The Republic of Croatia, with its vivid culture, natural beauty, and perfect climate, has many possibilities to be visited and lived in by non-residents with tourist visas and residence permits. The possibilities you have are different, and they depend on your situation, nationality, background, and the reason you want to visit.
Foreign nationals who do not have Croatian citizenship have the right to apply to get Croatian citizenship and become Croatian citizens based on naturalisation. Provided they meet the set conditions as enshrined in the Croatian Citizenship law.
Croatian citizenship can be obtained employing naturalisation by the following legal grounds:
- Based on the residence in Croatia.
- Based on Croatian birth origins.
- On a marriage or civil partnership basis with a Croatian citizen.
- On the pretext of emigration.
- Based on the Croatian citizenship reacquisition.
Underage children can naturalise to be Croatian citizens in the following circumstances:
- When both parents are naturalised citizens.
- In case just one of the parents obtains citizenship as a result of naturalisation, but the child lives in Croatia and has been given permanent residence.
- If one of the parents gains citizenship under Article 11(1) or Article 16 of the Croatian Citizenship Act, through naturalisation.
The submission of the application to acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalisation shall be in person at a local police department or police station on the basis of the temporary or permanent residence granted. An extraordinary case, when the application could be filed by the legal representative or an assigned person, corresponds to disabled persons. In case the applicant was not provided with a temporary or permanent residence in the Republic of Croatia, the application for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship by naturalisation will be submitted to a competent diplomatic mission. Or the consulate of the Republic of Croatia abroad.
Application for acquiring Croatian citizenship by naturalization of an adult person
Request for Croatian citizenship (naturalised acquisition of Croatian citizenship) by an adult and a child or/a child/children.
In addition to the application form, the following supporting documents will be attached:
- Curriculum vitae and letter of motivation to obtain Croatian citizenship.
- A certified copy of an acceptable identity document ( passport, identification document of foreign nationals) which contains a clear photograph.
- Proof of the status of citizenship (certificate of citizenship, certified copy of a valid passport or identity card).
- Copy of the registry of births made on a standard form under the international agreements and conventions.
- Copy of the registry of marriages granted not more than 6 months previously (in married persons).
In case of the application based on marriage to a Croatian citizen, the marriage will be recorded in the Registry of Marriages in the Republic of Croatia.
Submission of applications in the Republic of Croatia, the administrative fee will be paid after the decision on acquiring Croatian citizenship or the decision on rejection of the application
Applying to foreign countries attracts a consular fee and is to be paid at the time the application is filed.
In case of submission of the application to include also underage children, the supporting documents will comprise a valid document certifying the identity of the child (in the possession of the child). The extract of the registry of births, evidence on the citizenship status of the child. And a written statement of the second parent that he/she consents to the acquisition of Croatian citizenship by an underage child through naturalisation. (The Act provides the cases when the application may be filed only by one parent.) An extract of the registry of births is not necessary in cases in which the birth of the child is registered in the registry of births in the Republic of Croatia.
Other reasons for Croatian citizenship acquisition will entail other supporting documents.
A written request through post or e-mail can be used by the applicant to find out about the status of the application he or she has submitted.
Proficiency in the Croatian language and culture
The individuals who will file applications to acquire Croatian citizenship based on the fact of residence in Croatia, except those who reach the age of 60. Will be required to prove their knowledge of the Croatian language and the Latin alphabet, Croatian culture and the Croatian social structure.
Understanding of Croatian culture and Croatian social structure shall be proved by a questionnaire answering questions on the understanding of Croatian culture. And the Croatian social structure, which would be done by the applicant without consultation with the police officer.
Once Croatian citizenship is obtained and registered in the Registry of Citizens of the Republic of Croatia, the certificate of nationality can be obtained at any registry office in the Republic of Croatia. The Ministry of the Interior of Croatia provides the procedure for obtaining Croatian citizenship on different grounds, including the details of the supporting documents to be used on its site
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