How to Get Croatian Citizenship
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    How to Get Croatian Citizenship

    Immigration Expert
    Mar 27, 202524 min read

    Atomic Answer: Danish citizenship can be acquired through 'naturalization' after living in Denmark for a continuous period of 9 years (shorter for refugees or those married to Danes), passing a language test, and a citizenship citizenship test.

    How to Get Croatian Citizenship

    In order to apply for Croatian citizenship, conditions such as origin, being born in Croatia, naturalization, or international agreements must be met and the conditions specified for each method must be met.

    Applications for obtaining Croatian citizenship based on origin and birth in Croatia are made to the Zagreb City Hall, which is the competent state administration office.

    For the application for Croatian citizenship by telegram, the police station, Croatian diplomatic missions abroad or authorized institutions such as consulates should be applied to. Physically disabled people can submit the request through their legal representatives or lawyers. The procedure for obtaining Croatian citizenship by telegram and international agreements is carried out by the Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the decision-making authority is the Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

    What are the Croatian Citizenship Requirements?

    The requirements for becoming a citizen of Croatia are listed below.

    • Be over 18 years old
    • To provide evidence of release from foreign citizenship or release if granted Croatian citizenship.
    • Have resided in Croatia continuously for 8 years and have permanent residence status in Croatia
    • Passing the Croatian language and culture test for people under 60 years old
    • To respect the legal order and traditions in Croatia and not to pose a threat to the order of the Croatian people.

    How to Obtain Croatian Citizenship?

    The ways in which Croatian citizenship can be obtained are listed below.

    • Citizenship by birth
    • Citizenship based on descent
    • Citizenship based on Telsik
    • Citizenship based on marriage to a Croatian citizen
    • Citizenship based on special interest in Croatia
    • Citizenship based on a member of a Croatian family
    • Citizenship through adoption
    • Citizenship based on international agreements
    • Citizenship with refugee status

    How to Get Croatian Citizenship Through Marriage?

    In order to apply for Croatian citizenship on the grounds of marriage, it is necessary to meet certain conditions determined by the MUP (Ministry of Internal Affairs of Croatia).

    The conditions for applying for Croatian citizenship through marriage are listed below.

    • It is necessary to be over 18 years of age and not to have lost the ability to work physically or mentally.
    • If you are a partner of a Croatian citizen, you must have a permanent residence permit and have lived in Croatia for eight years without interruption as of the date of application for citizenship, and if you are married to a Croatian citizen, you must have a permanent residence permit and have lived in Croatia for five years without interruption.
    • If you are married to a Croatian citizen, you must have knowledge of the Croatian language, Latin alphabet, Croatian culture and society. According to Croatian law, the authority to ask about the Croatian language, Latin alphabet and Croatian culture belongs to the officials conducting the interview and is not done if deemed necessary.

    What are the requirements for applying for Croatian citizenship through adoption?

    To apply for Croatian citizenship through adoption, it is necessary to meet certain conditions set by the MUP (Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs).

    • The child applying for Croatian citizenship on the grounds of adoption must be under 18 years of age.
    • At least one of the parents of the child applying for Croatian citizenship on the grounds of adoption must be a Croatian citizen.
    • When applying for Croatian citizenship on the grounds of adoption, people who were born abroad and adopted by two Croatian parents can become Croatian citizens.

    How to Get Croatian Citizenship by Investment?

    To obtain Croatian citizenship through investment, you can establish a business in Croatia, invest in an existing business or purchase real estate.

    In order to apply for Croatian citizenship by investment, an investment of 100,000 Euros is required and the investor must reside in Croatia continuously for 8 years.

    How to Get Croatian Citizenship as a Refugee?

    The steps to take to obtain Croatian citizenship as a refugee are listed below.

    • You must be over 18 years old.
    • If the person has revoked the citizenship of another country or is accepted to Croatian citizenship, proof of revocation must be presented.
    • It is necessary to have registered permanent residence in the territory of the Republic of Croatia for 8 continuous years.
    • Knowledge of the Croatian language, Latin alphabet, Croatian culture and society is required.
    • It is necessary to respect the legal order of the Republic of Croatia, pay all taxes due to public institutions and meet other financial obligations.

    When applying for asylum in Croatia during the refugee period, an application can be made to the Croatian police at the border.

    How to Get Croatian Citizenship for Children?

    According to Croatian law, a child is any person under the age of 18.

    The necessary items for obtaining Croatian citizenship for children are listed below.

    • Children born abroad can become Croatian citizens if at least one of their parents was a Croatian citizen at the time of their birth and the child is registered with the embassy, ​​consulate or Matični ured before the child turns 21.
    • Persons over 21 years of age born abroad can become Croatian citizens if at least one of their parents was a Croatian citizen at the time of their birth and they register the person with an embassy, ​​consulate or Matični ured by 1 November 2023.
    • Children born abroad after 18 October 1991 and born to a Croatian parent are eligible to become Croatian citizens.
    • Children born in Croatia without knowing their parents or residing in Croatia can become Croatian citizens before they reach the age of 14 if their true origin cannot be determined.
    • Children whose both parents are Croatian citizens become Croatian citizens at the time of birth, regardless of whether they are born in Croatia or abroad.
    • Children with at least one Croatian parent can become Croatian citizens if they apply before they turn 18.

