Foreign citizens can also marry in Croatia, but before registering the intention to marry, it is necessary to prepare appropriate documents from the country from which the foreign citizen comes.

The most frequent questions are related to the birth certificate, certificate of unmarried status, Apostille and type of translation. The requirements depend on the issuing country, international treaties and the specific registry office, but there are a few basic rules.

What documents does a foreign citizen need to get married?

According to official information from the competent Ministry, a foreign citizen must submit, among other things, the following in order to marry in Croatia:

• extract from the birth register;
• certificate of unmarried status;
• confirmation that there are no obstacles to getting married in Croatia and that the marriage will be recognized in the state of which the person is a citizen;
• an identification document with a picture;
• proof of citizenship, for example a passport.

For the first three documents, the official instructions specify a translation into Croatian.

1. Extract from the birth register

Birth certificate or extract from the register of births is one of the basic documents. If it is issued in a foreign language and there is no corresponding international form that can be used without translation, a translation into Croatian is required.

In the certified translation, the name and surname, date and place of birth, information about the parents, number and date of issue and all stamps, notes and subsequent entries are accurately transmitted.

2. Certificate of unmarried status

This document may be called in different countries Certificate of No Impediment, Certificate of Single Status, certificate of marital status or other national title. Its purpose is to prove that, according to the records of the issuing country, the person does not have an existing marriage that would represent an obstacle.

The Ministry lists this certificate among the documents that are submitted with a translation into Croatian.

3. Confirmation that there are no obstacles to marriage in Croatia

A confirmation can also be requested that there is no obstacle for a foreign citizen to marry in Croatia and that such a marriage will be recognized according to the law of the country of his citizenship.

According to official information, this certificate can in some cases be an integral part of the certificate of free marital status. That is why it is not good to automatically order three different documents without first checking how they are issued by a specific country.

Should the document have an Apostille?

One answer cannot be given for all countries. Foreign public documents in international legal transactions are in principle legalized, except when an international agreement or applicable regulation stipulates otherwise. For countries covered by the Hague Convention, the procedure is simplified in appropriate cases with an Apostille certificate.

Before the translation, check the country of issue, the type of document, the country of use and the request of the specific registry office. Read more about the procedure in the guide Apostille, full legalization and certified translation.

And what about documents from other EU countries?

Simplified rules apply to certain public documents between EU member states. Documents covered by Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 may be exempt from legalization or Apostille formalities within the EU.

Some documents may be requested multilingual standard form, which in prescribed cases serves as a translation aid or can eliminate the need for translation. This does not mean that every document from the EU is automatically submitted without a translation — you need to check whether the specific document is covered by the rules.

What to do first — Apostille or translation?

If an Apostille certificate or other certification is needed, it is practical first complete the legalization, and then send the document for translation. Apostille contains text, stamps, signatures and information that may need to be included in the final translation.

Does the translation have to be certified?

When a foreign official document is submitted to the Croatian registry office, it is necessary to check the request of the competent authority. It is most often used for documentation that must have official evidentiary value certified translation of a permanent court interpreter.

With a certified translation, the court interpreter confirms that the translation corresponds to the text of the document presented to him.

Should the passport be translated?

The passport primarily serves as proof of identity and citizenship. The official instructions state it separately from documents for which translation is expressly mentioned, so it should not be automatically sent for translation without a request from the registry office.

What if the names are spelled differently?

With international documentation, there are often differences in transliteration. The same person may have a different name entry in the birth certificate, passport and certificate of single marriage status.

It is useful to provide the court interpreter with a copy of the passport so that the Latin notation is as consistent as possible with the official identification document. This is especially important for documents in Cyrillic, Arabic, Chinese, Nepali, Bengali and other scripts.

Do you need an interpreter at your wedding?

That is a separate issue from written translation. If one of the future spouses does not understand Croatian enough for official communication and the act of getting married, it is necessary to check in advance with the registry office whether it is necessary to ensure interpreting by a court interpreter.

It is advisable to reserve the appointment in advance, especially for rarer languages.

What is the fastest way to check documentation?

Send a legible scan of the entire document and state the country of issue, purpose and registry office to which it is submitted. In this way, the language, the scope of the translation, the availability of a court interpreter and the deadline for the preparation can be determined.

Frequently asked questions

What documents does a foreigner need for marriage in Croatia?

Basic documentation includes an extract from the birth register, a certificate of unmarried status and a certificate that there are no obstacles to marrying in Croatia and that the marriage will be recognized in the country of citizenship.

Does the birth certificate have to be translated?

If it cannot be used in an appropriate international or multilingual form, a translation into Croatian is required. This is checked according to the country of issue and the request of the registry office.

Do I need an Apostille?

It depends on the issuing country, the document and the applicable international regime. In some cases an Apostille or full legalization is required and in others not.

Official sources

• Ministry of Justice – Marriage of foreign citizens
• Information on public documents and Regulation (EU) 2016/1191