Passport & ID Services
We guide citizens through applying for their Croatian passport and national ID card, from checking their records and preparing documentation to providing in-person support in Croatia.
Are you ready to apply?
Whether you’ve recently become a Croatian citizen or have been one your whole life, a little preparation can make applying for your passport or ID much smoother. We’ll help you check that your Croatian records are up to date, identify the documents you need and make sure you’re ready before you begin the application process.
Recently became a Croatian citizen?
Applying for your first Croatian documents
If you’ve recently obtained Croatian citizenship, your citizenship and relevant vital records should first be registered in Croatia. Once these are in place, we can help you prepare for your first Croatian passport and ID applications.
Renewing an existing passport or ID?
Make sure your records are up to date
If you already hold Croatian identity documents and need to renew them, we can check your Croatian records and help you prepare the documentation required for your application.
Has something changed since your last application?
Your Croatian records may need updating first
Marriage, divorce, a name change or another important life event may need to be registered in Croatia before you apply for new identity documents. We can help identify and complete any necessary updates.
Explore Vital Records Registration
Living outside Croatia?
Prepare before you travel
If you’re planning to apply for your passport and ID while visiting Croatia, we can help you prepare in advance – checking your records and documentation so you arrive with everything you need for a successful application process.
Not sure if you’re ready to apply?
We can review your circumstances and Croatian records, identify anything that needs to be completed first and help you prepare for the next step.
Which Application Route is right for me?
The right application route depends on the documents you need and where you would prefer to apply. While Croatian passports can be applied for abroad or in Croatia, Croatian ID cards are applied for in Croatia. Compare the two routes below to understand your options and where Salona can support you.
| Feature | Embassy/Consulate | In Croatia |
|---|---|---|
| Croatian Passport | ✓ | ✓ |
| Croatian ID Card | — | ✓ |
| In-person attendance | Required for biometric application | Required for biometric application |
| Document preparation & review | ✓ | ✓ |
| Application guidance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Appointment coordination | — | ✓ |
| Salona team member accompanies you | — | ✓ |
Applying through an Embassy or Consulate?
If you prefer to apply for your Croatian passport through your local Embassy or Consulate, Salona can still help you prepare. We review your Croatian records and supporting documentation, help you understand the application requirements, and make sure you are prepared before attending your appointment.
Applying in Croatia with Salona Consulting
If you choose to apply for your Croatian passport or ID in Croatia, we can coordinate the process around your trip and support you from preparation through to receiving your documents. Our standard service is available in Zagreb and Split, with tailored support available in other Croatian cities.
01
Plan your visit
We coordinate your application around your trip to Croatia.
Our team helps determine the appropriate location and timing for your application, so you can plan your visit knowing what to expect.
02
Prepare everything
Arrive with your documentation in order.
Before you travel, we check your Croatian records and required documentation and make sure you’re prepared for your appointment.
03
Attend your appointment
A Salona team member by your side.
Our Croatia-based team can accompany you to your appointment, providing practical, in-person support and helping you navigate the process.
04
Receive your documents
You don’t necessarily need to wait in Croatia.
Where permitted, we can coordinate collection of your completed documents and arrange secure international delivery, allowing you to continue your holiday or journey home.
Planning a trip to Croatia?
Applying in Croatia allows you to manage both your passport and ID application in one trip, with Salona helping you prepare in advance, coordinate your appointment and accompanying you through the application process.
Renewing your Croatian Passport
Already have a Croatian passport that’s due for renewal? Whether you live abroad or are planning a visit to Croatia, we can help you prepare in advance and coordinate your renewal around your travel plans – making the process as straightforward and efficient as possible.
01
Check & Prepare
Make sure you’re ready before you travel
We review your circumstances and help confirm that your Croatian records and required documentation are in order before your renewal appointment.
02
Plan Your Renewal
Coordinate it around your trip
We help coordinate the timing and location of your passport renewal around your travel to Croatia, with standard support available in Zagreb and Split.
03
Apply with Support
Practical help when you’re in Croatia
Where required as part of your chosen service, our Croatia-based team can provide in-person support as you complete your passport renewal application.
Has anything changed since your last passport was issued?
If you’ve married, divorced, changed your name or experienced another important life event abroad, your Croatian records may need to be updated before your new documents can be issued. We can help identify what needs to be registered and coordinate the process for you.
Passport & IDs for Families
Planning Croatian passport or ID applications for several family members at once can quickly become complicated. We help families prepare and coordinate their applications together, making sure each person has the right documentation and helping you make the most of your time in Croatia.
01
Prepare the whole family
Different family members can have different requirements.
We review each family member’s circumstances and documentation in advance, helping identify anything that needs to be obtained or updated before you travel.
02
Coordinate your applications
Make your trip to Croatia work for everyone.
