What a Croatian passport gives you
Global ranking
#8
in the Henley Passport Index 2026, with 181 destinations open without a visa in advance.
Source: Henley Passport Index 2026What changes when you are Croatian
Live anywhere in the EU
As an EU citizen you may move to any EU country to live, work, study or retire. You can stay up to three months without registering as a resident, and after five continuous years of legal residence you acquire the right to live there permanently.
Work without a permit
EU nationals generally don’t need a work permit to take a job in another EU country, so a Croatian passport lets you accept work in Europe without first securing a permit.
Study under local conditions
You can study at any EU university under the same conditions as nationals of that country. Fees and grants are set country by country, so check the rules where you want to study.
Travel with fewer visas
The Croatian passport opens travel to 181 destinations without a visa in advance, including every EU member state, according to the Henley Passport Index 2026.
Pass it on
Children under 18 can become Croatian with you, and children born after you are Croatian can be registered by origin before they turn 21. Citizenship you claim today can stay in the family.
Healthcare where you live
Access public healthcare systems as an EU citizen when you live there.
Applying for your passport
Citizenship comes first. Once the Ministry of the Interior approves your application and you receive your Domovnica, the certificate of Croatian citizenship, you can apply for a passport at a Croatian consulate.
Passport applications are made in person. The consular officer gives you the form; bring:
- your original Domovnica and birth certificate (the officer can make certified copies);
- proof of your address, such as a driver’s licence, a utility bill or electoral enrolment;
- one 35 × 45 mm passport photo meeting biometric standards, on a plain white background, mouth closed and without shadows.
For a child under 18, a parent or legal guardian makes the application, and children aged 12 or over attend in person. For renewals, bring your current or expired Croatian passport, and your Domovnica if the passport has expired.
Applications in Australia go through the Croatian office for your state, and New Zealanders through the embassy in Canberra. Contact details are on our embassy and consulates page.
Keeping your current passport
You don’t have to choose. Australia and New Zealand both allow dual citizenship, and Croatia does not ask the descendants of emigrants to give up their other citizenship. How dual citizenship works.
Frequently asked questions
When can I apply for a Croatian passport?
Once you hold your Domovnica. You apply in person at a Croatian consulate, with your Domovnica and birth certificate, proof of address and one biometric photo.
Can I live and work anywhere in the EU?
As an EU citizen you can move to any EU country to live, work, study or retire. You can stay up to three months without registering, and you generally don’t need a work permit.
Will I pay local university fees in Europe?
EU citizens can study at any EU university under the same conditions as nationals. Fees and grants depend on the country, so check with the university.
Do children need to attend the passport appointment?
A parent or legal guardian applies for a child under 18, and children aged 12 and over must attend in person.
Related guides
Sources
- Residence rights, Your Europe, European Union. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Work permits, Your Europe, European Union. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Admission and entry to university, Your Europe, European Union. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Passport, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Applying for Croatian Citizenship (Australia), Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Croatian Citizenship Act (Zakon o hrvatskom državljanstvu), consolidated text, Narodne novine, as reproduced on our law page. Checked 13 November 2026.