Marriage Registry
The intention to enter into marriage is reported personally to the registrar responsible for the area where the marriage is intended to take place. When reporting the intention to marry, the parties must submit:
- Personal identity cards
- Copies of the personal identity cards of the witnesses
- Final decision of the Municipal Court granting permission for marriage in the case of the groom or bride being a minor.
The deadline for reporting the intention to marry in a civil ceremony is a period of 30 to 45 days from the date of the intended marriage. To solemnize a marriage in a religious ceremony, it is necessary to obtain a certificate from the registrar responsible for the registry area where the marriage is intended to take place, confirming that the prerequisites for marriage have been met. The obtained certificate is valid for three months from the date of issue.
For the preparation of the record of the intention to marry, the administrative fee for record preparation is €9.29. For the marriage ceremony itself, the administrative fee is €18.58.
In the e-Citizens system, through the e-Marriage Application e-Registration for marriage ,electronic submission of the intention to marry in a civil ceremony is allowed in official premises for adult citizens of the Republic of Croatia without visiting the registry office. Civil marriage can be solemnized in the official premises of the registry office or outside the official premises, for which a special fee is charged in accordance with established criteria (N/N. no. 36/20).
Marriage of foreign citizens
For foreign citizens, when registering their intention to marry, it is necessary to attach:
- birth certificate, issued in accordance with international agreements and conventions (not older than 3 months),
- certificate of unmarried status, issued in accordance with international agreements and conventions (not older than 3 months, unless a different validity period is prescribed for this purpose)
- a confirmation that there are no obstacles to marriage in the Republic of Croatia and that the marriage will be recognized in the country of which he is a citizen. This certificate can be an integral part of the certificate of unmarried status (not older than 3 months, unless a different validity period is written on it for this purpose
- identification document
- proof of citizenship
Foreign public documents that are not issued on an international form should be translated into Croatian by an authorized court interpreter. Public documents used in international traffic are subject to the legalization procedure, which is prescribed by the Law on Legalization of Documents in International Traffic (“Official Herald”, number: 53/91).
Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 of the European Parliament and the Council of July 6, 2016. on the promotion of the free movement of citizens, which applies exclusively between member states of the European Union, provides for an exemption from the legalization of public documents. The aforementioned Regulation puts into force multilingual standard forms used for issuing public documents for citizens of the European Union, which do not require additional certification or translation.
The deadline for reporting the intention to enter into marriage in civil form is a period of 30 to 45 days from the date of entering into marriage.
For drawing up the minutes of the declaration of intention to marry, the administrative fee for drawing up the minutes is €9.29. For the act of marriage, the administrative fee is €18.58.
Registration of the fact of the marriage of Croatian citizens born abroad
Registration is entered on the basis of an extract from the state registry of a foreign body according to the place of residence in the Republic of Croatia, or according to the place of birth in the Republic of Croatia of the applicant. If the applicant does not have a residence in the Republic of Croatia, nor was he/she born (registered in the birth register) in the Republic of Croatia, the registration of the fact of marriage will be done in the registry office of the City of Zagreb.
The request for registration of the fact of the marriage occurring abroad is submitted in person, through a representative or through a diplomatic-consular representation of the Republic of Croatia abroad.
The following must be attached to the request:
- original extract from the register of marriages or international extract from the register of marriages
- a copy of the applicant’s valid identity card or passport.
Foreign public documents that are not issued on an international form should be translated into Croatian by an authorized court interpreter in the Republic of Croatia.
Legal basis:
- Law on State Registries (“Official Herald”, number: 96/93, 76/13, 98/19 and 133/22)
- Instruction for the implementation of the Act on State Registries (“Official Herald “, number: 117/21)
- Family Law (“Official Herald”, number: 103/15, 98/19, 47/20 and 49/23)
- Ordinance on the criteria for determining the amount and purpose of the compensation received for marriage outside the official premises (“Official Gazette”, number: 36/20)
By the Law on Legalization of Documents in International Traffic (“Official Gazette “, number: 53/91).
- Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 of the European Parliament and the Council of July 6, 2016. on the promotion of free movement of citizens (amendment of Regulation (EU) No. 1024/2012)