Which Documents Need to Be Translated When Moving to Croatia? A Checklist for Expats

Planning a Move to Croatia? Don’t Forget the Translations

Moving to a new country is exciting – but paperwork can be overwhelming. If you’re planning to live, work, study, or retire in Croatia, one of the key steps is preparing and translating your official documents.

Croatian institutions often require certified translations (službeni prijevod) done by a court-certified translator (sudski tumač). These translations are legally valid and accepted by authorities such as MUP (Ministry of the Interior), schools, universities, notaries, and tax offices.

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What Documents Do Expats Commonly Need to Translate?

Here’s a checklist based on the most common cases I’ve handled as a certified translator in Rijeka:

🧾 Identity and Civil Status

• Passport or ID (only if required in certified form)
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Divorce papers
• Death certificate (for inheritance/family matters)
• Criminal record certificate (Certificate of No Criminal Convictions)

🏠 Residency & Address Registration

• Lease agreement or proof of accommodation
• Utility bills (for proof of residence)
• Notarized statements (e.g. declaration of financial support)

💼 Work & Employment

• Employment contract
• Work permit documents
• Confirmation of income or job offer
• Tax documents from abroad (sometimes needed for dual taxation or residence application)

🧑‍🎓 Education

• Diplomas and degree certificates
• Academic transcripts
• High school leaving certificates
• Syllabi (for nostrification/recognition)

🏦 Financial & Legal

• Bank statements
• Proof of pension/income
• Power of attorney
• Court documents
• Land registry excerpts (if buying property)

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✅ What Type of Translation Do You Need?

Croatian authorities do not accept regular translations. You’ll need a certified translation that includes:

• The translator’s official stamp and signature
• A declaration of accuracy
• A binding format

Translations must be done into Croatian, unless otherwise requested by a foreign authority.

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🕒 How Long Does It Take?

Most individual documents (1–2 pages) can be translated the same day. Depending on your timeline, larger sets or urgent requests can also be arranged.

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📍 Why Choose a Certified Translator in Croatia?

Working with a local, court-certified translator in Rijeka means:

• No confusion about legal terminology
• Compliance with Croatian institutions
• Easy pickup of printed originals or delivery by mail
• Fast communication in English and Croatian

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💬 Final Tip for Expats

Before translating anything, check with your legal advisor or MUP office which documents are actually required and whether they need to be legalized or apostilled first. That way, you’ll save both time and money.

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Need help translating your documents for life in Croatia?
I’m a certified English–Croatian translator based in Rijeka, offering fast and reliable service for expats. Get in touch for a free quote or consultation.