If you're trying to apply for Croatian citizenship by descent, everything starts with one question: Does your Croatian ancestor qualify under the rules for Croatian citizenship by descent Article 11?
This page explains eligibility in plain English, including the key cutoff date (emigrated before October 8, 1991), the emigrant definition Croatian citizenship uses for Article 11, and the documents proving your case—so you can confidently answer: Am I eligible (or not)?
Article 11 is the main pathway for many diaspora families because it can make acquiring Croatian citizenship significantly simpler than standard naturalization. This is why you'll see it referenced as Croatian emigrant descendants citizenship on many guides.
For Article 11, your ancestor must have emigrated before October 8, 1991.
If your ancestor left after this date, Article 11 is usually not the correct route, and you may need a different pathway to apply for Croatian citizenship.
The emigrant definition Croatian citizenship uses for Article 11 generally means your ancestor:
This is why your file needs to show relocation and settlement—not only movement.
“An emigrant and their descendants may acquire Croatian citizenship by naturalization even if they do not meet the conditions from Article 8, paragraph 1, points 2-4 of this Act.”
“A foreigner who is married to a person from paragraph 1 of this article may acquire Croatian citizenship even if they do not meet the conditions from Article 8, paragraph 1, points 2-4 of this Act.”
“An emigrant from paragraph 1 of this article is a person who emigrated from the territory of the Republic of Croatia before October 8, 1991, with the intention of permanently living abroad.”
“Exceptionally, an emigrant from paragraph 1 of this article is also a member of the Croatian people who emigrated from areas within former states which, at the time of emigration, also included the territory of today’s Republic of Croatia.”
“A person who emigrated from the territory of the Republic of Croatia based on an international agreement or renounced Croatian citizenship, a person who changed residence to other states that were at that time part of the state community to which the Republic of Croatia also belonged, and a person who emigrated from the territory of the Republic of Croatia but did not have former Croatian republican citizenship or domicile on the territory of the Republic of Croatia is not considered an emigrant.”
“Iseljenik i njegovi potomci mogu prirođenjem steći hrvatsko državljanstvo iako ne udovoljavaju pretpostavkama iz članka 8. stavka 1. točaka 2. – 4. ovoga Zakona.”
“Stranac koji je u braku s osobom iz stavka 1. ovoga članka može steći hrvatsko državljanstvo iako ne udovoljava pretpostavkama iz članka 8. stavka 1. točaka 2. – 4. ovoga Zakona.”
“Iseljenik iz stavka 1. ovoga članka je osoba koja se prije 8. listopada 1991. godine iselila s područja Republike Hrvatske u namjeri da u inozemstvu stalno živi.”
“Iznimno, iseljenik iz stavka 1. ovoga članka je i pripadnik hrvatskog naroda koji se iselio s prostora u sastavu bivših država u kojima se, u vrijeme iseljenja, nalazilo i područje današnje Republike Hrvatske.”
“Iseljenikom se ne smatra osoba koja je iselila s područja Republike Hrvatske na temelju međunarodnog ugovora ili se odrekla hrvatskog državljanstva, osoba koja je promijenila prebivalište u druge države koje su u to vrijeme bile u sastavu državne zajednice kojoj je pripadala i Republika Hrvatska te osoba koja je iselila s područja Republike Hrvatske, a nije imala bivše hrvatsko republičko državljanstvo, odnosno zavičajnost na području Republike Hrvatske.”
— Croatian Citizenship Act, Article 11 (NN 102/19)For the complete text and legal context of Croatian citizenship law:
Read Article 11 in the full Croatian Citizenship Law →This is where many applications go wrong. Your ancestor may be excluded from being treated as an emigrant under Article 11 if they:
If any of these apply, it doesn't automatically mean "no," but it may mean your case needs a different route, stronger evidence, or (in some cases) a legal representative to help position the file correctly.
If your family story includes Bosnia, Serbia, Vojvodina, Montenegro, or other former-Yugoslavia territories, you're not alone—and the rules are often misunderstood online.
