated into Croatian
• 8 articles from this web site, translated into Croatian
  • 8 ways Croatia changed me in 8 years – read here
  • A day of olive picking on island Brač – read here
  • A local’s guide to shopping at the market – read here
  • Available visas and residence permits – read here
  • How to get an OIB identification number – read here
  • The kindness of strangers – read here
  • Which documents you should bring with you to Croatia – read here
  • Why you must have health insurance – read here
• 3 television interviews delivered on a USB drive
  • Dobro jutro, Hrvatska – watch here
  • RTL Danas – watch here
  • Split Tech City – watch here
• 3 Croatian news interviews
  • Dalmacija Danas – read here
  • Slobodna Dalmacija – read here
  • Večernji list – read here
• 2 Croatian news articles
  • Dalmatinski portal – read here
  • Index.hr – read here
• 4 international news articles translated into Croatian
  • CNN Travel – read here
  • EuroNews – read here
  • International Living – read here
  • Independent – read here
• Proof that I was part of the Croatian delegation for the Croatia/Romania Bilateral Conference celebrating 30 years of diplomatic relations in the form of a schedule where I was listed as a speaker – watch this speech here
• Proof that I was the recipient of the 2023 Croatian Women of Influence Award in Entrepreneurship
• Apostilled, officially translated FBI background check from the United States
• Apostilled, officially translated birth certificate from Texas
• Excerpt from the land registry showing that I own my apartment in Split
• Excerpt from the commercial court showing registration and ownership of my company
• Copy of my United States passport
• Copy of my Croatian permanent residence permit
• Power of attorney giving my lawyer privileges to act on my behalf during this procedure

So far in the procedure, I was also asked to make two statements in person at the police, which were also added to my file.

How to apply for Croatian citizenship under Article 12 – poseban interes

The following procedure is very similar to applying for citizenship on any basis. It only has a few differences, which are directly related to the specific basis of Article 12.

[Read: How to apply for Croatian citizenship (hrvatsko državljanstvo)]

#1 Prepare your application

The most important step is putting together your application. For this specific purpose, I see it more as a case file. You are preparing a presentation – putting your best foot forward.

You really want to throw everything you’ve got at this. Include all your accomplishments. Brag, even if it feels unnatural.

Below is a comprehensive list of requirements:

• Completed application form depending on your scenario:
  • Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship by the birth of an adult – download form here
  • Application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship by the birth of an adult and a child/children – download form here
• Your biography with supporting documentation, including the reasons for applying, written in Croatian
• Your birth certificate (original, apostilled, officially translated)
• Background check issued by your country of nationality proving you have not been criminally prosecuted, not older than six months (original, apostilled, officially translated) – view guide here
• Proof of nationality, such as a copy of a passport or domovnica equivalent
• Valid identity document with a visible photo (with a copy apostilled, officially translated)
• Proof that you provide a benefit to the Republic of Croatia if applying based on special interest (what this entails will vary by case)
• Marriage certificate, if applicable (original, apostilled, and officially translated, if foreign)
• Proof of residence
• Excerpt from land registry, if you own a property

Please note that ALL foreign public documents MUST be originals that are apostilled and officially translated into the Croatian language unless other rules are specified by bilateral and multilateral international agreements. Read more about the apostille and full legalization of documents here.

[Read: How to prepare your foreign documents for use in Croatia]

If you’d like help preparing your application to ensure you meet all requirements and have the best chance of acceptance, click here.

#2 Choose your ministry

MUP (Ministry of the Interior) is who processes citizenship applications. When applying based on Article 12, at least one other ministry will be involved as well.

As part of the application, MUP will need to request the opinion of the relevant ministry (or ministries) related to your basis.

[Read: All the Croatian ministries and what they do]

For example, if you are applying because you are going to play football for the national team, then the Ministry of Tourism and Sport must make an opinion on your application. If the national team approached you, then there should be no question that the Ministry of Tourism and Sport will agree that you should obtain nationality.

They form their opinion and then send it to MUP. MUP will then process your application as normal.

For my application, I picked the Ministries of Tourism and Sport as well as Foreign Affairs.

#3 File your application

The application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship based on special interest must be submitted in person at the administrative police station closest to your address of residence.

Your lawyer may accompany you if using one, but you must be there. They cannot file it on your behalf for this basis.

[Read: List of administrative police stations in Croatia]

If the applicant is a disabled person, the claim may be filed by their legal representative or authorized proxy.

The application process for citizenship can take a significant amount of time. Estimate at least one year or more, depending on your situation and advocates.

#4 Make your statements

As part of the process, you’ll need to make several statements with the police – depending on your situation. In my process, I made the 3 statements:

Statement #1 – Surprise visit by MUP officer

A MUP officer came to my apartment without prior notice to ask me some basic questions. They were not informed of my application. The officer was just tasked with asking me some basic questions like:

• How long have I lived in Croatia?
• Do I own my apartment?
• Which religion do I have?
• What do I do for work?
• What are my hobbies?
• Am I married?
• Do I have children?
• Do I speak Croatian?

