Author
Requirements for the acquisition and termination of Croatian citizenship are regulated by the Law on Croatian Citizenship.[1]
An application for Croatian citizenship on grounds of naturalisation should be submitted at the competent police administration or police station, where the place of temporary or permanent residence is located. Persons with a disability can submit the application via their legal representative or an authorised proxy. An application can also be submitted at diplomatic missions or consular offices of the Republic of Croatia abroad.[2]
A foreign citizen who submits an application for Croatian citizenship shall acquire it by naturalisation if they:[3]
- Have reached the age of eighteen years;
- Have had their foreign citizenship revoked or they submit proof that they will get a revocation if admitted to Croatian citizenship;[4]
- Before submitting the application, they have lived at registered places of residence for a period of eight years constantly on the territory of the Republic of Croatia and has been granted a permanent residence permit;
- Are proficient in the Croatian language and Latin script and is familiar with the Croatian culture and social system;
- Respect the legal order of the Republic of Croatia, has covered all due taxes and other financial obligations towards public bodies and there are no security related restrictions to accessing Croatian citizenship.
According to the LITP, if refugees or beneficiaries under subsidiary protection are not able for objective reasons to obtain official documents from their country of origin necessary to acquire Croatian citizenship, official documents of the Republic of Croatia shall be taken into account in the procedure to acquire Croatian citizenship, along with other documents they possess, on the basis of which it may be assessed whether they meet the conditions for the acquisition of Croatian citizenship.[5] A decision to reject an application for Croatian citizenship may not be based exclusively on the fact that the necessary official documents of the country of origin have not been submitted.
The manner of testing knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script, Croatian culture, and the social system is regulated by the Ordinance on the Manner of Testing Knowledge of the Croatian Language and Latin Script, Croatian Culture, and the Social System in the Procedures for Acquiring Croatian Citizenship.[6]
In the procedures for acquiring Croatian citizenship by naturalization, knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script may be demonstrated by:
- a certificate of having passed an exam in Croatian language and Latin script at universities or university departments that offer Croatian language programs and conduct such exams, as well as by certificates issued by secondary schools, the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education, and adult education institutions authorized to conduct exams in the Croatian language and Latin script;
- a certificate of completed primary education (grade certificate), a certificate of completed secondary education (grade certificate, certificate of having passed the state graduation exam, or certificate of the final thesis), or a diploma of completed higher education in the Republic of Croatia;
- a certificate of completed language course or a transcript of records or diploma supplement from a foreign institution of higher education showing at least a B1 level of Croatian language proficiency.[7]
Knowledge of Croatian culture and the social system is demonstrated by completing a questionnaire.[8] An annex containing 110 questions, which serves as the basis for testing knowledge of Croatian culture and the social system, is an integral part of the Ordinance on the Manner of Testing Knowledge of the Croatian Language and Latin Script, Croatian Culture, and the Social System in the Procedures for Acquiring Croatian Citizenship.[9]
The questionnaire consists of 15 questions covering the areas of social system, history, culture, customs, art, literature, sports, economy, tourism, and the geographical position of the Republic of Croatia. The questionnaire, selected at random by an official, is completed independently by the applicant for Croatian citizenship, without consulting other persons, in the presence of an official from the police administration or police station receiving the application, within 60 minutes. The questionnaire is completed by circling only one answer per question or by filling in the requested response. The official immediately grades the questionnaire and informs the applicant whether they have demonstrated knowledge of Croatian culture and the social system. An applicant is considered to have demonstrated knowledge of Croatian culture and the social system of the Republic of Croatia if they correctly answer at least 10 questions on the questionnaire. If the applicant does not demonstrate the required knowledge, the official may, upon request, allow them to review the graded questionnaire.[10]
In 2023, 2 asylees, citizens of Iran, acquired Croatian citizenship. In total 7 asylees were acquired Croatian citizenship (1 citizen of Afghanistan, 2 citizens of Iran,1 citizen of Sudan, 1 citizen of Ukraine and 2 citizens of Uzbekistan).[11] No information is available for 2024.
[1] Official Gazette 53/1991, 70/1991, 28/1992, 113/1993, 4/1994, 130/2011, 110/2015, 102/2019, 138/2021.
[2] Article 24 (3)(4) Law on Croatian Citizenship.
[3] Article 8(1)(5) Law on Croatian Citizenship.
[4] This condition is deemed met if the application was submitted by a stateless person or person would lose their existing nationality by naturalisation in Croatia. If a foreign country does not permit dismissal from its citizenship or it places requirements or dismissal which cannot be fulfilled, a statement of the applicant who has submitted a request will be sufficient to renounce his foreign citizenship under the conditions of acquisition of Croatian citizenship.
[5] Article 77(1)(2) LITP.
[6] Official Gazette 6/2021, available at: https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2021_01_6_124.html.
[7] Article 2 Ordinance on the Manner of Testing Knowledge of the Croatian Language and Latin Script, Croatian Culture, and the Social System in the Procedures for Acquiring Croatian Citizenship.
[8] Article 5 Ordinance on the Manner of Testing Knowledge of the Croatian Language and Latin Script, Croatian Culture, and the Social System in the Procedures for Acquiring Croatian Citizenship.
[9] Article 7 (1) Ordinance on the Manner of Testing Knowledge of the Croatian Language and Latin Script, Croatian Culture, and the Social System in the Procedures for Acquiring Croatian Citizenship.
[10] Article 6 Ordinance on the Manner of Testing Knowledge of the Croatian Language and Latin Script, Croatian Culture, and the Social System in the Procedures for Acquiring Croatian Citizenship.
[11] Information provided by the Ministry of Interior, 8 March 2024.