What Documents Do I Need for Croatian Citizenship?

LIST OF DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO APPLY FOR DUAL CITIZENSHIP WITH CROATIA

There are four ways to apply for Croatian citizenship, and with each way has its own set of document requirements.

What documents do you need to apply for Croatian citizenship?

We gathered the information below to help clarify what documents are needed to apply for Croatian dual citizenship. If you unsure of what documents will be needed for your Croatian citizenship case, free call our office for a free consultation.

Documents Needed for Croatian Citizenship at a Glance

Path to Croatian Citizenship	Required Documents
1. Citizenship by Descent (Ancestors)	● Completed Application Form (Obrazac 1, 2, or 3) ● Resume/CV including reasons for applying ● Your Birth Certificate ● Birth Certificates of Croatian Ancestor(s) ● Documents Proving Direct Lineage (e.g., parents', grandparents' birth certificates) ● Notarized Proof of Identity (passport, ID card) ● Proof of Ancestor's Croatian Citizenship (e.g., domovnica, old passport) ● Certificate Confirming Absence of Any Criminal Record ● Proof of Ancestor's Emigration (e.g., ship manifest, immigration records)
2. Citizenship by Birth in Croatia	● Completed Application Form ● Resume/CV including reasons for applying ● Your Birth Certificate (showing birth in Croatia) ● Notarized Proof of Identity ● Certificate Confirming Absence of Any Criminal Record ● Evidence of Residence in Croatia
3. Citizenship by Marriage or Civil Partnership with a Croatian Citizen	● Completed Application Form ● Resume/CV including reasons for applying ● Your Birth Certificate ● Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate (registered in Croatia) ● Proof of Spouse's Croatian Citizenship (e.g., domovnica, passport) ● Notarized Proof of Identity ● Certificate Confirming Absence of Any Criminal Record
4. Citizenship by Emigration	● Completed Application Form ● Resume/CV including reasons for applying ● Your Birth Certificate ● Notarized Proof of Identity ● Certificate Confirming Absence of Any Criminal Record ● Evidence of Previous Croatian Citizenship or Residence ● Proof of Emigration (e.g., documents showing permanent move abroad)
5. Citizenship on Grounds of Residence in Croatia	● Completed Application Form ● Resume/CV including reasons for applying ● Your Birth Certificate ● Notarized Proof of Identity ● Certificate Confirming Absence of Any Criminal Record ● Evidence of Legal Residence in Croatia (temporary or permanent residence permit) ● Proof of Knowledge of the Croatian Language and Culture (e.g., language test certificate)
6. Citizenship on Grounds of the Republic of Croatia’s Interest	● Completed Application Form ● Resume/CV including reasons for applying ● Your Birth Certificate ● Notarized Proof of Identity ● Certificate Confirming Absence of Any Criminal Record ● Documentation Supporting Croatia's Interest in granting you citizenship (e.g., letters of recommendation, evidence of contributions to Croatia)
7. Citizenship by Affiliation with the Croatian Nation	● Completed Application Form ● Resume/CV including reasons for applying ● Your Birth Certificate ● Notarized Proof of Identity ● Certificate Confirming Absence of Any Criminal Record ● Written Statement of Affiliation with the Croatian Nation ● Evidence of Active Participation in Croatian Cultural, Scientific, or Sports Activities ● Proof of Croatian Ancestry or Heritage
8. Citizenship by Reacquisition of Croatian Citizenship	● Completed Application Form ● Resume/CV including reasons for applying ● Your Birth Certificate ● Notarized Proof of Identity ● Certificate Confirming Absence of Any Criminal Record ● Evidence of Previous Croatian Citizenship (e.g., old domovnica, passport) ● Evidence of Renunciation of Previous Citizenship (if applicable)
9. Underage Children (Various Grounds)	● Completed Application Form ● Child's Birth Certificate ● Proof of Child's Citizenship Status (if any) ● Notarized Proof of Child's Identity (if available) ● Written Consent from the Other Parent (unless exceptions apply) ● Evidence of Parents' Citizenship Status ● Child's Statement Agreeing to the Application (if the child is 14 or older)

Understanding the Pathways to Croatian Citizenship

The 4 paths how to get Croatian citizenship to citizenship will give you a good sense of what you’ll need documentation for in your application. The paths available to you include:

By Descent (Ancestors): If you have Croatian ancestors in a straight line—parents, grandparents, great-grandparents—you may qualify.
By Marriage: If you marry a Croatian citizen, there is an easy enough path to citizenship for yourself.
By Emigration: For those who previously emigrated from Croatia, there is a way to return and regain citizenship.
By Naturalization: After residing in Croatia for 8 years, you become eligible for Croatian citizenship.

