| Question | Answer for Ireland |
|---|---|
| Document required | Croatian criminal record certificate (Potvrda iz kaznene evidencije) from the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation |
| Apostille | Not needed for Croatian citizens under EU Regulation 2016/1191. Other nationals should check with the Irish authority. Our price always includes the apostille |
| Translation | Usually yes. The certificate is in Croatian, so Irish authorities normally ask for a certified English translation |
| Validity | Set by Ireland, not Croatia. For family reunification, no more than 6 months old on the date you apply |
| Who can order | Anyone who has lived in Croatia, Croatian citizen or not, from anywhere in the world |
If you are applying for Irish citizenship, a family visa or a job in Ireland, and you have lived in Croatia, you may need a Croatian police clearance certificate. This guide explains what the Irish authorities ask for and how we get the certificate for you without you travelling to Croatia.
Who needs a Croatian certificate for Ireland
Immigration Service Delivery (the Irish Immigration Service, part of the Department of Justice) asks for police certificates in several applications. The main ones are:
- Citizenship by naturalisation. The Department of Justice citizenship guidance says that if you have been outside Ireland for longer than 6 months, you need a police clearance from the country you were in. Applicants who live outside Ireland also have to provide a police certificate from the relevant police authority.
- Joining family in Ireland. For example, de facto partners of Irish citizens and family members of UK citizens need a police certificate from every country they have lived in during the last 5 years. Other join family visa routes ask for similar documents.
- Work in health, care and education. Garda vetting only covers Ireland. Employers and professional regulators therefore often ask for police certificates from other countries where you have lived. Each body sets its own rules, so ask them how long a stay counts.
Which Croatian document you need
For Ireland, you normally need the criminal record certificate (Potvrda iz kaznene evidencije), often called a “certificate of no convictions”. It is issued by the Criminal Records Department of the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation in Zagreb.
The Irish immigration guidance we reviewed does not ask for the separate certificate of no criminal proceedings from a Croatian court. If your employer or regulator asks for it, we can get it for you. Ask us for a price.
A licensed Croatian attorney applies for the certificate on your behalf with a signed power of attorney. You do not need to come to Croatia or contact the embassy. A certificate from e-Citizens (e-Građani) is an electronic record without an official’s signature or stamp. If you need an apostille, the Ministry says the certificate must be requested at its office in Zagreb, which the attorney does for you.
Apostille and translation
An apostille is an international stamp that makes a document valid abroad. Whether you need one depends on your nationality:
- Croatian citizens: under EU Regulation 2016/1191, a criminal record certificate that Croatia issues to its own citizen does not need an apostille when it is presented to an authority in another EU country, including Ireland.
- Everyone else: the regulation does not cover a certificate issued to a person who is not a Croatian citizen. The Irish guidance we reviewed does not clearly say if an apostille is needed. Check the latest instructions from Immigration Service Delivery or your employer.
A translation is usually needed, because the certificate is in Croatian. Irish immigration applications normally require documents that are not in English or Irish to come with a full, certified translation. Croatian citizens with no convictions can also ask for an EU multilingual standard form with the certificate. Under EU Regulation 2016/1191 this form can replace a translation, but only if the Irish authority finds it sufficient, so check with them first. Our sworn translation is made by a Croatian court interpreter (stalni sudski tumač). If you need a sworn translation, ask us for a price. It is not part of the online order.
How long the certificate is valid
How recent the certificate must be is decided by the Irish authority, not by Croatia:
- For family reunification, such as de facto partners of Irish citizens, the certificate should be no more than 6 months old on the date you apply.
- For citizenship and for employers, check the current guidance or ask the body that wants the certificate. A recent certificate is the safest choice.
Plan your order so the certificate arrives shortly before you apply.
How to order through us
- Order online. Fill in the form on the Order page. The price is €165, with the apostille included. We email you an invoice, and our lawyer starts work when it is paid. See Prices.
- Sign the power of attorney. You download it, sign it and upload it. Because it is given to an attorney, it does not need a notary.
- Receive your certificate. We send you a scan for your online application and, if you need the paper original, send it by courier.
Read how it works for realistic timelines and what can cause a delay.
Frequently asked questions
I lived in Croatia for less than 6 months. Do I need the certificate?
For citizenship, the guidance asks for a police clearance when you were outside Ireland for longer than 6 months. For join family applications, the rule is any country you lived in during the last 5 years. Check the exact rule for your application before you order.
I am a Croatian citizen. Do I still need a translation?
Usually yes, because the certificate is in Croatian. The EU regulation removes the apostille. If you have no convictions, you can also ask for the EU multilingual standard form, which can replace a translation if the Irish authority accepts it as sufficient. Check the latest instructions from Immigration Service Delivery before you order.
I do not have an OIB. Can I still order?
Yes. The OIB (Croatian personal identification number) is not required for this certificate. Add it on the order form if you have one.
What if I have a criminal record in Croatia?
The certificate shows what is in the Croatian criminal records. We cannot give general advice about this. Please contact the attorney before you order.
Official source
These requirements are based on guidance from Immigration Service Delivery, Department of Justice, Ireland, and on EU Regulation 2016/1191. Rules can change, so check the latest instructions from Immigration Service Delivery, your employer or your regulator before you apply. See the citizenship guidance on proofs, the guidance for de facto partners of Irish nationals, the page on joining a UK national family member, the Croatian government page on the criminal record certificate (in Croatian) and the text of EU Regulation 2016/1191.
Ready to start? Order your Croatian police clearance certificate.