HOW TO MARRY ABROAD - GETTING MARRIED IN CROATIA

HOW TO MARRY ABROAD - GETTING MARRIED IN CROATIA 

• There is no official residency requirement for civil ceremonies in Croatia, although you will be required to make an appointment to meet with the Maticar (Registrar) at the local town hall a few days before the wedding takes place.
• Catholic and Orthodox faiths are the two main religions in Croatia and your only realistic options for a religious wedding ceremony in Croatia. Religious ceremonies are not legally binding in Croatia and can only be performed with proof marriage by civil ceremony in Croatia or from home.
• Minimum Age Requirement is 18.

CIVIL CEREMONY

Civil ceremonies can take place in locations that have been approved by the Croatian authorities so as well as the registry office, it is possible to get married in hotels, places of interest, outdoors – even on a boat! Civil ceremonies are generally performed in Croatian by the local Maticar (civil officer) so if neither bride nor groom speak Croatian, they will have to engage the services of a court appointed translator at their own expense. The U.S embassy in Croatia’s website keeps a good record of translators.

Applying for specific documents in your own country might require you to submit items like your birth certificate and passports so bear this in mind when you are figuring our your timelines and making travel arrangements.

Documents cannot be more than 90 days old on your wedding date so make sure you time your request for certified copies of long form birth certificates and other documentation required accordingly.

All documentation needs to be with the local town hall where you wish to be married no less than 30 days before your wedding date.

Photocopies and scans of documents will not be accepted. Original documents need to be submitted and these won’t be returned so make sure you contact your local authority to get genuine copies of legal documents.

Certificates and official documentation (both general and specific) must hold and Apostille Stamp.

All documents must be translated into Croatian.

Passports must be valid for one year after the wedding date.

General Process for All Nationalities

Establish where the nearest registry office is to where you want to get married. 

You will need to contact them directly and outline the ceremony venue you have in mind and your preferred wedding date. It goes without saying that this is one reason why you should hire a local wedding planner as communicating is going to be difficult.

It’s a good idea to be aware of the documentation you require (see below) before you make contact first. It will allow you to double check with them that you have everything in order. You will also need to confirm the date you need to meet with them in person before the wedding date to finalise paperwork.

Once you confirm the wedding date, make sure you mark down the 30th day before your wedding in a calendar to ensure you have your paperwork posted over on time. Obviously, we recommend that this is not done on the 30th day and that it should arrive at their office well in advance of this deadline. Remember that documents need to be a maximum of 90 days old or less on the day of your wedding.

A translator is required at the wedding if you do not speak Croatian.

On arrival in Croatia, you will need to meet with the town hall on your agreed appointment date to go through your paperwork but at this stage everything should be in order.

For residents of Ireland, UK, USA, Canada and Australia, your marriage license will be issued in English after the wedding and will be recognised in your home country.

General Documentation Required by All Nationalities

• Valid passports
• Photocopies of picture pages on passports
• Official, Long Form, signed Birth Certificates
• Photocopies of the picture page of the passports for your two witnesses, listing their name, address and occupation
• Divorce Decree (if appropriate)
• Deed Poll (if appropriate)
• Death Certificate (if appropriate)
• Parents’ Consent if either party is under 18