10 things to know before applying for Croatian citizenship: Guide for 2023
UPDATED: 21.2.2023.
Since the Croatian government eliminated the language test as a requirement for those with Croatian lineage, many many many people are applying for Croatian citizenship.
Croatia is becoming a very desirable location for those who want to escape their home country to find a better life where their family came from. Some just want to reconnect with their heritage.
If you are planning to apply for Croatian citizenship based on descent, it is important to understand the process and all potential roadblocks you may encounter before getting started.
Since we vet all of our resources with immigration lawyers within Croatia and because we have helped thousands of people to apply for citizenship, we are well-versed in the possible complications one might encounter during the application process.
Before you get started, check out our list of the essential things you should know before applying for Croatian citizenship.
Jump to the section:
- Where to apply
- Spouse’s application
- Background check
- Names matching
- Where your relative went
- When your relative left
- Current apostille
- Registering citizenship
- Requirements
- Naturalization
- How to get help applying for citizenship
The facts are these…
10 essentials you must know before applying for Croatian citizenship
#1 Where to apply for Croatian citizenship?
If you are not a legal resident of Croatia, then you must apply for citizenship at the closest embassy or consulate to where you live. This rule was implemented on January 1, 2020. A list of all Croatian diplomatic missions and consular offices outside of Croatia is available here.
However, if you are a Croatian parent and wish to register your child for citizenship, you can do that from Croatia in addition to abroad.
[Read: How children of Croatians can register their citizenship]
That being said, there is a residence program specifically for people who wish to come to live in Croatia and apply for nationality based on descent. We have a guide on how the Croatian diaspora and descendants can apply for temporary residence in Croatia. You can view it here.
#2 Your spouse can apply too
The rules on citizenship for spouses of Croatians and spouses of non-Croatians with Croatian heritage are different. We will go over both situations so that the differences are made clear.
When a non-Croatian is married to a Croatian who had always had citizenship, the non-Croatian must live in Croatia with their Croatian spouse to get on the path to citizenship. They must live in Croatia for 4 continuous years and achieve permanent residency before they qualify to apply for citizenship.
[Read: How spouses of Croatian citizens can apply for temporary residence]
When a non-Croatian is married to a Croatian descendant who qualifies for nationality based on Article 11 OR who obtained nationality based on Article 11, then the non-Croatian spouse can apply for citizenship. If the Croatian descendant does not yet have a nationality, the descendant and their spouse may apply at the same time. There are no residency requirements at all for a spouse in this situation.
[Read: How to apply for citizenship based on descent]
Article 11 of the Citizenship Act is the basis for the descendants of Croatian emigrants to apply for citizenship.
This is the relevant clause in the Act:
Stranac koji je u braku s osobom iz stavka 1. ovoga članka može steći hrvatsko državljanstvo iako ne udovoljava pretpostavkama iz članka 8. stavka 1. točaka 2. – 4. ovoga Zakona.
Which translates to:
An alien who is married to a person referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article may acquire Croatian citizenship even though he does not meet the preconditions referred to in Article 8, paragraph 1, items 2-4 of this Act.
#3 What can and cannot be on your background check?
As part of your application, you must provide a legalized and officially translated criminal background check from the national authority in your country of nationality. It cannot be from a state, province, or private institution.
[Read: Background checks and fingerprints for third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA citizens)]
In some countries, misdemeanors will appear on this background check. A misdemeanor is not a barrier to Croatian citizenship. However, you cannot have any felonies on your background check. If you do, your application for citizenship may be denied.
If your country does not differentiate between misdemeanors and felonies and you do have something listed, you’ll need to have a lawyer from your country make a statement that explains that the item on your check is considered a misdemeanor. It will need to be translated into Croatian. Canada is an example of a country like this.
[Read: How to prepare your foreign documents for use in Croatia]
#4 Names need to match
When Croatians emigrated to English-speaking countries like Canada, the United States, South Africa, and Australia, it was common for the governments of those countries to modify their last names. Volić became Volich, for example.
This can create a problem when it comes to making a claim for citizenship. As part of the application, you must provide proof of your connection to your Croatian ancestor. That is usually done through birth records linking you to the relative.
[Read: How to get a copy of a birth certificate]
If your grandfather’s name was Nejašmić on his birth record from Solin but is listed as Nismich on your mother’s birth certificate from Chicago, you may not be allowed to apply for citizenship unless you can prove they are the same person. To get around this, you may need to either fix the records in the foreign country to match the records in Croatia or provide some kind of document from the foreign country explicitly stating the name change.
Sometimes it is not possible to provide this kind of documentation. At a minimum, the name change should be explained in the CV biography that every applicant over 18 years old must write. The consulate (or MUP office in Croatia) will tell you if they see a concern with the name change.
#5 Where did your relative go?
Croatia has specific rules about who can and cannot apply for citizenship, and several of these rules are rooted in patriotism and politics.
If your relative left Croatia for another country within the former Yugoslavia, then the right to citizenship is negated for all of their descendants (by law).
If your relative left Croatia for another country outside of the former Yugoslavia, then the right to citizenship is preserved. However, for some reason, this is not always the case in practice.
