Some immigration offices ask for a second Croatian document as well as the police clearance certificate: the certificate of no criminal proceedings. It shows that no criminal case is currently open against you in Croatia. We can get it for you. It is not part of our online order, so please ask us for a price.
What it is
The certificate of no criminal proceedings (in Croatian: Uvjerenje da se ne vodi kazneni postupak) confirms that no criminal proceedings are being conducted against a person before the Croatian courts.
It is issued by a municipal court (općinski sud), not by the Ministry. Most municipal courts in Croatia can issue it, and it does not depend on where you lived in Croatia.
Like the police clearance certificate, it is issued in Croatian. For use abroad, the court can issue a version with the signature of an authorised official and the court seal, which can then be apostilled and translated.
How it differs from the police clearance certificate
The two documents answer two different questions:
| Police clearance certificate | Certificate of no criminal proceedings | |
|---|---|---|
| Croatian name | Potvrda iz kaznene evidencije | Uvjerenje da se ne vodi kazneni postupak |
| What it shows | Whether there is a final criminal conviction in the Croatian criminal records | Whether criminal proceedings are currently open against you |
| Issued by | Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation, Zagreb | A municipal court |
| Who needs it | Most immigration and visa applications | Only some countries and some cases |
In short: the police clearance certificate looks at the past (convictions). The certificate of no criminal proceedings looks at the present (open cases). A person can have no conviction and still have a case in progress, which is why some countries ask for both.
Which countries ask for it
Most countries only ask for the police clearance certificate. Some ask for the certificate of no criminal proceedings as well, usually in specific situations.
For example, Canada may ask for it from applicants who have lived outside Croatia for less than 6 months. The idea is that a very recent case might not yet appear on the police clearance certificate. Read our guide for Canada for details.
Other countries, employers and licensing bodies sometimes ask for it too. The rules change, so always follow the current instructions you received. If they mention “court certificate”, “certificate of no pending proceedings” or “certificate of no criminal proceedings”, this is the document they mean.
Price on request. The certificate of no criminal proceedings is not included in our €165 price, and you cannot order it online. Contact us. We will tell you the price and what we need from you.
The e-Građani version
People with Croatian login details can request this certificate online through e-Građani. The online version has an electronic court seal only. According to the official procedure, a certificate for use abroad must be requested at the court. If you need a certificate with a signature and seal that can be apostilled, the request must be made in person at a court, which we do for you.
How we get it for you
- You contact us. We tell you the price and the details we need. If you also order the police clearance certificate, we use the same personal details.
- You sign the power of attorney. For a court request, the court may ask for the signature on the power of attorney to be certified, for example by a notary or at a Croatian embassy or consulate. We will tell you exactly what is needed for your case before we apply, and we will tell you if the original is needed.
- We apply at the court. The lawyer submits the request, pays the court fee and collects the signed and sealed certificate.
- Apostille and translation, if needed. The certificate can be apostilled and translated in the same way as the police clearance certificate.
- Delivery. We send it together with your other documents, by courier or as a scan.
We tell you the full price, including the court fee, before we start. For timelines and what can cause a delay, read how it works.
Validity
Croatian law does not set a fixed expiry date for this certificate. The receiving authority decides how recent it must be. Because it describes the situation on the day it is issued, many authorities want a recent one, so order it close to the date you submit your application.
Questions about the certificate of no criminal proceedings
Do I need both certificates?
Only if your destination country or authority asks for both. Most applicants need only the police clearance certificate. Check your instructions or our country guides.
Can I get only the certificate of no criminal proceedings?
Yes. Please contact us and we will tell you the price.
Do I need an OIB?
An OIB helps the court identify you, but we can apply without one. Give us the details exactly as they appear in your passport.
What if there is a case open against me?
The certificate shows the situation as it is. If you think there may be an open case, please contact us first, and the lawyer will explain your options.