There is important news for Croatian emigrants, returnees, and families educated abroad: in 2026, the Croatian Ministry of Demography and Immigration is covering the cost of translating foreign higher education qualifications into Croatian for eligible applicants. According to the official Glas Hrvatske report, the public call is worth EUR 25,000 and remains open until 30 November 2026, or until the available funds are exhausted. You can read the original news report HERE.
For many people planning a return to Croatia, applying for recognition of qualifications, or preparing documents for work or further studies, this is a very practical and useful measure. It also highlights something important: when foreign educational documents are intended for official use in Croatia, the translation usually needs to be prepared in the correct certified form.
Who can apply for funding for diploma translation into Croatian?
According to the published information, the funding is intended for Croatian emigrants, their descendants, and family members with Croatian citizenship. It also covers persons without Croatian citizenship who have been granted temporary or permanent residence in Croatia for the purpose of immigration and return, provided that they completed higher education abroad.
This means the measure is especially relevant for people who earned their university degree outside Croatia and now need an official translation of a diploma into Croatian for use in Croatia.
What documents are covered?
The Ministry states that it will approve funding for the cost of translating documentation that proves foreign higher education qualifications into Croatian, regardless of the type of recognition procedure or profession involved. This includes the translation of diplomas and, where necessary, the complete curriculum of the foreign higher education institution.
In practice, this may include:
- university diplomas
- degree certificates
- transcripts
- diploma supplements
- course descriptions
- curriculum documentation
The exact set of required documents may vary depending on the institution or the procedure, but the official announcement makes it clear that the measure is not limited to only one type of diploma-related document.
Why does the translation need to be certified?
One of the most important details in the announcement is that the translation into Croatian must be carried out by a court-appointed translator for the foreign language in which the qualification was issued. The same report also notes that the translation may be done abroad, provided that the court-appointed translator connects the original-language document to the Croatian translation, since the translator guarantees the accuracy of the translation.
In other words, an ordinary informal translation is not enough for this process. If your diploma or academic records are being submitted for official use in Croatia, the translation must be prepared in the proper certified format.
That is exactly why many people search online for terms such as:
- certified translation of diploma into Croatian
- court translator for diploma in Croatia
- official diploma translation into Croatian
- foreign qualification translation Croatia
When might you need a certified translation of your diploma into Croatian?
A certified translation of a diploma into Croatian may be required in several situations. For example, you may need it if you are returning to Croatia after living abroad, applying for recognition of foreign qualifications, applying for a job in Croatia, continuing your studies, or submitting documentation as part of an administrative or legal procedure.
Even when the procedure itself differs from one institution to another, one thing remains the same: documents submitted for official use should be translated accurately, clearly, and in the correct certified form.
How do applications work?
The published report states that applications for funding must be submitted to the Ministry exclusively in electronic form by email. Applicants need to download the appropriate electronic application form from the Ministry’s website, and additional questions may be sent to razvoj-povratak@mdu.hr. After the Ministry issues its funding decision, the results of the public call will be published on its official website.
Because the call is open only until the deadline or until the available funds are used up, it makes sense to organise your documents early. That timing advice is a practical inference based on the funding structure described in the official report.
Certified diploma translation in Croatia
If you need a certified translation of your diploma into Croatian, it is important to work with a court-appointed translator familiar with official educational documents and formal submission requirements.
As a certified English-Croatian translator, I provide certified translations for clients in Croatia and abroad. Documents can be sent in PDF format for review, which makes the process easier for clients who are not currently in Croatia.
If you need to translate:
- a diploma
- a transcript
- a diploma supplement
- educational records
- other qualification documents
the translation should be accurate, professionally prepared, and suitable for official submission.
Why this news matters for Croatian emigrants and returnees
This public call is more than just an administrative update. For many Croatian emigrants, descendants, and returnees, it removes one practical obstacle in the process of reconnecting with Croatia, continuing their professional path, or organising educational recognition.
It also sends a clear message that diploma translation into Croatian is not just a formality. It is an important step in a wider legal and administrative process, and it should be handled correctly from the beginning.
Need a certified translation of your diploma into Croatian?
If you need a certified translation of a diploma into Croatian, or if you also need transcripts, diploma supplements, or other academic documents translated for official use, you can send your files in PDF format for review.
Fill in the contact form below or email me at info@sudski-tumac-rijeka.com to request a quote and delivery time.
Sudski tumač za engleski jezik Rijeka | Certified Translator 