Croatian citizenship for New Zealanders
New Zealand at a glance
- Who handles applications
- The Croatian embassy in Canberra, in Canberra or at its consular days in Auckland and Wellington
- Apostille
- Department of Internal Affairs, NZ$32 for the first document, NZ$15 for each further one
- Criminal record
- From the Ministry of Justice, full record of convictions, no older than six months
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Births, Deaths and Marriages, Department of Internal Affairs
- Certified translators
- Translators into Croatian, for example members of NZSTI
- Third-party costs
- About NZ$747 by our estimate
Croatians in New Zealand
Around 1885 the first Dalmatians, from Croatia’s Adriatic coast, made for the kauri gumfields of Northland, where they were often called “Austrians”. Many later turned to growing grapes and making wine. Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, tells their story in its entry on Dalmatians.
Because so many of those families arrived generations ago, New Zealanders with Croatian roots usually apply through a grandparent or great-grandparent who emigrated long before 8 October 1991. Article 11 of the Croatian Citizenship Act covers them as an emigrant’s descendants. See who qualifies.
Who takes your application
The Croatian foreign ministry lists New Zealand within the consular area of its embassy in Canberra, which also holds consular days in Auckland and Wellington. Applications are lodged in person, by appointment.
- Canberra: Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in AustraliaCovers New Zealand
- Consular days in Auckland and WellingtonHeld by the embassy, by appointment
The embassy holds consular days in New Zealand, most recently in Auckland (10–12 July 2026) and Wellington (13 July 2026). Citizenship applications and first-time passport applications were accepted, by appointment only, booked by emailing a registration form to the embassy.
New Zealand enquiries go to crocons.auckland@mvep.hr. Ask the embassy when the next consular days are planned before you book travel to Canberra.
In 2015 the ministry appointed honorary consuls for the North Island (based in Auckland) and the South Island (based in Nelson). The notice gives no contact details, so contact the embassy first.
Getting your documents ready in New Zealand
- Order your certificates. Births, Deaths and Marriages at the Department of Internal Affairs issues New Zealand birth and marriage certificates. Order the certificate itself, which is posted or collected, rather than a printout sent by email: the consulate wants originals, issued no more than six months before you lodge.
- Request your criminal record. Ask the Ministry of Justice for your own criminal record, online or on the paper form; it is free. Tick “full record of convictions”: the Ministry notes the full record may be needed for overseas use. If you were born outside New Zealand, the consulate also asks for a check from your country of birth.
- Have DIA apostille them. The Department of Internal Affairs apostilles New Zealand public documents, including Ministry of Justice records, at NZ$32 for the first document, NZ$15 for each further one; allow 15–20 business days including postage.
- Translate into Croatian. After the apostille, a certified translator translates each document, stamps included. The New Zealand Society of Translators and Interpreters lists translators; expect about NZ$40–NZ$75 a page.
- Book and lodge. Book a slot at a consular day in Auckland or Wellington, or an appointment at the embassy in Canberra, and bring originals of everything, your passport, a short biography in Croatian and the completed form. The consular fee is paid when you lodge and is not refundable.
Third-party costs in New Zealand
| Item | What it is for | Approximate cost |
|---|---|---|
| Citizenship application fee | Consular fee; confirm the current amount with your consulate | about NZD 330 |
| Passport fee | After citizenship is granted; confirm with your consulate | about NZD 165 |
| Apostille (each) | Department of Internal Affairs; NZ$15 for each further one in the same request | about NZD 32 each |
| Birth certificate (long form) | Births, Deaths and Marriages | about NZD 35 |
| Criminal record check | Ministry of Justice | Free |
| Birth certificate | Certified translation (NAATI in Australia) | about NZD 85 |
| Criminal record | Certified translation (NAATI in Australia) | about NZD 85 |
| Other documents | Per document (one or two pages) | about NZD 85 each |
| Our estimated total | about NZD 747 | |
Prices are estimates and may vary. Exchange rates and fees subject to change. Travel to an appointment is not included. Our apostille guide quotes the current DIA fee.
Keeping your New Zealand citizenship
You keep it. New Zealand allows dual and multiple citizenship, so becoming Croatian does not affect your New Zealand citizenship, and Croatia does not ask Article 11 applicants to give up their other citizenship.
New Zealand’s travel advice notes one practical point: when you visit Croatia as a dual citizen, Croatian authorities may treat you as a Croatian citizen. Read more about holding both.
Frequently asked questions
Where do New Zealanders lodge their application?
New Zealand falls within the consular area of the Croatian embassy in Canberra, which holds consular days in Auckland and Wellington (most recently in July 2026) where citizenship applications are accepted by appointment. Email crocons.auckland@mvep.hr to ask about the next ones.
Embassy and consulatesWhich criminal record check do I need in New Zealand?
Request your own record from the Ministry of Justice (free) and tick “full record of convictions”, then send it to the Department of Internal Affairs for an apostille before it is translated.
Where do I get my New Zealand birth certificate?
From Births, Deaths and Marriages at the Department of Internal Affairs. Order the certificate itself, which is posted or collected, rather than an emailed printout: the consulate wants originals.
What do third-party fees come to in New Zealand?
Our estimate is about NZ$747 for government fees, apostilles and translations, whether you apply yourself or with us.
Full fee breakdownWill I lose my New Zealand citizenship?
No. New Zealand allows dual or multiple citizenship.
Related guides
Sources
- Dalmatians, Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand (Manatū Taonga, Ministry for Culture and Heritage). Checked 13 November 2026.
- Embassies and consulates of the Republic of Croatia: Australia, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Consular days in New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Resumption of consular days in New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Checked 13 November 2026.
- The appointment of new honorary consuls of the Republic of Croatia in New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Order a birth certificate, govt.nz, New Zealand Government. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Get your own criminal record, Ministry of Justice, New Zealand. Checked 13 November 2026.
- Dual citizens and permanent residents, SafeTravel, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 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.