For ancestry from former Yugoslavia Croatian citizenship, Article 11 can still work in some situations, especially where the applicant can prove they are members of the Croatian people (Croatian ethnicity) and meet the timing and eligibility conditions the authorities apply.
What typically helps establish Croatian ethnicity (depending on the facts and records available):
The goal is consistency across generations so your file reads clearly and credibly.
A frequent problem is when an ancestor "moved" from Croatia to another Yugoslav republic during the Yugoslav period. That may not be treated as emigration the way Article 11 expects.
If your ancestors emigrated in stages (e.g., Croatia → another republic → overseas), you often need extra documents proving the timeline and the permanent settlement abroad.
If you can't apply through Article 11, look at Article 16.
Article 16 - Proof of Belonging to the Croatian PeopleA major advantage of Article 11 today is that many families can qualify even when the Croatian ancestor is several generations back. In everyday terms, people often describe this as no generational limit Croatian citizenship.
That doesn't mean automatic approval. It means this: If you can prove the direct family line properly, Article 11 may apply even beyond a grandparent.
Many applicants start with Croatian citizenship through grandparent because it's a common scenario where a grandparent or great-grandparent was born in Croatia, then emigrated abroad. Whether it's a grandparent or further back, what matters most is:
This is the #1 requirement that decides whether your case is fast or delayed. You need an unbroken chain of birth certificates (and usually marriage certificates where surnames changed) from:
the emigrant ancestor → each generation → you
Your goal is to make your lineage "auditable" from start to finish.
In general, your goal is to show (1) when they left and (2) that they established life abroad before the cutoff date.
Missing passport stamps or ship records is common. You can still build a strong file by combining:
Most Article 11 delays happen because applicants gather "some" documents instead of the correct evidence set.
Most applicants should prepare:
Depending on where you file, you may also have administrative fees to pay during the application process.
For spouses of Croatian descendants citizenship, you'll typically need:
A major advantage many people miss: spouses of Croatian descendants citizenship can often be included under the simplified Article 11 route.
This can be especially useful for families pursuing dual citizenship planning together.
In many cases, yes. You can often prepare one coordinated package and submit the application in parallel, as long as the marriage documentation is clean and properly prepared.
Even if you apply through a consulate, the decision-making authority is usually the Ministry of the Interior, and the formal workflow is commonly referred to as the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) application route.
This is the overall application process most families experience.
If approved, the key evidence you'll hear about is the domovnica (proof of citizenship).
This is a primary proof of citizenship document used for Croatian administrative steps after approval (like Croatian IDs and passports, depending on your situation and what you apply for next).
One reason Article 11 is so popular is that it's commonly associated with Croatian citizenship no language test compared to other naturalization pathways.
That's why Article 11 is often the first option people explore when they want to apply based on a Croatian ancestor who emigrated before the cutoff date.
Most common scenario for Americans
Applies to Croatian people from former Yugoslav territories
Choose the clearest documented line
No, Article 11 applicants (emigrants and their descendants) do not need to take a Croatian language test. This is one of the key advantages of Article 11 compared to standard naturalization under Article 8, which requires demonstrating knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script.
Many cases are described as no generational limit Croatian citizenship—practically, the real limit is whether you can prove the lineage with an unbroken chain of birth certificates.
You'll usually need to repair the chain using replacement civil records, marriage records, and supporting evidence to link names and dates correctly.
These cases often require stronger proof of Croatian ethnicity plus a clean timeline. Sometimes a legal representative helps reduce delays if the records are complex.
October 8, 1991, is the date Croatia declared independence. This date is crucial because it determines whether your ancestor qualifies as an "emigrant" under Article 11. Anyone who left Croatia after this date does not qualify under this article and would need to use other pathways.
Our experts specialize in Article 11 cases and can help determine if you qualify as a Croatian emigrant descendant and guide you through the application process.