Statement #2 – Scheduled appointment at MUP

This appointment was with a case worker at the Split police station. For this, I verbally communicated how long I am in Croatia, what I do for a living, on what basis I am applying, why I deserve citizenship, and why I want it.

The caseworker wrote out the statement as I gave it, then printed it and had me sign it. Essentially, I provided a truncated summary of what I included in my CV biography.

Statement #3 – Scheduled appointment at MUP

I met with the same case worker, and she, again, wrote a statement while I was present. For this one, she asked from which ministries I wished for them to request an opinion on my application.

This statement most likely could have been combined with Statement #2, but Split MUP and Zagreb MUP had a difference of opinion on whether I (or MUP) should request this opinion.

It was decided that MUP had to request the opinion, so I was called back in to create a statement to be included in my application. There needed to be a paper trail for that process, which makes sense to me.

#5 Wait patiently

The time needed for MUP to request the opinions, the other ministry (ministries) to prepare their opinions, and then for MUP to do the final processing can vary.

It’s reasonable to follow up 2 months after the opinion request.

#6 You get citizenship! YAY!

Once approved, you will receive a document called Rješenje o primitku u hrvatsko državljanstvo (Decision on the admission to Croatian citizenship). It is the formal decision that you have been approved for Croatian citizenship.

You must pay a fee to get this document. All possible costs for this procedure are available here.

At this stage, you are a Croatian citizen. You are automatically entered into the Register of Citizens at the competent registrar’s office.

#7 Obtain your identity documents

After getting this decision, there are still some additional steps to take to get your identity documents if you so choose.

Domovnica

The document called domovnica proves the new status of a Croatian citizen. It can be acquired at any registrar’s office in Croatia.

[Read: How to get proof of citizenship (domovnica)]

Birth certificate

This is your official birth record. All Croatian citizens have a birth certificate, even if they were not born in Croatia.

To obtain this, you will need to register a legalized, officially translated copy of your foreign birth certificate first.

[Read: How to get a copy of a birth certificate]

Passport

After you have your domovnica or birth certificate, you can apply for a Croatian passport.

[Read: How to apply for a Croatian passport]

Osobna iskaznica

Osobna iskaznica is a Croatian national ID. You can use this ID card to travel within the EU/EEA without your passport. It also gains you access to additional services through the e-Građani system.

[Read: How to apply for a national ID card (osobna iskaznica)]

Then you’re done! Celebrate! Have a party! Dance your heart out! I know I will.

How to get 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 and make recommendations on your case
• Prepare a plan specific to your case to ensure you have the best chance of approval
• Target possible red flags and prepare solutions
• Coordinate with the ministries on your behalf
• Provide guidance on preparing a successful CV biography (and coordinating translation into Croatian)
• 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 we will match you with an expert.

See what our clients have to say about working with us…

Our Reviews

September 18, 2023

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.

September 18, 2023

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.

September 7, 2023

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!

August 29, 2023

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.

August 23, 2023

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.

August 9, 2023

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.

August 8, 2023

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 🙂

August 8, 2023

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!

June 21, 2023

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.

May 9, 2023

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!

May 1, 2023

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.

April 27, 2023

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!

April 17, 2023

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.

March 24, 2023

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.

February 27, 2023

Nicholas P.

Canada

Consulting, Introduced to a Professional

Sara was extremely helpful in answering our questions regarding applying for Croatian Citizenship. It can be a complicated endeavour, but Sara was able to walk us through it and put us in contact with the right people to start the process. Hvala!

December 12, 2022

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.

December 8, 2022

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,

November 21, 2022

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.

November 21, 2022

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.

October 19, 2022

Liz B.

United Kingdom

Consulting, Introduced to a Professional

Initially I followed Expat Croatia for a number of months & found the articles interesting & factual. I then approached Sara & had a Zoom consultation. Sara was efficient, knowledgable & precise. She also followed up a very interesting meeting with an email with further feedback & professional contacts. I was so impressed that I have already recommended you to other family members. Thank you. (I was advised on citizenship, inheritance procedures & having a marriage recognised in Croatia).

View All Reviews

View our other citizenship posts

• 11 things to know before applying for Croatian citizenship
• All about the Croatian citizenship test
• Croatian Central State Office for Croats Abroad
• How children of Croatians can register their citizenship
• How members of the Croatian people can apply for Croatian citizenship (Article 16)
• How to apply for Croatian citizenship based on naturalization if you are an EU/EEA citizen
• How to apply for Croatian citizenship (hrvatsko državljanstvo)
• How to apply for citizenship based on descent
• How to get proof of citizenship (domovnica)
• How to relinquish Croatian nationality