Knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script, as well as Croatian culture and social system, is one of the general conditions for acquiring Croatian citizenship by naturalization. This condition is laid down in the Croatian Citizenship Act (Official Gazette Nos. 53/91, 70/91, 28/92, 113/93, 4/94, 130/11, 110/15, 102/19, 138/21; hereinafter: the Act). The method of proving the Ordinance governs the Method of Testing Knowledge of the Croatian Language and Latin Script, Croatian Culture and Social System in Croatian Citizenship Proceedings (Official Gazette No. 6/2021; hereinafter: the Ordinance). The Minister of the Interior adopted the Ordinance on 18 January 2021, with the consent of the heads of the state administration bodies responsible for science, education, culture and sport. It entered into force on the eighth day after its publication, having been published on 22 January 2021.
The test applies exclusively to applicants aged 18 to 60 in ordinary naturalization proceedings under Article 8 of the Act. These applicants must demonstrate Knowledge of the Croatian language and Latin script, Croatian culture, and the social system, as established by the Ordinance (Official Gazette No. 6/2021). This section should specify the exact steps and documentation required to meet these conditions, helping applicants and officials understand the precise process involved.
The obligation to take the test therefore applies to applicants in ordinary naturalization proceedings who are between 18 and 60 years of age (Article 8(1)(4) and 8(4) of the Act).
To promote fairness, the Act explicitly recognizes that certain groups, such as applicants over 60 and spouses of Croatian citizens, are exempt from the language, culture, and social system condition, reassuring both applicants and officials of equitable treatment.
· Applicants over 60. In ordinary naturalization proceedings, persons over 60 are not required to take the test (Article 8(5)).
· Persons born in Croatia. A person born in the territory of the Republic of Croatia who lives there and holds approved permanent residence is exempt from the residence condition and from the language and culture condition (Article 9, points 3 and 4).
· Spouses of Croatian citizens. A foreign national married to a Croatian citizen, who holds approved permanent residence and lives in Croatia, need not meet the conditions in points 1 to 4, including the language and culture condition (Article 10).
· Emigrants. The same applies to emigrants, their descendants and their spouses, who are exempt from points 2 to 4 (Article 11(1) and (2)).
· Applicants in Croatia’s interest. A foreign national may not take the test if admitting them to Croatian citizenship would be in the interest of the Republic of Croatia. Nor is it taken by that person’s spouse, provided the spouse has lived in Croatia for one year with approved residence (Article 12, points 1 to 4).
· Minor children. A minor child who acquires citizenship by naturalization with a parent does not take the test either, since the child’s acquisition follows the parent’s status (Article 13).
· Former Croatian citizens. Exempt is a former Croatian citizen who obtained release from Croatian citizenship to acquire a foreign citizenship needed for a profession or activity abroad, provided that the person lives in Croatia with approved residence (Article 15, points 1 to 4).
· Members of the Croatian people abroad. An exempt person is a member of the Croatian people not resident in Croatia, who must only respect the legal order and pose no security obstacles (Article 16).
In practice, foreign nationals mainly take the test when applying for citizenship based on long-term residence and have no special link to Croatia (marriage, descent, birth in Croatia, or membership of the Croatian people). The spouse of a Croatian citizen is often wrongly regarded as subject to the test. Since 1 January 2020, however, a spouse is not required to prove knowledge of the language and culture, but must hold approved permanent residence and live in Croatia.
A police officer does not test language knowledge at the application stage; instead, applicants provide a public document, ensuring transparency and clarity for applicants and Officials in the process.
A certificate of a passed examination in the Croatian language and Latin script, issued by:
· universities or their constituent units that run Croatian language programs and conduct examinations,
· secondary schools, the National Center for External Evaluation of Education, and adult education institutions authorized to conduct such an examination.
A school certificate or diploma obtained in the Republic of Croatia. This may be a certificate of completed primary or secondary education (year-end certificate, state matura certificate, final paper certificate) or a diploma of completed higher education.
A document issued by a foreign higher education institution: a course completion certificate, transcript of records, or diploma supplement. It must confirm knowledge of Croatian at level B1 or higher of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
The Ordinance expressly sets the B1 level only for foreign documents. No level is specified for domestic examination certificates, so, in practice, the certificate should state level B1 to avoid doubts in the proceedings.
Two groups of foreign nationals prove language knowledge differently: those who, as of the application date, held refugee status in Croatia for at least 10 years, and those who were resident in Croatia on 8 October 1991 and are beneficiaries of return, reconstruction, or housing programs.
They prove language knowledge by completing the naturalization application form before an official of the police administration or police station. They complete the form themselves, without consulting anyone, immediately upon filing the application. Refugee status or beneficiary status is proven by a certificate issued by the competent state body.
Unlike language, knowledge of culture and the social system is proven exclusively by a written questionnaire completed before the official receiving the application (Article 5 of the Ordinance). No certificate or diploma can replace the questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of 15 questions drawn from the bank of 110 questions in Annex 1 to the Ordinance. The official randomly determines which questionnaire the applicant will complete (Article 6 of the Ordinance). The applicant completes it at the police administration or police station when filing the application for Croatian citizenship, before the official who receives the application. The applicant has 60 minutes to complete the questionnaire. They complete it on their own, without consulting anyone, by circling only one of the offered answers to each question or by writing in the required answer. The official marks the questionnaire immediately. The applicant is informed immediately whether they have proven knowledge of Croatian culture and the social system. Knowledge is deemed proven if the applicant answers at least 10 of the 15 questions correctly, i.e., two-thirds of the questionnaire.
