Eligibility quiz
Do you consider yourself a member of the Croatian people?
Benefits
Benefits for youBenefits for you
Croatian passport
A Croatian passport proves your identity and citizenship and is issued for travel abroad.
If your passport is lost or unavailable abroad, a consulate can issue a temporary document for your return to Croatia, normally for the time needed and no longer than 30 days.
Live in Croatia for life
Croatian citizenship gives you the right to live in Croatia indefinitely, with no waiting period.
You do not need to apply for permanent residence, and moving abroad does not by itself end your citizenship.
Study in Croatia
Croatian citizens can study in Croatia, although course requirements still apply.
Work in Croatia
Croatian citizens can work for an employer or run a business in Croatia without a work permit.
The usual rules for a particular profession still apply.
Get help abroad
Croatian missions and consulates offer passports and other help abroad.
Where Croatia has no accessible representation, you can also seek consular protection from another EU country.
Vote in elections
Croatian citizens can vote from age 18 in parliamentary, presidential, local, regional and European Parliament elections.
Use public healthcare
People with permanent residence and certain workers or residents must have Croatian health insurance.
It covers primary, specialist and hospital care, medicines, sick-pay-related payments and certain travel and accommodation costs.
Citizenship alone does not provide coverage.
How to apply
Applying at a consulateApplying at a consulate
Find your consulate
Find the Croatian embassy or consulate responsible for the place where you live.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Croatian embassy or consulate serves your city for citizenship applications?”
Download the application form
Download the adult citizenship application form and questionnaire from the Ministry of the Interior forms page. You can also get them from your consulate.
Download the formFill in the form
Complete and sign the application and questionnaire, choosing the basis for belonging to the Croatian people. Write your biography and motivation statement, sign the statement that you consider yourself a Croatian citizen, and sign the required consents.
Get help filling inSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I complete the Croatian Ministry of the Interior citizenship application based on belonging to the Croatian people?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for the consulate.
See required documentsArrange your visit
Use the Croatian Consular Portal to select the citizenship service and contact your consulate or book an appointment, as directed by the consulate.
Arrange your visitSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange a Croatian citizenship application appointment through the Croatian Consular Portal?”
Hand in your application
Bring your completed application and documents to the consulate and hand them in person. Pay the consular fee when you submit them, as directed by the consulate.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a Croatian citizenship application and pay the fee at the Croatian consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the consulate to tell you the Ministry of the Interior’s decision. Send any further documents or statements the consulate or ministry asks for.
See how longSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Croatian Ministry of the Interior citizenship application based on belonging to the Croatian people take through a consulate?”
Register your citizenship
After you receive a positive decision, follow the instructions to enter your citizenship in the citizenship register at the registry office.
See registration instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I register Croatian citizenship at a registry office after a Ministry of the Interior citizenship decision?”
Get your citizenship certificate
Obtain your Croatian citizenship certificate, called a domovnica, from the registry office as instructed. You can then use it to apply for a Croatian passport.
Find certificate instructionsSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get a Croatian citizenship certificate, or domovnica, from a registry office after a citizenship decision?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Parents' Croatian declarations *
Provide records showing that your parents declared their nationality as Croatian in official dealings. Ask the office that holds the records for copies.
* Only if you rely on your parents' Croatian affiliation.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationConsiderations
Things to think aboutThings to think about
Registration when living abroad
If you move abroad permanently, you must deregister your Croatian residence and return your Croatian identity card.
For a temporary absence, you must report it instead, renewing the report after five years and then every three years if you remain abroad.
Military service for men
In 2026, Croatian men born in 2008 or earlier who are not yet registered must register for military service, including those abroad, who must contact a Croatian mission or consulate.
Men are called for training in the calendar year they turn 19.
Those with religious or moral objections can do three months of civil service instead.
Citizenship can be lost
Citizenship can end if you apply to give it up, generally if you have another citizenship or a guarantee of one and meet the conditions.
It ends when the release decision is delivered or when you declare that you are giving it up, depending on the procedure.
It can also be taken away in limited cases.
Discuss
Online communitiesOnline communities
Croatian Citizenship questions and answers
English Facebook group for people interested in Croatian citizenship
Join on FacebookCiudadanía Croata en Argentina ��
Spanish Facebook group for people interested in Croatian citizenship
Join on FacebookExpats in Zagreb [Official]
English Facebook group for people living in Croatia interested in Croatian local life
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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