Visas & Customs Requirements

Marriage:

For the most up-to-date and complete information on marriage requirements, contact the government of Croatia, specifically the records registry (Maticni Ured) in the locality where the marriage will take place.

The following is an unofficial summary of the requirements, for which the U.S. Embassy in Croatia assumes no legal liability for accuracy. For a U.S. citizen to marry in Croatia, Croatian authorities require the following:

• Valid U.S. passport.


• U.S. birth certificate translated into Croatian by a sworn court interpreter; the U.S. birth certificate must bear the apostil of the competent authority of the issuing U.S. state and must be a new copy issued within the past 90 days. Obtaining the apostil and/or new birth certificate may require several days or weeks, depending on the state.


• A sworn statement, made by the American citizen before a U.S. Consular Officer, stating that the person in question is an American citizen, that he/she is free to marry, and that the marriage contracted in Croatia will be regarded as valid by U.S. authorities. This document is available at the U.S. Embassy in Zagreb upon presentation of an American passport. The fee is $30 payable in cash (dollars or kuna equivalent) or by major credit card.


• The document supplied by the U. S. Embassy also must be authenticated Consular Section of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integration. The government fee (biljeg) is 60 kunas (approximately $10).


• If an American citizen does not speak Croatian, he/she will have to obtain the services of a court appointed translator for the marriage ceremony.


• If one of the marriage partners is divorced or widowed, proof of the dissolution of previous marriage (i.e., divorce decree or death certificate) is required; similarly, an apostil is required on those documents.