| Question | Answer for New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Document required | Croatian criminal record certificate (Potvrda iz kaznene evidencije) from the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation |
| Apostille | Not mentioned in INZ’s police certificate guidance. Check the latest instructions from Immigration New Zealand. A professional body or employer may have its own rules |
| Translation | Yes. The certificate is in Croatian, so Immigration New Zealand needs a certified English translation |
| Validity | Set by New Zealand. The certificate must be less than 6 months old when you submit your application |
| Who can order | Anyone who has lived in Croatia, Croatian citizen or not, from anywhere in the world |
If you are applying for a New Zealand visa and you have lived in Croatia, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) may ask you for a Croatian police clearance certificate. Here is what INZ asks for and how we get the certificate without you travelling to Croatia.
Who needs a Croatian certificate for New Zealand
INZ uses police certificates to check that applicants are of good character. Whether you need one depends on the visa and how long you plan to stay. In general, you may need police certificates if you are aged 17 or over and:
- you apply for a residence visa, for example the Skilled Migrant Category or a partnership-based residence visa, or
- you apply for a temporary visa, such as a work or student visa, and you plan to stay in New Zealand for 24 months or longer.
For first residence applications, INZ asks for a certificate from your country of citizenship and from each country where you have lived for 12 months or more in the last 10 years. The 12 months do not have to be one stay. Several shorter stays in Croatia can add up to 12 months.
For temporary visas, INZ asks for a certificate from your country of citizenship and from any country where you have lived for 5 years or more since age 17.
Family members aged 17 or over who are included in the application may need their own certificates. An immigration officer can also ask for a certificate during processing. Applications without a required certificate can be declined or a visa issued for a shorter period.
Which Croatian document you need
For New Zealand, 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. It contains your complete Croatian criminal record, not only the last 10 years.
INZ has a country tool on its police certificates page that shows how to get a certificate from each country. If it, or your immigration officer, also asks for the certificate of no criminal proceedings from a Croatian court, we can get it for you. Ask us for a price.
The electronic certificate from the e-Citizens (e-Građani) system is not a good choice for use abroad: it cannot be apostilled. A licensed Croatian attorney applies for the paper certificate on your behalf with a signed power of attorney, so you do not need to come to Croatia or contact the embassy.
Apostille and translation
An apostille is an international stamp that makes a document valid abroad. INZ’s pages on police certificates and translations do not mention an apostille, and for online applications INZ accepts a clear, readable scan. Check the latest instructions from Immigration New Zealand for your visa. Professional registration boards, for example for nurses or teachers, may have their own rules.
A translation is needed. INZ asks for a certified English translation of any police certificate that is not in English. You submit both the Croatian certificate and the translation. The translator must certify it as a correct translation and sign or stamp it. You, a family member or the immigration adviser on your application cannot do it. Our sworn translation is made by a Croatian court interpreter (stalni sudski tumač) and carries the translator’s certification and stamp. 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
Croatian law does not set an expiry date for the certificate. New Zealand decides how recent it must be:
- The certificate must be less than 6 months old on the date you submit your visa application.
- If the certificate becomes a year old from its date of issue before INZ decides, it may ask for a new one.
Plan your order so the certificate arrives shortly before you apply. INZ does not accept a receipt or confirmation that you applied for a certificate instead of the certificate.
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. 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 12 months. Do I need the certificate?
Usually not, unless you are a Croatian citizen: the residence rule is 12 months or more in the last 10 years, and the temporary visa rule is 5 years or more. An immigration officer can still ask for one, so check the instructions for your visa.
Can I upload a scan to my INZ application?
Yes. For online applications you upload a clear scan of the certificate and the translation. We send you a scan as soon as the certificate is ready.
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
Rules can change, so check the latest instructions from Immigration New Zealand for your visa before you apply. See the INZ page on police certificates, how to get a police certificate (with the country tool) and providing English translations of supporting documents.
Ready to start? Order your Croatian police clearance certificate.