The Croatian Citizenship Act regulates Croatian citizenship and how to get citizenship of Croatia, the preconditions for his acquisition and termination. Considering that on January 1, 2020 amendments to the said Act came into force, which more precisely prescribe the methods of acquisition Croatian citizenship, this article needs to explain how a foreigner can acquire Croatian citizenship and how it can be terminated for a Croatian citizen.
How can Croatian citizenship be acquired?
According to the Croatian Citizenship Act, Croatian citizenship is acquired:
1) by origin
2) by birth within the area of the Republic of Croatia
3) by naturalization
4) pursuant to international treaties.
Acquisition of Croatian citizenship by origin
According to the Croatian Citizenship Act, a child will acquire Croatian citizenship by origin:
1) if both parents are Croatian citizens at the time of the child’s birth,
2) if one of the parents is a Croatian citizen at the time of the child’s birth and the child is born in the Republic of Croatia,
3) a foreign citizen or one without citizenship who has been adopted by Croatian citizens pursuant to the provisions of a special law.
Furthermore, the acquisition of Croatian citizenship by birth in the territory of the Republic of Croatia is accepted only if the child is born or found in the territory of the Republic of Croatia, and both his parents are unknown or statelessness or have unknown citizenship. However, the child will lose Croatian citizenship if it is established by his/her age of 14 that both parents are foreign citizens.
Amendments to the Croatian Citizenship Act
Amendments to the Croatian Citizenship Act for 2020 year introduce the possibility to a person born abroad to acquire Croatian citizenship by origin, if one of the parents is of Croatian citizenship at the time of his/her birth and if the child is registered by the age of 21 at the diplomatic mission or consular office of the Republic of Croatia abroad or at the registry office in the Republic of Croatia.
A person over the age of 21 may acquire Croatian citizenship if he / she submits an application for entry in the register of Croatian citizens within two years from the day this Act enters into force, and the Ministry of the Interior previously determines that there are no obstacles referred to in Article 8, paragraph 1, item 5 of this Act. It should be noted that in this case, a person born abroad, one of whose parents is a Croatian citizen at the time of his birth, and does not meet the above conditions, acquires Croatian citizenship if he would be left without citizenship.
Acquisition of Croatian citizenship by naturalization on the basis of residence in Croatia
According to the law, a foreigner can acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalization if he or she has submitted a request for Croatian citizenship and fulfils the following requirements:
1) he or she is 18 years old,
2) he or she is released from foreign citizenship, or submits proof that he or she will acquire release if granted Croatian citizenship,
3) he or she has lived and has had a registered residence in the Republic of Croatia for at least 8 years without interruption until, the submission of the request and has been granted foreigner status with permanent residence,
4) he or she is proficient in the Croatian language and Latin script, and is familiar with Croatian culture and social arrangement,
5) by respecting the legal order of the Republic of Croatia, by paying public contributions, and that there are no security obstacles for him or her to receive Croatian citizenship.
Other bases for acquiring Croatian citizenship by naturalization
The law entries that it is possible to acquire citizenship on the following grounds:
– marriage or life partnership with a Croatian citizen
– eviction
– existence of interest in the Republic of Croatia
– belonging to the Croatian people
How can Croatian citizenship end?
Croatian citizenship shall cease:
1) by release,
2) by renouncement,
3) pursuant to international treaties.
Termination of Croatian citizenship by release
Release from Croatian citizenship can be granted to a person who has submitted a request for release and fulfils the following requirements:
1) he or she is 18 years old,
2) there are no impediments for release from citizenship by reason of military conscription,
3) he or she has paid due taxes, fees and other public charges, and has fulfilled all the obligations towards legal entities and natural persons in the Republic of Croatia that have been imposed by an executive body,
4) he or she has fulfilled any such financial obligations that he or she might have towards a spouse, parents and children who are Croatian citizens, and towards persons who remain living in the Republic of Croatia,
5) he or she is a foreign citizen, or he or she has proved that he or she will acquire foreign citizenship.
However, release from Croatian citizenship cannot be obtained by a person who, at the time when release is requested, is ex-officio charged and prosecuted for a criminal offence, or punished by imprisonment in the Republic of Croatia, until he or she has served that sentence in full.
Termination of Croatian citizenship by renunciation
An adult Croatian citizen with a domicile abroad and of foreign citizenship may renounce Croatian citizenship.
it is important to point out that a person who has renounced Croatian citizenship as an adult may not regain Croatian citizenship.
If you would like to get Croatian citizenship, contact our law office with confidence.