An applicant who has not proven the required knowledge may, on request, be allowed to inspect the marked questionnaire. The questionnaire is confidential: the applicant may not take it out of the premises of the police administration or police station, nor make it available to anyone else in any way.
The questions cover the social system, history, culture, customs, art, literature, sport, economy, tourism and geographical position of the Republic of Croatia. Since the full bank of 110 questions has been published in the Official Gazette, candidates can prepare more effectively.
Sample questions from Annex 1 (with correct answers):
Question 16. The holder of executive power in the Republic of Croatia is: a) the Government of the Republic of Croatia, b) the Supreme Court of the Republic of Croatia, c) the Croatian Parliament, d) the Ombudsperson.
Correct answer: a) the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
Question 17. The date of the Republic of Croatia’s accession to the European Union is: ________ (open question).
Correct answer: 1 July 2013.
Question 46. Members of the Croatian Parliament are elected for a term of: a) 2 years, b) 3 years, c) 4 years, d) 5 years.
Correct answer: c) 4 years.
Question 62. Describe the flag of the Republic of Croatia: three horizontal colors from top to bottom and the central element.
Correct answer: red, white, and blue, with the coat of arms of the Republic of Croatia in the center.
Question 79. The inventor born in 1856 in Smiljan near Gospić, who died in New York in 1943, and after whom the unit of magnetic field is named, is: a) Ruđer Bošković, b) Nikola Tesla, c) Ivan Supek, d) Andrija Štampar.
Correct answer: b) Nikola Tesla.
The examples show two types of questions: closed questions (multiple choice, one correct answer) and open questions (writing in a term, date, or name). Open questions require active knowledge and writing in Latin script, so they also indirectly test Croatian literacy.
The Ordinance does not regulate whether an applicant who fails to achieve 10 correct answers may retake the questionnaire in the same proceedings. Since this is a condition under Article 8(1)(4) of the Act, failure generally results in refusal of the application under Article 26(1) of the Act. The applicant may then file a new application.
FAQ WE USUALLY GET FROM OUR CLIENTS:
Preparation: Where can I find the full list of 110 questions?
All 110 questions are published as Annex 1 to the Ordinance in the Official Gazette (Narodne novine) No. 6/2021, document 124. The text is free on the Official Gazette website (narodne-novine.nn.hr). Your questionnaire of 15 questions is drawn only from this list, so studying the whole Annex is the most reliable preparation. Some answers need updating: for example, the currency question (No. 73) should now be answered “euro” and “cent”, not “kuna” and “lipa”.
Retake policy: If I fail, how soon can I reapply or retake the test?
The Ordinance does not provide for a retake within the same proceedings. Neither the Ordinance nor the Citizenship Act sets a waiting period before a new application. If you fail, the application will generally be refused under Article 26(1) of the Act, because the condition in Article 8(1)(4) has not been met. You may then file a new application, at which point you complete a new questionnaire. In practice, check with the police administration whether they will let you withdraw the application instead, and confirm current practice before reapplying.
Documentation: What if my certificate does not state the B1 level?
It depends on the type of document:
- A Croatian school certificate or diploma (primary, secondary or higher education completed in Croatia) does not need to state any level. Completing education in Croatia is sufficient in itself.
- A certificate of a passed exam from an authorised Croatian institution (university, secondary school, the National Centre for External Evaluation of Education, an adult education institution) is not expressly required by the Ordinance to state a level. To avoid doubts, it is still advisable to ask the issuing institution for a certificate or supplementary confirmation that states B1.
- A document from a foreign higher education institution (course certificate, transcript, diploma supplement) must confirm at least B1. If yours does not state it, ask the institution for a supplementary confirmation of the level achieved, or take an exam at an authorised Croatian institution.
Special cases: How do I prove that I am exempt?
- You do not apply for an exemption separately. You file the application under the article of the Act that applies to you and attach evidence of the facts that article requires:
- Over 60 (Art. 8(5)): identity document showing your date of birth.
- Born in Croatia (Art. 9): birth certificate and proof of approved permanent residence.
- Spouse of a Croatian citizen (Art. 10): marriage certificate, proof of your spouse’s Croatian citizenship (e.g. domovnica or identity card) and proof of your approved permanent residence.
- Emigrant or descendant (Art. 11): documents showing that you or your ancestor emigrated from Croatia before 8 October 1991 with the intention of living abroad permanently, and documents proving the family line. A spouse also attaches the marriage certificate.
- Interest of the Republic of Croatia (Art. 12): the reasoned opinion of the competent ministry or central state office, which the Ministry of the Interior requests.
- Member of the Croatian people abroad (Art. 16): evidence of belonging to the Croatian people. Examples are earlier declarations in legal transactions, entries in public documents, and active participation in Croatian cultural, scientific or sports associations abroad. This evidence is not needed if your parents’ membership of the Croatian people is undisputed.