Do You Need a Certified Translation of Your US Birth Certificate for Croatian Citizenship?

If you are applying for Croatian citizenship, one of the first documents you’ll need is a birth certificate. But there’s a catch. The Croatian Ministry of the Interior (MUP) and Croatian consulates have a requirement. They require it to be officially translated into Croatian by a certified translator (sudski tumač).

So, do you really need a certified translation of your US birth certificate? The answer is yes — and here’s why.

Why Your US Birth Certificate Must Be Translated

When you apply for Croatian citizenship, all documents issued abroad must be:

Legalized with an Apostille (issued in the U.S.), and
Officially translated into Croatian.

A simple or “unofficial” translation is not enough. Only translations done by a certified Croatian court interpreter are legally valid and accepted by MUP and Croatian consulates.

Can I Translate My Birth Certificate in the U.S.?

Technically yes — but there are two major drawbacks:

High cost: U.S. agencies charge up to $80–$100 per page

That’s why most applicants choose to have their translations done directly in Croatia, where:

A certified translation is much more affordable,
It’s legally valid for Croatian citizenship applications,
And you can get it delivered the same day by email.

How to Translate Your US Birth Certificate in 3 Easy Steps

Scan or photograph your original birth certificate.
Email it to a certified Croatian translator.
Receive your official translation in PDF format the same day.

If hard copies are required, they can be shipped internationally (DHL or postal service).

What About Apostille?

Before translation, your US birth certificate must be legalized with an Apostille.

You can request it from the Secretary of State in the U.S.
Once you have the Apostille, send both documents for translation (birth certificate + Apostille).

The translator will prepare a complete certified translation, which is accepted by Croatian authorities.

Final Tip

If you’re applying for Croatian citizenship, don’t risk delays with the wrong translation. Work directly with a certified court interpreter in Croatia to make sure your birth certificate is accepted — and save up to 3x compared to U.S. agencies.