At a glance
| Question | Answer for the USA |
|---|---|
| Document required | Two documents: a criminal record certificate from the Ministry of Justice (Potvrda iz kaznene evidencije) and a certificate of no criminal proceedings from a Croatian municipal court (Uvjerenje da se ne vodi kazneni postupak). |
| Apostille | Not asked for in the Department of State’s immigrant visa instructions. Check the latest instructions for your case. |
| Translation | Yes. A certified translation into English, or into the official language of the country where you apply. |
| Validity | The USA decides, not Croatia. For immigrant visas, usually 2 years from the date of issue. |
| Who can order | Anyone who lived in Croatia, Croatian citizen or not, from any country. |
If you are applying for a US green card through a US embassy or consulate and you have lived in Croatia, the US Department of State will usually ask you for a Croatian police certificate. This guide explains when you need one, which Croatian documents to get, and how we can get them for you without a trip to Croatia.
Who needs a Croatian police certificate for the USA
Police certificates are part of the immigrant visa process, which runs through the National Visa Center (NVC) and a US embassy or consulate. This includes family and employment green cards and the K fiancé(e) visa. Under the Department of State’s current rules, every applicant aged 16 or older needs a police certificate from:
- the country of your nationality, if you lived there for more than 6 months
- the country where you live now, if you have lived there for more than 6 months
- any other country where you lived for 12 months or more after the age of 16
- any country where you were arrested, however long you stayed there.
Always follow the document list for your own case.
Applying inside the USA? Adjustment of status and naturalisation go through US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which has its own rules. Check the latest instructions from USCIS, or any request it sends you, to see if you need a Croatian certificate.
Which Croatian documents the USA asks for
The Department of State’s reciprocity page for Croatia lists the documents the US accepts. It asks applicants for both of these:
- Criminal record certificate from the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation (Potvrda iz kaznene evidencije, often called potvrda o nekažnjavanju). This shows any convictions in Croatia. The Department of State’s page may use an older name for it, such as Potvrda o osuđivanosti.
- A certificate of no criminal proceedings from a Croatian municipal court (Uvjerenje da se ne vodi kazneni postupak). This shows whether a criminal case is open against you. Read more on our certificate of no criminal proceedings page.
Rules can change, so check the latest Croatia page from the Department of State, or ask your consulate, before you order.
Avoid the e-Citizens printout. A criminal record certificate downloaded from e-Građani has only an electronic signature and cannot be apostilled. We order the signed and stamped paper certificate from the Ministry, so you have a proper original to scan and take to your interview.
Apostille and translation
An apostille is an international stamp that makes a document valid abroad. The Department of State’s immigrant visa instructions do not ask for one on police certificates. Other US bodies, such as licensing boards, may have their own rules. Our price always includes an apostille.
Croatian certificates for use abroad are issued in Croatian only, so you do need a translation. The Department of State asks for a certified translation of any document that is not in English or in the official language of the country where you apply. You submit the certificate together with the translation. Check the latest instructions from the Department of State for the exact form of certification it accepts.
We can arrange a sworn translation by a court-sworn translator (stalni sudski tumač), attached to the original. Ask us if you also need a separate translator’s statement in English. The translation is not part of the online order, so ask us for a price.
How long the certificate is valid for the USA
Croatian law does not set an expiry date on the certificate. The USA decides how recent it must be. Under the Department of State’s current instructions:
- A police certificate is usually accepted for 2 years from the date it was issued.
- If you no longer live in Croatia and have not gone back since the certificate was issued, it may stay valid for longer.
- The certificate must cover the whole time you lived in Croatia.
For an immigrant visa, you usually upload a scan of the certificate and its translation to the NVC and bring the paper original to your interview. Follow the instructions the NVC gives you.
How to order through us
You can apply yourself through a Croatian embassy or consulate. If you prefer not to, a licensed Croatian attorney can apply for you with a power of attorney. You do not need to travel to Croatia, and you do not need an OIB.
- Fill in the order form. The price is €165, with the apostille included. For the sworn translation and the certificate of no criminal proceedings, ask us for a price.
- Sign the power of attorney and upload it with a scan of your passport.
- Pay the invoice we email you. Then our lawyer starts work.
- Receive a scan by email for the NVC upload. Choose courier delivery (+€10) to get the paper original for your interview.
See how it works for the full process and usual timelines, and Prices for the price.
Questions about the USA
I lived in Croatia for only 8 months. Do I need a certificate?
If you are not a Croatian citizen and do not live in Croatia now, usually not, because the 12-month rule applies. If you were ever arrested in Croatia, you do need one.
Can I upload the certificate, or must I post the original?
For an immigrant visa, you usually upload a scan to the NVC and bring the original to your interview. Follow the instructions the NVC gives you, and keep the paper original safe.
My certificate is more than 2 years old. Is it still accepted?
Usually not, unless you have not been back to Croatia since it was issued. Check with the NVC or your consulate. If you need a new one, you can order it here.
What if I have a criminal record in Croatia?
The certificate will show it. Please contact the attorney before you order so your case can be looked at individually.
Official source
This guide summarises the instructions from the US Department of State. Rules can change, so check the latest instructions from the Department of State before you apply: Croatia reciprocity schedule (travel.state.gov) and Collect civil documents (travel.state.gov).
Ready to start? Order your Croatian police clearance certificate for the USA.