🪪 Do I have to carry my ID card with me at all times in Croatia?

Yes

Quick answer

Yes — the duty to carry an ID card has not been abolished. An adult (and a married 16-year-old) must have the identity card with them and produce it to persons authorised by law — Art. 16(1) of the Identity Card Act, checked against the consolidated text up to NN 18/24. The fine, however, is a symbolic 20 € (Art. 29), and the police may equally establish your identity from another public document with a photograph or through their own information system. The myth runs both ways: "the duty was scrapped" is false, and "no ID means a draconian fine" is even more so — realistically the worst outcome is being taken to the station so your identity can be established. It is far more expensive never to obtain the card at all: 390–590 €.

📋 The rules

Every Croatian citizen who has turned 18 and has registered residence in Croatia must obtain an identity card (Art. 3(2), Identity Card Act, NN 62/15, 42/20, 144/20, 114/22, 18/24); failing to do so is an offence punishable by 390–590 € (Art. 27(1)). The act in force sets no explicit deadline tied to your 18th birthday — the duty simply applies from majority.
The duty to carry it has not been abolished: an adult (and a 16-year-old who married with court approval, Art. 3(3)) "must have the identity card with them and produce it" to authorised persons (police, municipal wardens) — Art. 16(1); not having it on you, or refusing to show it, costs 20 € (Art. 29(1)).
Identity checks (Police Duties and Powers Act, Art. 30-31): identity is established from the identity card or any other public document with a photograph, exceptionally by a look-up in the MUP (police) information system or by a statement from a person whose identity has been verified — so not carrying the card means neither an automatic fine nor an arrest, but if your identity cannot be established the police may take you in to establish it (Art. 33 and Ordinance NN 20/22).
Loss, theft or the finding of a card must be reported to the police without delay (Art. 17) — the 8-day deadline does not exist, it is a leftover from the old act; failing to report costs 20 € (Art. 29(2)). A new card must be applied for within 15 days of a change of data, expiry or damage (Art. 5(5)); the fines are 390–590 € (data/photograph, Art. 27(3)) and 60 € (expiry/damage, Art. 28(1)).
Validity of the eID card: 5 years for everyone (Art. 4(1)); 40 years for people issued a card at 70 or over (Art. 4(2)); 12 months where fingerprints temporarily cannot be taken (Art. 4(9)). Giving the police false personal details is a separate public-order offence: 300–2,000 € or up to 30 days in prison (Art. 10 of the Public Order Offences Act, NN 114/22, 47/23).

🔓 Exceptions

Minors: children under 18 have the right to an identity card, but no duty to obtain or carry one (Art. 3) — the duty to carry in Art. 16(1) covers only adults and 16-year-olds who married with court approval.
Croatian citizens without registered residence in Croatia (the diaspora) may obtain an identity card, but are not obliged to (Art. 1(2), Art. 5(2)-(3)).
You may never let anyone else use your card, nor use someone else's as your own (Art. 16(2)) — curiously, that very prohibition carries no fine in the Identity Card Act itself; misuse is prosecuted under Art. 10 of the Public Order Offences Act (confirming another person's false details, 300–2,000 €) or as criminal offences involving documents and personal data.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

20 € for not carrying the card or not reporting its loss; 60 € for not replacing an expired or damaged card; 390–590 € if you never obtained one at all; 300–2,000 € or up to 30 days in prison for giving the police false personal details (Public Order Offences Act, Art. 10). The unexpected second consequence: if your identity cannot be established on the spot, the police may take you in until it is — hours lost over a 20 € offence. On top of that, from 3 August 2026 old identity cards issued before 1 January 2003 with unlimited validity cease to be valid, so their holders are suddenly left without any valid identity document — on the road, at the notary and at the border.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Has the duty to carry an ID card been abolished?

It has not — it is alive in Art. 16(1) of the Identity Card Act in force, checked against the consolidated text up to NN 18/24. An adult must have the card with them and produce it to an authorised official.

What if I do not have my ID card on me?

The police may establish your identity from another public document with a photograph, or by a look-up in their own information system. If they cannot establish it, they may take you to the station so it can be established.

How big is the fine for not carrying my ID card?

Twenty euro (Art. 29(1)) — symbolic, in other words. It is far more expensive never to obtain the card at all: that offence is punishable by 390–590 € (Art. 27(1)).

Does the 8-day deadline for reporting a lost card still apply?

No — that deadline is a leftover from the repealed 2002 act; Art. 17 in force requires a report "without delay". Failing to report is fined 20 €, exactly as not carrying the card is.

How long are the old open-ended ID cards valid?

Cards issued before 1 January 2003 with unlimited validity cease to be valid on 3 August 2026. MUP (the police) counts 13,277 holders, whom it has notified by post and to whom it offers a visit to their home address.

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