Where possible, we coordinate the timing and location of your family’s applications around the same visit, helping reduce administrative complexity.
03
Support you in Croatia
Practical help for the whole family.
Our Croatia-based team can accompany your family through the application process, helping you navigate appointments and understand what happens next.
Applying with children?
Passport and ID requirements can differ depending on the age and circumstances of the child. We’ll confirm what’s required for each family member in advance, so everyone arrives prepared for their application.
Before your family applies
If a marriage, birth, name change or other family event has not yet been registered in Croatia, this may need to be addressed before new identity documents can be obtained. Salona can help coordinate these registrations as part of preparing your family.
Why apply with Salona Consulting?
Whether you’re applying for your first Croatian passport or ID, renewing existing documents or coordinating applications for your family, preparation makes all the difference. Salona combines specialist Croatian administrative expertise with practical support on the ground, helping you arrive prepared, navigate your application with confidence and make the most of your time in Croatia.
- 3,000+ successful citizenship applications
- Global clients from the US, Australia, Brazil and beyond
- 5,000+ documents issued in Croatia
- 10+ years proudly located in Switzerland
Questions about passports and IDs
When can I apply for a Croatian passport after my citizenship is approved?
Croatian citizenship takes effect when the positive decision is delivered to you. Your details are then entered into the Register of Croatian Citizens, a process that may take several months depending on the authorities’ internal procedures.
Before applying for a Croatian passport (or identity card) we recommend confirming that your citizenship registration is complete and that all relevant Croatian civil records have been registered and are available for use.
How do I apply for my first Croatian passport?
A first Croatian passport application is normally made in person, either through a Croatian embassy or consulate abroad or at a police administration in Croatia. First time applicants need to establish their identity and Croatian citizenship, and additional civil records may be required depending on what is already registered in Croatia.
Salona can help check the Croatian records and prepare the documentation before the appointment, so everything is ready when it is time to apply.
Do I need an appointment to apply for a Croatian passport and ID card?
Not necessarily. Croatian passports can be applied for at the relevant authorities (normally a police station) in Croatia or, in many cases, through a Croatian embassy or consulate abroad. Croatian national ID cards must be applied for in Croatia.
If you are applying for your Croatian passport from abroad, you must get an appointment at the Croatian embassy or consulate responsible for your jurisdiction.
If you are applying for your Croatian passport and ID card directly in Croatia, an appointment is not required. You can just go to the police station in Croatia and apply.
In both cases, applications require you to attend an appointment in person, as your identity and biometric information need to be verified.
We can help you prepare the necessary documentation, guide you through the requirements, and coordinate the process to make your visit as straightforward as possible. If you are applying for your Croatian passport and ID directly in Croatia, our team member can accompany you in person during the application process.
How long does it take to receive a Croatian passport and ID card?
For applications made in Croatia, a passport issued through the regular procedure has an official processing period of up to 30 days. Urgent passports can be issued within 48 hours in Zagreb or within three working days through other police administrations.
Croatian ID cards have three processing options: up to 30 days through the regular procedure, 10 days through the accelerated procedure, or three working days through the urgent procedure. Timelines for passport applications submitted through embassies or consulates abroad can differ.
Do I need to travel to Croatia to collect my Croatian passport?
Not necessarily. A passport issued through a Croatian police administration cannot be mailed directly by MUP (the Croatian Ministry of Internal Affairs) to an address abroad. The available collection options depend on the application route and the procedure selected.
For clients applying in Croatia with Salona, where the procedure allows it, we can help coordinate collection of the completed document and arrange secure international delivery, which can make it possible to continue travelling or return home rather than remaining in Croatia until the passport is ready.
Do children have different requirements for Croatian passports and ID cards?
Yes. Children can obtain Croatian passports and national ID cards, but the application requirements differ from those for adults.
Applications for minors generally need to be submitted by a parent or legal guardian, and additional documentation may be required to confirm parental responsibility or legal guardianship. Depending on the child’s age and circumstances, their presence at the appointment and the consent of both parents may also be required.
Before applying, the child’s birth and citizenship must be properly registered in Croatia. We can help you review these requirements, prepare the necessary documentation and coordinate the application process, making it easier to arrange Croatian documents for your family.
What if I changed my last name after marriage but my Croatian documents still show my previous one?
A last name change following marriage can usually be reflected in the Croatian records by registering the relevant life event and updating the personal information on file.
Bringing those records up to date helps keep future Croatian documents, including passports and ID cards, consistent with the name currently used abroad.
What if my Croatian records do not match my current foreign documents?
Differences between Croatian and foreign records are something that can usually be reviewed and addressed. A name change, marriage, divorce, or another life event abroad may need to be reflected in the Croatian records.
Salona Consulting can compare the documents, identify what needs to be updated, and help bring the records into alignment.