    What are the Exceptions to Obtaining Croatian Citizenship?

    Exceptions to obtaining Croatian citizenship are listed below.

    • Croatian citizenship can be acquired exceptionally if it is subject to an international agreement made by the Croatian Government.
    • Croatian citizenship can be obtained exceptionally in cases where the Republic of Croatia benefits in the fields of art, science and sports.

    What are the Required Documents for Croatian Citizenship Application?

    The documents required for Croatian citizenship application are listed below.

    • Biography explaining family history and other relevant circumstances of the application, regardless of the legal basis of the application
    • Naturalization certificate, certified copy of passport or personal ID as proof of current citizenship
    • Birth certificate with stamp of attestation and translation into Croatian
    • A marriage certificate with a seal of approval or a sworn translation
    • A criminal record check no older than 6 months issued by the relevant authority of the country of citizenship
    • A certified copy of a valid photo ID
    • If the application is made for a child under the age of 18, proof of the child's current citizenship, a certificate of authenticity and a birth certificate translated into Croatian, written consent of the parents, and written consent of the child if the child is over the age of 14.

    Where to Apply for Croatian Citizenship?

    The documents and application documents prepared for applying for Croatian citizenship are submitted personally to the police administration or police station. Exceptionally, disabled persons can apply through a legal representative or authorized person.

    If the applicant for Croatian citizenship does not have a permanent or temporary residence permit, the application is made at the Croatian Consulate.

    How to Track Croatian Citizenship Application?

    Applications for Croatian citizenship can be followed up by calling 00385-01/ 3788 589 on weekdays from 10:00 to 12:00.

    How Long Does It Take to Get Citizenship in Croatia?

    The citizenship application process in Croatia varies depending on the person's marital status and the country in which they are applying.

    It takes at least two years for people who are not married to a Croatian citizen or are not applying from Europe to obtain citizenship from Croatia.

    What to Do If Croatian Citizenship Application is Rejected?

    If your application for Croatian citizenship is rejected, the decision cannot be appealed. The Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs is the sole authority for Croatian citizenship matters.

    If your Croatian citizenship application is rejected, the application fee is not refundable.

    How much is the application fee for Croatian citizenship?

    The application fee for Croatian citizenship is 1578 Kuna for adults and 88 Kuna for children. When applying for Croatian citizenship within Croatia, an administrative fee of 20 Kuna is required, and 1,050.00 Kuna is required to receive a Rjersenje in case of citizenship acceptance.

    Is Dual Citizenship Allowed in Croatia?

    Yes, dual citizenship is possible in Croatia.

    What are the advantages of obtaining Croatian citizenship?

    The advantages of obtaining Croatian citizenship are listed below.

    • Croatia is a member state of the European Union.
    • Croatian citizens can visit European Union countries, Australia, Japan and Canada without a visa.
    • Croatia has a world-developed education system.
    • Croatia's healthcare services are well developed.

    How Long is Compulsory Military Service in Croatia?

    There is no compulsory military service in Croatia.

    In Which Countries Is a Croatian Driving License Valid?

    The countries where the Croatian driving license is valid are listed below.

    • United States of America
    • Canada
    • Japan
    • Australia
    • Argentina

    How Long Does It Take to Get a Croatian Passport?

    It takes an average of 30 days to obtain a Croatian passport. Those with urgent work can obtain a passport from an administrative police station in Zagreb within 2-3 days if they apply quickly.

    Which Countries Can I Visit Visa-Free with a Croatian Passport?

    The countries that can be visited without a visa with a Croatian passport are listed below.

    • Canada
    • United Kingdom
    • Peru
    • Argentina
    • Bahamas
    • El Salvador
    • Japan
    • Kenya
    • Malaysia
    • Morocco
    • Uruguay
    • Austria
    • Belgium
    • Czech Republic
    • Denmark
    • Estonia
    • Finland
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Hungary
    • Iceland
    • Italy
    • Lithuanian
    • Holland
    • Norway
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Slovakia
    • Slovenia
    • Spain
    • Swedish
    • Switzerland
    • Brazil
    • Chile
    • Costa Rica
    • Serbia
    • Paraguay

    What are the Croatian Citizenship Consulting Firms?

    Vizem.net is the only agency in Türkiye that can handle the entire application process from start to finish under one roof for people who want to go abroad for purposes such as education, investment, immigration and birth.

    Vizem.net has provided consultancy to more than 50,000 customers for 24 years in visa procedures, overseas investment, overseas education, immigration, and overseas birth processes with its 10 representatives in 5 countries.


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