Eligibility Quiz
Are you 18 years or older?
Documents Required
All documents issued by foreign authorities must be officially translated into Croatian by a certified court interpreter. Depending on the issuing country, documents may also require an Apostille or full legalization.
Identity and Personal Records
- Application Form: The official Form 1 for adult applicants.
- Biography: A detailed CV written in the Croatian language explaining your family history and your personal connection to the Croatian people.
- Valid Passport: A certified copy of your current foreign passport.
- Birth Certificate: An original or certified copy (international versions are preferred; otherwise, they should generally be no older than six months).
- Criminal Record Check: A background check from your country of citizenship and your country of permanent residence, issued within the last six months.
Evidence of Ethnicity
This is the most critical part of your file. You must gather documents that explicitly state "Croat" or "Croatian" in the nationality/ethnicity field:
- Official Government Records: Old identity cards, military booklets, or work booklets (radna knjižica) that list ethnicity.
- Educational Records: School transcripts, diplomas, or enrollment forms that include an ethnicity marker.
- Religious Certificates: Baptismal certificates from the Catholic Church that specifically note Croatian ethnicity.
- Ancestral Proof: If relying on ancestors, you must provide their birth, marriage, or death certificates, or military records that clearly state their Croatian ethnicity.
- Community Involvement: Certificates of active membership in Croatian cultural societies, clubs, or organizations abroad can serve as supporting evidence.