How to Obtain a Croatian Birth Certificate (and Why It Matters for Citizenship by Descent) 2025 Guide

UPDATED: December 2025

For individuals pursuing Croatian citizenship by descent, obtaining a birth certificate is a fundamental step in the application process. Whether you need your own certificate or one belonging to a Croatian ancestor, understanding the proper channels and requirements will save time and prevent frustration.

Understanding the Croatian Birth Registry System

Croatia maintains an official registry called Matica rođenih (Book of Births) that contains records of all individuals born in the Republic of Croatia. This registry forms the basis for issuing birth certificates, known as rodni list in Croatian.

Anyone falling into these categories can receive a Croatian birth certificate:

• Individuals born within Croatia's borders

• Croatian citizens born in other countries

• People who received Croatian citizenship through naturalization or other means

Children born in Croatia are added to this registry automatically. However, Croatian citizens born abroad must take additional steps to register in the Matica rođenih before they can obtain their birth certificate. Those who gain citizenship later in life face the same requirement.

What Information Appears on a Croatian Birth Certificate

A standard Croatian birth certificate contains specific details about the certificate holder:

• OIB (personal identification number)

• Full name and surname

• Gender

• Complete birth date, including the hour

• Birth location

• Nationality (narodnost)

• Citizenship (državljanstvo)

The document also records parental information, including their names, the mother's maiden name, birth dates, and birthplaces. Additional sections include registrar's remarks and subsequent entries to the Book of Births.

The Excerpt from the Book of Births

Croatia also issues a more detailed document called Izvadak iz matice rođenih (Excerpt from the Book of Births). This version contains all the information found on a standard birth certificate plus additional details such as name changes, marital status updates, parental occupations, and residential addresses. This document typically gets used for complex legal matters like inheritance proceedings or tax reviews.

Requesting Your Own Birth Certificate

When You Are Not Yet Registered

If your name does not appear in the Matica rođenih, registration must happen before you can request a birth certificate. This applies to Croatian citizens born outside Croatia who have not yet been added to the registry.

Registration can take place at:

• Any Croatian consulate or embassy abroad

• Matični ured (Registrar's office) locations throughout Croatia

You will need to present your domovnica (proof of citizenship) along with an apostilled or legalized copy of your foreign birth certificate that is less than six months old.

Processing times vary significantly by location. Registration through a consulate abroad often takes several months, while completing the process within Croatia or through a legal representative can reduce the timeframe to approximately 10 days.

For children under 18, registration in the Book of Births can occur simultaneously with obtaining their domovnica. Parents must provide their own domovnica as proof of the child's citizenship eligibility, along with birth certificates from their country of residence.

When You Are Already Registered

Once registered in the Matica rođenih, obtaining your birth certificate becomes straightforward. Several options exist depending on your location and residency status:

Within Croatia:

• If you have Croatian residency, visit any Registrar's office 

• If you lack Croatian residency, contact the Central Registrar's Office in Zagreb: 

  •   +385 (0)1 616 6175 (telephone)

  • kristina.horvatic@zagreb.hr (e-mail)

  • More details can be found at the Zagreb city official website: https://www.zagreb.hr/maticari/158160

Outside Croatia:

• Apply through your nearest Croatian consulate or embassy

• Use the e-Građani (e-Citizen) online platform at gov.hr

You can submit the request personally or through an authorized representative who possesses notarized permission from you.

Obtaining Birth Certificates for Croatian Relatives

For Living Relatives

Accessing the birth certificate of a living family member requires demonstrating your relationship to that person. You can establish this connection by presenting your own passport and birth certificate, provided all connecting ancestors appear in the Matica rođenih. Alternatively, your relative can provide notarized authorization permitting you to obtain their birth certificate on their behalf.

Once you have proper authorization, submit your request at any Registrar's office in Croatia or at a Croatian consulate or embassy abroad.

For Deceased Relatives

When requesting a birth certificate for a deceased family member, you must prove your family connection through documentation supported by Matica rođenih records. You will also need to state your purpose for requesting the certificate. Applying for citizenship based on descent qualifies as a valid reason.

Requests can be submitted personally or through an authorized representative with notarized permission at any Registrar's office in Croatia or Croatian diplomatic mission abroad.

Eligibility to Request Birth Certificates

Croatian law specifies who can initiate a request for a birth certificate. The certificate holder can request their own document directly. Anyone else seeking a certificate must either prove direct family lineage or obtain notarized authorization from the certificate holder (if they are still living).

Before starting any request, you should confirm that you have your domovnica if you are requesting your own certificate. This document serves as proof of Croatian citizenship and is required before you can be registered in the Book of Births if you were born abroad.

Locations for Obtaining Birth Certificates

The Croatian government maintains Registrar's offices (Matični ured) throughout the country, organized by county. A complete directory of these offices is available through the Croatian Ministry of Justice and Public Administration website.

For Croatian citizens living abroad, the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs maintains a network of embassies and consulates worldwide. These diplomatic missions can process birth certificate requests for registered Croatian citizens.

The Central Registrar's Office in Zagreb handles requests from individuals without Croatian residency who need to obtain documents while in Croatia.

Timeline Considerations

Processing times for birth certificates vary based on the method of request and your current registration status. If you are already registered in the Matica rođenih and submit your request within Croatia, you may receive your certificate within days. Requests submitted through consulates abroad typically take longer due to processing and mailing requirements.

Registration in the Book of Births before requesting a certificate adds considerable time to the process. Consulate registrations can extend for months, while in-country registrations or those handled by legal professionals move more quickly.

Challenges in Locating Historical Records

Some birth records, particularly for individuals born many decades ago, may not appear in the standard Matica rođenih registry. In these cases, church records often contain the original birth documentation. Locating and retrieving these historical records requires research skills and knowledge of local archives.

Croatian ancestors born in territories that have changed national boundaries over time present additional complications. The location listed on historical documents may use different place names or may now fall within a different country's borders. Genealogical research may be necessary to pinpoint exact locations and identify the correct authorities to contact.

Why Birth Certificates Matter for Citizenship Applications

Croatian citizenship by descent applications depend on establishing an unbroken chain of citizenship through family lines. Birth certificates serve as the primary documents proving these family connections. Each generation's birth certificate links parents to children, creating the documented lineage required by Croatian authorities.

Without proper birth certificates for all relevant ancestors, citizenship applications cannot proceed. This makes obtaining these documents one of the first and most important steps in the citizenship process.