Criminal Record Certificate (Police Clearance Certificate) in Croatia

A police clearance certificate, also called a criminal record certificate, a certificate of no criminal record or a certificate of good conduct, is known in Croatia as uvjerenje o nekažnjavanju. Some older lists and lawyer pages call this service “Police Clearance Certificate / Criminal Record Check”. Despite the English name, the Croatian police do not issue it: the record of convictions (kaznena evidencija) is kept by the Ministry of Justice, and the courts confirm whether criminal proceedings are pending. English-speaking lawyers in Croatia handle both directions: Croatian certificates for use abroad, and foreign certificates for use in Croatia.

Who needs it

• People who lived in Croatia and now apply for a visa, a job or residence in another country.
• Foreigners applying for Croatian residence, for example a digital nomad visa or family reunification, who are asked for a certificate from home.
• Applicants for Croatian citizenship, who are asked for certificates from their country of citizenship and the country where they live.
• Employees and licence holders in Croatia whose employer or regulator asks for proof of a clean record.

How it works in Croatia

Croatia uses two different papers. An extract from the criminal record, meant for rights exercised abroad, comes from the Ministry of Justice; it can be requested in person, by post, through a representative or, from abroad, through a Croatian embassy or consulate. A certificate that no criminal proceedings are pending (uvjerenje da se ne vodi kazneni postupak) comes from the municipal courts and, for some purposes, through the e-Građani portal. A representative applies with a power of attorney certified by a notary or by a Croatian consulate.

What to look out for

The receiving authority decides which of the two documents it wants and how recent it has to be. A certificate for use outside the EU usually needs an apostille; a foreign certificate filed in Croatia normally needs an apostille or legalisation and a translation by a Croatian court interpreter (sudski tumač). The requirements for foreigners' files have changed more than once, so a lawyer confirms the current ones. The record extract lists convictions only; whether a warrant is out is a separate question, see arrest warrant check. This page is general information, not legal advice.

What a lawyer does

Finds out which certificate the authority expects, prepares the request and the power of attorney, collects the document, arranges the apostille and translation and, for foreign certificates, checks that the issuing country's document matches what the Croatian office asks for.

Questions and answers

Can I get a Croatian criminal record certificate online?

The court certificate on pending proceedings can be issued through e-Građani to people with Croatian electronic credentials. A document for use abroad is usually requested from the court or the ministry directly.

Why is it called a police clearance if the police do not issue it?

Because that is the usual English name for this kind of document. In Croatia the ministry and the courts issue it.

Can I apply while living outside Croatia?

Yes, through a Croatian embassy or consulate, or through a lawyer acting under a power of attorney.

Which certificate is needed for Croatian citizenship?

Certificates from your country of citizenship and from the country where you live, with the apostille and translation the Ministry of the Interior asks for.

How long is a certificate valid?

There is no single rule: each receiving authority sets how recent the certificate has to be.