Croatian citizenship for your children
This page is for you if
- You are applying, or have applied, under Article 11 as an emigrant’s descendant.
- You have children under 18 you want to include.
- Or you are already Croatian and have had a child since.
- Or your children are adults who want to apply in their own right.
What the law says
Article 13 of the Citizenship Act says a minor child becomes Croatian by naturalisation when one parent does so under Article 11, paragraph 1, or Article 16. One parent submits the request with the written consent of the other; the Act lists exceptions, for example when the other parent has died or a court has given one parent sole care.
A child born after you are Croatian is in a different position: under Article 5 they are Croatian by origin, provided they are registered with a Croatian mission or registry office before they turn 21.
Children who are already adults are not covered by Article 13. They can apply in their own right as descendants under Article 11, using your documents as part of their line.
Documents for this path
Each child adds their own birth certificate to your application, with an apostille and a certified Croatian translation, plus the other parent’s consent.
- Each child’s full birth certificateNaming you as a parent
- The other parent’s written consentUnless an exception applies
- Court orders, if one parent has sole careTo use an exception
- Your own Article 11 application documentsThe child’s claim follows yours
The consulate confirms the exact list at your appointment. See the full document checklist for where to get each one in Australia and New Zealand.
How this differs from the other paths
This is the one path where the applicant may not be the person becoming Croatian: you lodge on your child’s behalf, alongside your own file. The consulate tells you exactly what it needs for each child.
Timing matters. Article 13 covers minor children, so if you have teenagers, lodge as early as you can and ask the consulate how a birthday during processing affects their file.
Passports for children
Once your child is Croatian, a parent or legal guardian applies for their passport in person at the consulate. Children aged 12 and over must attend the appointment themselves.
Bring the child’s Domovnica and birth certificate, proof of address and a 35 × 45 mm biometric photo on a plain white background.
How long it takes
Children included under Article 13 follow your application, so their timing is yours: for complete files lodged in Australia, the ministry estimates 12 to 24 months.
Registering a child born after you are Croatian is a separate consular step, and it must happen before their 21st birthday.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need the other parent’s consent?
As a rule, yes: one parent applies with the written consent of the other. Article 13 lists exceptions, for example when the other parent has died or a court has given one parent sole care.
Article 13 in fullMy child was born after I became Croatian. What do we do?
Register them as a Croatian citizen with a Croatian mission or a registry office in Croatia before they turn 21. Under Article 5 they are then Croatian by origin.
Can my adult children apply?
Yes, in their own right as descendants under Article 11, using your documents as part of their line.
Can my child get a Croatian passport?
Yes, once they are Croatian. A parent or legal guardian applies in person at the consulate, and children aged 12 and over attend the appointment.
The Croatian passportOther ways to qualify
Sources
- Croatian Citizenship Act (Zakon o hrvatskom državljanstvu), consolidated text, Narodne novine, as reproduced on our law page. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Applying for Croatian Citizenship (Australia), Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Passport, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Checked 13 November 2026.