Getting an apostille in Australia and New Zealand
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Key takeaways
- Every official Australian and New Zealand document in your application needs an apostille before Croatia accepts it.
- Both countries issue apostilles directly, so you do not need a third-party agency.
- Cost: A$105 per document in Australia, NZ$32 in New Zealand. Time: 10–20 business days, depending on the country.
- Get the apostille first, then the certified Croatian translation.
What is an apostille?
An apostille is a certificate that confirms a public document is genuine. Australia joined the Apostille Convention in 1995 and New Zealand in 2001, which makes it simpler to use documents from either country in other member countries, including Croatia.
For your citizenship application, this means your birth certificate, marriage certificate and other public records must carry an apostille before you lodge them.
Which documents need one
For most applicants that means:
- Your birth certificate, issued in Australia or New Zealand
- Your marriage certificate, if it applies to your application
- Your police check from Australia or New Zealand
Both countries apostille the same kinds of documents: birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, death certificates, criminal record checks.
The process
- Check your country's process. Australia and New Zealand each have their own, with different fees and processing times (below).
- Submit your documents to the right authority, following its instructions.
- Have them translated. Once the apostille is attached, a certified translator translates each document into Croatian. Read the translation guide.
Australia
Australia issues apostilles directly through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), which includes the Australian Passport Office.
- Fee: A$105 per document
- Processing time: 10–15 business days (processing + shipping)
- Official website: DFAT apostilles and authentications
New Zealand
New Zealand issues apostilles directly through the Department of Internal Affairs.
- Fee: NZ$32 for the first document, NZ$15 for each further one
- Processing time: 15–20 business days (processing + shipping)
- Official website: Using your New Zealand documents overseas (govt.nz)
Sources: the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (fees from 1 January 2026) and the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs. Last reviewed 13 November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Do all documents need to be authenticated?
Yes. Croatia accepts official Australian and New Zealand documents, such as birth and marriage certificates, only once they carry an apostille.
Do I need to apostille my criminal record?
Yes. Your Australian or New Zealand police check needs an apostille for a citizenship by descent application, like your other documents.
How long is an apostille valid?
An apostille does not expire.
How do I translate my documents?
After the apostille, a certified translator translates each document into Croatian.
Learn more about the translation process