
In the first case person can obtain Croatian citizenship provided that before the filing of the petition he/she had a registered place of residence for a period of not less than five years constantly in Croatia.
If both of parents were Croatian citizens at the time of birth a child can obtain Croatian citizenship by origin. He can obtain it also if:
• One of his/her parents was a Croatian citizen at the time of his/her birth, and the child was born in the Republic of Croatia
• One of his/her parents was a Croatian citizen at the time of his/her birth, while the other was a stateless person or a person whose citizenship was unknown, and the child was born abroad
• One of his/her parents was a Croatian citizen at the time of his/her birth, and the child was born abroad, and if the child by the age of eighteen is signed up for registration as Croatian citizen by the authorized body of the Republic of Croatia abroad or in the Republic of Croatia or if he/she establishes residence in the Republic of Croatia.
Adoption with kinship legal effect by Croatian citizens according to the provisions of a special Law let a child who is a foreign citizen or is stateless apply for Croatian citizenship.
A foreign citizen can obtain Croatian citizenship by naturalization by marriage to an emigrant who has obtained Croatian citizenship or to a Croatian citizen if he/she has permanent residency in Croatia. An emigrant, as well as his/her descendants can obtain Croatian citizenship by naturalization provided that a conclusion can be derived from his/her conduct that he/she is attached to the legal system and customs persisting in the Republic of Croatia and that he/she accepts the Croatian culture.
A foreign citizen and his/her spouse can obtain Croatian citizenship by naturalization if it would be of interests of the Republic of Croatia.
A foreign citizen can obtain Croatian citizenship by naturalization provided that:
• He/she is proficient in the Croatian language and Latin script.
• He/she has reached the age of eighteen years and that his/her legal capacity has not been taken away;
• He/she had a registered place of residence for a period of at least five years constantly in Croatia before the filing of the petition;
• He/she has had his/her foreign citizenship revoked or that he/she submits proof that he/she will get a revocation if he/she would be admitted to Croatian citizenship. If the foreign country does not allow revocation or is asking for prerequisites which cannot be met, a statement stating that he/she will renounce foreign citizenship if he/she obtains Croatian citizenship is sufficient;
A minor can obtain Croatian citizenship by naturalization if both parents obtain citizenship by naturalization. In that case when only one parent obtains Croatian citizenship by naturalization a minor can obtain if he lives in the Republic of Croatia; or if other his/her parent is stateless person and child lives abroad.