APPLYING FOR CROATIAN CITIZENSHIP
In order to apply for the Croatian citizenship, you will need the Application Form 1 (Obrazac 1) for adults or Application Form 2 (Obrazac 2) if minor children are covered by your application. Both forms are available on this website under the heading ¨Forms¨.
The following supporting documents need to accompany your application:
- Biography. Irrespective of the legal basis of your application, all adult applicants have to explain their attitude towards the legal order and the traditions of the Republic of Croatia. The category of applicants considered emigrants ("iseljenici"), as well as thier descendants up to the third degree, and their spouses, need to describe the circumstances under which their Croatian ancestors had left Croatia and submit adequate proof of their statements. This category of applicants would also need to demonstrate their knowledge of the Croatian language and the latin script, of the Croatian culture and social order. Both the applicants in the category of "emigrants" and those who base their application on their Croatian ethnicity ("pripadnik hrvatskog naroda") need to describe the ways in which they have been promoting Croatian interests abroad, including through participating in Croatian associations and clubs, supported by adequate proof.
- Proof of current citizenship (passport).
- Birth certificate.
- Marriage certificate (if applicable), not older than 6 months.
- Certified copy of the travel or other document that the applicant or his/her ancestors had at the time of their emigrating from the Republic of Croatia (only those applicants in the "emigrant" category, their descendants up to third degree and their spouses).
- Applicants under the "emigrant" category have to enclose documents which demonstrate that they have been declaring themselves as Croatian in public life, such as certified copy of work, military or school records (radna knjižica, vojna knjižica, svjedodžba, indeks), birth or marriage certificate etc, in which the ethnicity had been stated. Those who base their application on the fact that they are of the Croatian ethnicity (pripadnik hrvatskog naroda), can demonstrate this fact by submitting proof of their involvement in the protection and promotion of the Croatian interests and their active involvement in the Croatian cultural, scientific or sports associations abroad. If the application is based on the Croatian ethnicity of the applicants' parents, it is necessary to submit documents demonstrated that the parents have been declaring themselves as Croatians.
- Criminal records check not older than 6 months, issued by the relevant authority of the country of citizenship and/or country of permanent residence.
- Special powers of attorney where the application is submitted by proxy.
Please note that all documents have to be presented as originals, issued in the period less than 6 months prior to submitting the application. Original documents which have to be sighted by the Diplomatic mission will be returned to the applicant after certified photocopies are made ($14, 00 per document consular fee will be charged). All documents issued in English needs to be translated into Croatian by a certified translator. All US issued documents, such as birth, marriage certificate and criminal record check have to undergo the authentication procedure with seal Apostille.
The Ordinance on the Verification of knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script, Croatian culture, and Political System in the procedures for acquiring Croatian citizenship on the basis of Article 11 of the Law on Croatian Citizenship on November 3, 2012 entered into force. Competent Embassy/Consulate General will conduct testing of the applicant for Croatian citizenship pursuant to the Ordinance. It is considered that the applicant has demonstrated knowledge, if correctly answered at least ten of the fifteen questions on the questionnaire. The Ordinance, with all the questions can be found at the following link:
http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2012_10_118_2563.html
This consular service comprises a consular fee of 269,00 USD. For documents that need to be certified by the Embassy, consular fee is 14,00 USD per document. Please note that payment is only possible by personal check or money order.
If you would like to know more details about which requirements have to meet to obtain Croatian citizenship, please visit the web site of the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Croatia on the following link:
http://www.mup.hr/main.aspx?id=39
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