May I hold Croatian and foreign citizenship at the same time?
Yes — Croatia allows dual (and multiple) citizenship. Under the Croatian Citizenship Act a Croatian citizen who acquires a foreign citizenship does not automatically lose the Croatian one, so you may lawfully hold two passports. Here a common myth falls: you do not have to "give up" Croatian in order to take a foreign one, nor, as a rule, do you renounce the foreign one when you acquire Croatian by descent. Ordinary naturalisation of a foreigner is nonetheless demanding and requires, cumulatively: being 18, 8 years of continuous registered residence plus approved permanent-residence status, knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script and of the culture and social order (a 15-question quiz, needing 10 correct), settled public dues and no security obstacles. Ordinary naturalisation also requires release from foreign citizenship, but if the foreign state does not allow it, a statement of renunciation suffices. People over 60 do not sit the language and culture test.
📋 The rules
- Dual is allowed: a Croatian citizen who acquires a foreign citizenship does not lose the Croatian one (Croatian Citizenship Act).
- Ordinary naturalisation: a foreigner must cumulatively meet all conditions of Article 8 — age, residence, knowledge of language and culture, settled dues and no obstacles.
- Residence: 8 years of continuous registered residence up to the application and approved permanent residence are required.
- Knowledge test: knowledge of the culture is checked by a 15-question quiz, deemed passed with at least 10 correct answers.
- Descent: emigrants and their descendants and persons of Croatian origin acquire citizenship on eased terms, without the eight-year residence condition.
🔓 Exceptions
- Release from foreign: if the foreign state does not allow release or sets unachievable conditions, a statement of renunciation conditional on admission suffices.
- Over 60: persons over 60 need not prove knowledge of the language, script, culture or social order.
- Marriage to a citizen: a foreigner married to a Croatian citizen with approved residence acquires citizenship on eased terms, without the full 8 years.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Citizenship has no ordinary "fine", but the stakes and hidden costs are high. An application is refused if the conditions are not cumulatively met, if you have not settled due public dues, or if there are security obstacles — and a negative decision means lost time and fees and a fresh wait. False information in the procedure can lead to withdrawal of citizenship obtained by fraud, even years later. Dual citizenship also brings lasting duties toward both states: double taxation where there is no treaty to avoid it, possible military or tax duties of the other state, and the obligation to enter that state on its passport. A guarantee of admission is valid two years, so if you fail to deliver the release within that time, the procedure is discontinued. Before applying, therefore, check the other country's rules too.
📎 Official sources
- Ministry of the Interior (MUP) — ordinary acquisition of citizenship (naturalisation) →
- zakon.hr — Croatian Citizenship Act →
- gov.hr — acquiring Croatian citizenship →
❓ Frequently asked
Must I give up my old citizenship to obtain Croatian?
Not necessarily, because Croatia allows dual citizenship and release is required only for ordinary naturalisation. If the foreign state does not allow release or sets unachievable conditions, your statement of renunciation conditional on admission to Croatian citizenship is enough.
How many years of residence does ordinary naturalisation need?
Ordinary naturalisation needs eight years of continuous registered residence up to the application, with approved permanent residence. The other conditions of Article 8 must also be met, such as knowledge of the language and the absence of security obstacles.
Can I obtain citizenship by descent without residence?
Yes, emigrants and their descendants and persons of Croatian origin acquire citizenship on eased terms, without the eight-year residence condition. As a rule they also keep their existing citizenship, because Croatia does not require renunciation in that case.
Do I have to sit a language and culture test?
As a rule yes, since knowledge of the language is shown by documents and the culture by a 15-question quiz needing at least 10 correct answers. Persons over 60 are exempt from proving knowledge of the language, script and culture.
Does dual citizenship bring extra duties?
It can, because toward both states you may have tax, military or other duties depending on their law. That is why, before acquiring it, it pays to check the other state's rules on taxation and the duties of its citizens.
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