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Who Is Eligible for Croatian Citizenship?

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  1. Children Born Abroad:
    If at least one parent is a Croatian citizen at the time of their birth, children born outside Croatia are eligible for citizenship.

  2. Croatian Emigrants and Their Descendants:
    Individuals who emigrated from present-day Croatia before October 8, 1991, along with their spouses and descendants, may apply for Croatian citizenship. Underage children can be included in their parents’ applications.    ​

 

Important Update:
Applicants are no longer required to pass a Croatian language proficiency test.

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​List of documents

- Birth Certificate with parental information with apostille ​

- If married, a certified copy of marriage certificate with apostille (church documents not accepted) 

- Bio/Resume and Personal Statement of Motivation 

- Application

- Criminal Record Check not older than 6 months 

- Valid Passport from the country you are living in

- All documents to be translated to Croatian by a Certified Translator

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If the applicant holds multiple citizenships, criminal record checks must be submitted for each country of citizenship.

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​ If the applicant is a grandchild or more distantly related, they must prove their direct lineage to the emigrant. This typically requires documentation such as the applicant’s birth certificate with parental information and their parent’s birth certificate with parental information to establish the connection.

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For children under 18 years of age,  birth certificate with parental information with apostille and valid passport is required.

 

If the application is submitted by one parent only the other parent must co-sign the application in person at the Consulate providing a valid passport as proof of their consent. In case only one parent has custody of the child or one parent is deceased proof thereof with apostille must be submitted.​​​​

Citizenship Through Marriage

Although every case is unique, the general rule for applying for Croatian citizenship through marriage applies only to individuals with no direct lineage to Croatia. For example, if someone has at least one parent born in Croatia but is married to a Croatian citizen, they must apply for citizenship based on their own lineage, not through marriage.

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Applying for Croatian Citizenship If Born Outside Croatia, Such as Bosnia and Herzegovina

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If you were born outside the borders of modern-day Croatia—such as in Bosnia and Herzegovina—it is still possible to apply for Croatian citizenship. Eligibility applies if at least one parent was born outside Croatia, identifies as Croatian by nationality, and emigrated before October 8, 1991.

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While the process is more complex, the good news is that it can be done. You will need original documents from Bosnia and Herzegovina, such as your ancestor's Rodni List (birth certificate) and Domovnica (citizenship).

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Additional Requirements

Beyond the standard list of documents, you must also demonstrate your connection to Croatian culture and ethnicity. This can include participation in:

  • Croatian folklore groups

  • Croatian schools (transcripts are accepted)

  • Croatian sports teams

  • Croatian cultural clubs

  • Membership in a Croatian church​

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To fulfill these requirements, you’ll need:

  1. A presentation including photos showcasing your involvement in Croatian activities.

  2. Official letters from organizations you participate in, provided on their official letterhead.

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