Can I acquire Croatian citizenship as an asylum seeker or as a foreigner under subsidiary or temporary protection?
You can acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalisation if you meet the conditions prescribed by the Croatian Citizenship Act, which are:
● you are at least 18 years old;
● you have been released from your foreign citizenship or can provide proof that you will be released if granted Croatian citizenship;
● you have lived in the Republic of Croatia with registered residence for 8 consecutive years prior to submitting the application and you have been granted permanent residence status;
● you have knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script, Croatian culture and social system (note that this requirement is waived if you are over 60 years old);
● you respect the legal order of the Republic of Croatia, have settled all due public charges, and there are no security obstacles to your admission to Croatian citizenship.
What if I cannot be released from the citizenship of my country?
If your country does not allow release from citizenship or imposes conditions that you cannot meet, it is sufficient to declare that you renounce your foreign citizenship. If you do not have proof of release or of the possibility of release upon acquiring Croatian citizenship at the time of submitting your application, you may be issued with a guarantee of admission to Croatian citizenship – provided that you meet all other prescribed conditions.
What if I am married to a Croatian citizen?
If you are married to a Croatian citizen who has been granted permanent residence and lives in the Republic of Croatia, it is only necessary that you respect the legal order of the Republic of Croatia, have settled all due public charges, and there are no security obstacles to your admission to Croatian citizenship.
Where do I submit the application for Croatian citizenship?
The application must be submitted in person at the police administration or police station according to your place of approved temporary or permanent residence. If you are a person with a disability, you may submit the application through your legal representative or authorised proxy.
What documents are required for applying for Croatian citizenship?
Along with the completed application, you must submit:
● a CV and cover letter
● a valid identity document in a certified copy (passport, foreigner identification document) with a clearly visible photograph
● proof of citizenship (certificate of citizenship, certified copy of a valid passport or ID card)
● an extract from the birth register issued on the prescribed form in accordance with international treaties and conventions
● an extract from the marriage register not older than 6 months, for those who are married (if the application is based on marriage to a Croatian citizen, the fact of marriage must be registered in the marriage register in the Republic of Croatia);
● an extract from the civil partnership register (for persons in a civil partnership)
● a certificate of no criminal record, not older than 6 months
● the applicant’s consent to verify the authenticity of foreign documents submitted with the application
● proof of payment of the administrative or consular fee
Who decides on my application and within what time frame?
Your application is decided by the Ministry of the Interior, and the deadline for issuing a decision is no later than 60 days from the date of submission of a complete application.
When do I become a Croatian citizen?
Croatian citizenship is acquired on the day the decision on admission to Croatian citizenship is delivered.
If I acquire Croatian citizenship, what about my child’s citizenship?
A minor acquires Croatian citizenship by naturalisation if both parents acquire citizenship by naturalisation, if only one parent acquires citizenship by naturalisation and the child lives in the Republic of Croatia and has been granted permanent residence, or if only one parent acquires citizenship by naturalisation and the other is stateless or of unknown citizenship, and the child lives abroad.
The application for acquiring Croatian citizenship for a minor is submitted by one parent with the written consent of the other parent, or by the child’s guardian.
SOURCES:
Croatian Citizenship Act: https://www.zakon.hr/z/446/Zakon-o-hrvatskom-dr%C5%BEavljanstvu
Ordinance on application forms for acquiring Croatian citizenship by naturalisation and for the cessation of Croatian citizenship, and on the method of keeping and content of the records on acquisition of Croatian citizenship by naturalisation and under international agreements, and records on cessation of Croatian citizenship: https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_12_134_2566.html
e-Citizens: https://gov.hr/hr/stjecanje-hrvatskog-drzavljanstva/460?lang=hr
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