| Question | Answer for the United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Document required | Croatian criminal record certificate (Potvrda iz kaznene evidencije) from the Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation |
| Apostille | Not mentioned in the Home Office guidance for visas. Some employers or regulators may ask for one |
| Translation | Yes. The certificate is in Croatian, so the Home Office needs a certified English translation |
| Validity | Set by the UK, not Croatia. If Croatia is your current country of residence, the certificate must be issued no more than 6 months before 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 a UK visa or a job in the UK and you have lived in Croatia, you may need a Croatian police clearance certificate. This guide explains what the Home Office asks for and how we get the certificate for you without you travelling to Croatia.
Who needs a Croatian certificate for the UK
The Home Office asks for an overseas criminal record certificate in some visa routes. The main ones are:
- Skilled Worker visa (including the Health and Care Worker visa) when you apply from outside the UK for certain jobs in health, education and social care. Examples are nurses, doctors, teachers, care workers and social workers. Whether you need a certificate depends on the occupation code (SOC code) of your job, so ask your sponsor which code applies to you.
- Partners of these workers when they apply for a visa from outside the UK.
You need a certificate from each country outside the UK where you stayed for 12 months or more in the 10 years before you apply, while you were aged 18 or over. The 12 months can be one continuous stay or several shorter stays added together. If you are under 28, the period starts from your 18th birthday.
UK employers, especially in the NHS, schools and care, may also ask for an overseas criminal record check as part of their own recruitment checks, even when the visa does not require it.
Which Croatian document you need
For the UK, 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 Home Office guidance does not ask for the separate certificate of no criminal proceedings from a Croatian court. If your employer or a professional regulator asks for it, we can get it for you. Ask us for a price.
The certificate is issued in Croatian only. A licensed Croatian attorney applies for it 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. The Home Office guidance on criminal record certificates does not mention an apostille, and it accepts either the original certificate or a scanned copy. Some employers, the NMC, the GMC or other regulators may have their own rules, so check with them before you order.
A translation is needed. Because the certificate is not in English, you must send the Croatian certificate together with a full translation. Under the Immigration Rules, the translation must be dated and must confirm that it is accurate, and give the translator’s full name, signature and contact details. Our sworn translation is made by a Croatian court interpreter (stalni sudski tumač) and includes the interpreter’s signed certification. If you need a sworn translation, ask us for a price. It is not part of the online order. Check the latest instructions from the Home Office on translated documents before you apply.
How long the certificate is valid
Croatian law does not set an expiry date for the certificate. The UK decides how recent it must be:
- If Croatia is the country where you live now, the certificate must be issued no more than 6 months before the date of your visa application.
- If you lived in Croatia in the past, the guidance is more flexible about the issue date. A recent certificate is still 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. 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?
For a UK visa, usually not, because the rule is 12 months or more in the last 10 years while aged 18 or over. Your employer may still ask for one. Check with your sponsor.
Can I upload a scan to the UK visa application?
Yes. Home Office guidance accepts an original or a scanned copy. 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
These requirements are based on the Home Office guidance and GOV.UK pages listed below. Rules can change, so check the latest instructions from the Home Office and your sponsor before you apply. See the Home Office guidance on the criminal record certificate requirement, the Skilled Worker visa documents page and the GOV.UK criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Ready to start? Order your Croatian police clearance certificate.