Croatian citizenship for spouses
This path is for you if
- You are married to someone who qualifies as a Croatian emigrant or an emigrant’s descendant.
- Your marriage is registered and you can obtain an official certificate of it.
- You are not Croatian yourself and have no Croatian ancestor of your own.
- You are 18 or over.
What the law says
Article 11, paragraph 2, of the Croatian Citizenship Act says that a foreigner married to a person covered by paragraph 1 (an emigrant or their descendant) may acquire Croatian citizenship even without meeting points 2 to 4 of Article 8. In plain terms, you do not have to give up your citizenship, live in Croatia or sit the language and culture test.
Your right depends on your spouse’s: they must themselves be an emigrant or an emigrant’s descendant under paragraph 1. The Act speaks of marriage; it does not mention de facto relationships.
Documents for this path
You prove two things: your marriage, and your spouse’s Croatian descent. Every Australian or New Zealand certificate in your file is apostilled first and then translated into Croatian by a certified translator.
- Your official marriage certificateNot the ceremonial one from the wedding day
- Your birth certificateNo older than six months
- Your spouse’s evidence of Croatian descent or citizenshipTheir Article 11 documents
- A police checkNo older than six months, apostille, translated
- A biography or motivation letterIn Croatian
- Your current passportProof of your present citizenship
- The application form and consular feeAt your appointment
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
On every other path you trace your own blood line. Here the line belongs to your spouse, and your file borrows its strength from theirs. If their claim is weak or incomplete, yours is too.
That is why it makes sense to prepare together: your spouse’s ancestry documents support both applications, and keeping the two files consistent avoids questions later.
Which marriage certificate to order
In Australia, the certificate that counts is the one issued by the state or territory Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The decorative certificate handed over at the ceremony cannot be apostilled.
In New Zealand, order the official marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages at the Department of Internal Affairs, then send it for an apostille before translation.
How long it takes
If your spouse already holds Croatian citizenship through Article 11, your file is mostly your own certificates plus the marriage certificate, which can come together quickly.
If you apply together, your timing follows theirs. For complete applications lodged in Australia, the ministry estimates 12 to 24 months.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Croatian ancestry myself?
No. Article 11, paragraph 2, covers a foreigner married to an emigrant or an emigrant’s descendant, without the usual naturalisation conditions.
Article 11 in fullDoes a de facto relationship count?
The Act refers to marriage and does not mention de facto relationships. Talk to us before you apply.
Contact usDo I need to speak Croatian?
No language test applies: Article 11 waives point 4 of Article 8 for spouses too. The consulate does ask for a biography in Croatian, which can be translated for you.
Which marriage certificate do I need?
The official certificate from the registry, not the decorative one handed over at the ceremony, which cannot be apostilled in Australia. It needs an apostille and a certified Croatian translation.
Other 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.
- Apostilles and authentications, Australian Embassy, Germany. Checked 13 November 2026.