The Ministry is giving a hard time to descendants of Croatians who left Croatia for another country within Europe – more specifically, Eastern Europe. Technically, the law is clear on this. Those in this situation should have a right to apply for citizenship.
There is nothing in the law that says the right to citizenship is negated for European descendants of Croatian nationals. Regardless, they are rejecting application requests to some people (or just sitting on them and not issuing a decision at all). When there is no decision, there is nothing to appeal.
If this situation applies to you, it does not mean you should not apply. You still should. If they deny your claim on this basis, raise hell about it! There is no legal basis for them to deny your claim. Until enough people get in the government’s face about this discrimination, it will not be addressed.
“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
#6 When did your relative leave Croatia?
Your claim to citizenship (based on Article 11) can also be affected depending on when your ancestor left Croatia.
If your ancestor left Croatia before October 8, 1991 (the start of the war for independence), then your claim to citizenship is still intact.
If your ancestor left Croatia after October 8, 1991, then all claims to citizenship for their descendants are canceled. In this case, it does not matter where they went, only that they left after this date.
The reason is that if a person left after the start of the war, it implies that they abandoned Croatia.
Please note: From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, it was possible for older children of Croatians to register. This deadline has now passed, so they must now apply for citizenship under Article 11. View guide for Article 11 here.
#7 Your government documents must be legalized
All documents issued by foreign governments (e.g. not Croatia) must be legalized. Legalization is an authentication of a document by the state authority who issued it. Its purpose is to prevent fraud and counterfeit documents.
Many countries are party to the Apostille Convention, which is a standardized version of legalization. If your country is not part of that convention, then your documents need to be fully legalized and officially translated. Canada, for example, is not in the Apostille convention. This means there are two steps for legalization instead of one.
[Read: Apostille versus full legalization of government documents]
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a special certificate (usually with a seal) that a country can provide and attach to documents issued within that country. It serves as an extra level of validation so that the document can be used in foreign countries.
For example, when you are applying for citizenship, you must provide a copy of your birth certificate. If you were not born in Croatia, then it will need to have an apostille or be legalized and officially translated.
When submitting a certain application in Croatia, enclosed apostilled/legalized documents must not be older than 6 months from the date of issue of the document – NOT the date of apostille/legalization.
It should be noted that this requirement is not included in the law. It is merely a discretionary requirement imposed by the government. Always make sure you know what your consulate or embassy is requiring before submitting an application. Just because the DC consulate did this, it does not mean they still are, nor does it mean the other consulates will.
[Read: How to prepare your foreign documents for use in Croatia]
#8 Deadline for citizenship registration has expired
Children of Croatians had an easier and faster option for obtaining citizenship. This process was referred to as “registering” your citizenship, rather than “applying” for it.
From January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2022, there was an option for older children of Croatians to register for Croatian citizenship. However, this deadline has passed.
If you did not register before the deadline, then that just means you must apply based on Article 11 instead of registering. You do not lose your right to apply all together.
More information about the registration of Croatian citizenship is available in this post.
#9 Requirements may vary
As we mentioned earlier in this post, you must apply for Croatian citizenship from your country of residence. If that country is not Croatia, then you will apply at an embassy or consulate.
While an embassy or consulate will take your application, they are not the ones who approve it. The application gets sent back to the Ministry of the Interior in Zagreb for review and processing.
Here is the hitch. Even though all applications are reviewed by the same ministry in Zagreb, different consulates and embassies have may have different requirements for citizenship. They cannot do this to you.
Consulates and embassies are under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Ministry of the Interior. This means they can accept applications, but they are not making the decision.
The requirements from the Ministry of the Interior are the ones to follow.
[Read: How to apply for Croatian citizenship (hrvatsko državljanstvo)]
#10 For those naturalizing, there is a BIG catch
If you are applying for citizenship simply because you have lived in Croatia long enough, then you have the opportunity to naturalize. This caveat does not apply to spouses of Croatians or people with Croatian heritage.
Those in this situation represent a very small sliver of people, including yours truly. Unfortunately, those naturalizing are required to give up their other nationality before they can be granted Croatian citizenship. This group is the only one that Croatia requires to relinquish their other citizenship.
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 (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.
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Seen enough? Click here to get get started with your Croatian citizenship application.
Melita H.
Croatia
Introduced to a Professional
I wish to thank you for law firm in Zadar you provided to us. Lovre provided us with comprehensive knowledge and experience in acquiring of documentation for my husband’s “boraviste”. Thank you and Lovre for support and assistance.
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.
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 !
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.
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.
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!
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.
View our other citizenship posts
- All about the Croatian Citizenship test
- How children of Croatians can register their citizenship
- How EU/EEA citizens can apply for citizenship based on naturalization
- How members of the Croatian people can apply for Croatian citizenship
- How to apply for citizenship based on descent
- How to apply for Croatian citizenship
- How to apply for Croatian citizenship based on special interest
- How to get a copy of a birth certificate
- How to get proof of citizenship (domovnica)
- How to prepare your foreign documents for use in Croatia
- How to register a person in the book of births (Matica rođenih)
- How to relinquish Croatian nationality
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.