The Documents Required for Croatian Dual Citizenship

There are many ways to qualify for Croatian dual citizenship. Each has unique needs, but there are some documents needed for Croatian citizenship that stay the same no matter what path you take.

1. Citizenship Application Form

Obrazac 1: For adults applying individually.
Obrazac 2: For adults applying with children.
Obrazac 3: For children under 18 applying independently.

These forms can be downloaded from the Croatian Ministry of the Interior’s website or obtained at local police departments and Croatian consulates.

2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) with Motivation Letter

Beyond the usual details of a CV for citizenship—focused more on your citizenship history and connection to Croatia rather than typical CV bullet points—you’re expected to articulate your reasons for seeking Croatian citizenship.

This is your chance to describe what draws you to Croatia. It will be a little different for everybody, but there are some major themes that unite large swathes of those looking for citizenship here. They are often familial ties, cultural appreciation, or a search for new opportunities.

3. Proof of Identity and Citizenship

Provide certified copies of documents that establish your identity and current citizenship status:

Valid Passport: A clear, certified copy showing your personal details and photograph.
National Identity Card: If applicable, a certified copy with a visible photograph.
Citizenship Certificate: An official document confirming your current citizenship.

4. Birth Certificate

An original extract from the registry of births, issued in line with international agreements, is a must. This document confirms your identity and forms the foundation of your application.

5. Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate (If Applicable)

If you’re married or in a civil partnership, include a recent extract from the registry of marriages or civil partnerships (issued within the last six months). For those applying based on marriage to a Croatian citizen, it’s crucial that your marriage is registered in Croatia.

6. Certificate of No Criminal Record

A key component of your application is demonstrating good character. You’ll need to obtain a certificate confirming the absence of any criminal record from the authorities in your country of citizenship and residence. Remember, this document must:

Be an original or a duly certified copy.
Include a Croatian translation by an official translator.
Be issued within the last six months.

7. Proof of Residence (If Applicable)

For many pathways, evidence of your residence status is required:

Temporary or Permanent Residence Permit: If you’re applying from within Croatia.
Proof of Address Abroad: If applying from outside Croatia, such as utility bills or a driver’s license.

8. Photograph

Some application processes may require recent passport-sized photographs adhering to Croatian standards.

Specific Documents Based on the Pathway

Citizenship by Descent

If you’re applying through Croatian citizenship by descent, additional documents are necessary to establish your lineage:

Birth Certificates of Ancestors
Marriage Certificates of Ancestors
Proof of Emigration

Citizenship by Marriage or Civil Partnership

Spouses or civil partners of Croatian citizens must provide:

Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate
Proof of Spouse’s Croatian Citizenship
Evidence of Shared Life (proof that you really share a life together, like joint bank accounts or shared residency)

Citizenship by Naturalization

For those seeking citizenship through naturalization:

Proof of Continuous Residence
Evidence of Integration (participation in local groups, churches, civic life, etc.)
Employment Records

Citizenship by Affiliation with the Croatian Nation

Applicants must demonstrate a genuine connection to Croatian culture:

Affiliation Statement:
Cultural Participation Evidence
Language Proficiency Certification

Citizenship by Reacquisition

Former Croatian citizens need to provide:

Previous Croatian Citizenship Proof: Old passports, identity cards, or citizenship certificates.
Reason for Loss of Citizenship: Documents explaining how and why citizenship was renounced or lost.
Current Citizenship Status: Evidence of current nationality.

Embracing Your Croatian Heritage

The above document list should give you a good idea of what is required to submit with your application.

If you find that you have missing or lost documents, don’t worry. CDC works with clients who face this challenge and there is often a solution. Either a series of documents is needed to make up for the gap or official documentation can be replaced. In some cases, deep-dive research in the right places can turn up what you need.

Looking for help with your documentation? Feel free to reach out for a free consultation with one of our experts in the documents needed for Croatian citizenship.

This page was last updated by Marco Permunian