Eligibility quiz
Is at least one of your parents applying to become a Croatian citizen by naturalisation?
Benefits
Benefits for your childBenefits for your child
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
From outside CroatiaFrom outside Croatia
Find your consulate
If your child lives abroad and has no approved temporary or permanent residence in Croatia, find the Croatian embassy or consulate that serves where your child lives.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “Which Croatian embassy or consulate handles Croatian citizenship applications for someone living in your city?”
Download the application form
Download the application for a child to acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalisation.
Download the formFill in the form
As the parent or guardian, fill in and sign the form; the other parent also signs consent unless an exception applies. Your child must also consent and sign if they are 14 or older.
Get help filling itSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I fill in the Croatian citizenship by naturalisation application form for a child?”
Gather your documents
Prepare the required documents for your child’s application at the consulate.
See required documentsArrange your visit
Contact the consulate to arrange an appointment if required and ask how it takes your child’s application.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I arrange an appointment at the Croatian consulate serving your city to apply for citizenship by naturalisation for a child?”
Hand in the application
Bring your child’s completed application and documents to the consulate in person, and complete any additional questionnaire it provides. Pay the consular fee when you submit the application, using the payment method the consulate gives you.
Searches DuckDuckGo for “How do I submit a child’s Croatian citizenship by naturalisation application at the Croatian consulate serving your city?”
Wait for the decision
Wait for the decision on your child’s application and respond if the authorities ask you for more information. Your child becomes a Croatian citizen when a positive decision is delivered, and the registry office then records their citizenship.
See how longSearches DuckDuckGo for “How long does a Croatian citizenship by naturalisation application for a child take through a consulate?”
Once in CroatiaOnce in Croatia
Get the citizenship certificate
After your child is approved, you can obtain their citizenship certificate, called a domovnica, from a registry office in Croatia. You can then use it to show your child’s Croatian citizenship and apply for their Croatian passport.
Find a registry officeSearches DuckDuckGo for “How do I get a Croatian citizenship certificate for my child from a registry office in Croatia?”
Documents needed
Family certificates and recordsFamily certificates and records
Birth certificate
Get an extract of your birth record from the office that registered your birth. Ask for the international-form extract if one is available under an applicable agreement.
Parents' citizenship records
Provide proof of citizenship status for both your parents. For each parent, provide a citizenship certificate or a certified copy of a valid passport or identity card.
Parents' marriage certificate *
Get an extract of your parents' marriage record from the office that registered their marriage. Ask for the international-form extract if one is available under an applicable agreement.
* Only if your parents are married.
May need translationMay need apostille/legalisationParent's death certificate *
Get your parent's death certificate or the decision declaring them dead from the office that issued it. This shows why your other parent can apply without their consent.
* Only if your parent has died or been declared dead and your other parent applies alone.
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
English Facebook group for people interested in Croatian citizenship
Request to joinCroatian Citizenship (unofficial)
English Facebook group for people interested in Croatian citizenship
Request to joinCroatian Citizenship by Descent
English Facebook group for people interested in Croatian citizenship
Join on FacebookConsultation
Talk to a professionalTalk to a professional
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