How to Get Legally Married in Croatia as a Foreigner

Planning a civil wedding in Croatia as a foreign couple? Here is how it works in Dubrovnik, step by step, from the documents you need to the marriage certificate that arrives at your home address. We organise civil weddings for couples from abroad, and this is the process we guide them through.

Can foreigners get married in Dubrovnik?

Yes. We have organised civil weddings for couples from the UK, Germany, Ireland, Chile, Australia and the USA. We take care of the paperwork with you, step by step.

Which documents do you need?

For all foreign couples, whatever their nationality, we ask for:

• copies of your passports,
• your birth certificates, in English,
• a certificate of no impediment (CNI),
• verification of these documents with an apostille in your own country.

Certain documents must not be older than 3 months, so timing matters. We guide you through every step and keep track of the legal deadlines.

How the process works

1. Collecting the documents. We assist with every step of gathering the documentation, so you always know what is needed and when.
2. The registry appointment. We schedule the mandatory appointment at the registry office.
3. Sworn translation. A court interpreter, whom we hire, translates 5 documents, including the marriage certificate.
4. The ceremony. Your marriage takes place at the location you choose. A registrar assigned to you comes to the location and leads the ceremony in Croatian, while the court interpreter translates into your native language.
5. Your marriage certificate. We arrange the apostille for the marriage certificate and send it by post to your home address.

Witnesses and the interpreter

A civil ceremony needs two witnesses. If you do not have any, Ana and Kristina take on that role. The court interpreter, who translates your documents and the ceremony, is hired by us.

Where can you get married?

At the location you choose. Depending on your number of guests and your vision, we suggest Park Orsula, Lazareti, Palace Viewpoint, Sponza and other locations. You can see more on our Dubrovnik venues page, or read our guide to civil and symbolic elopements.

Full planning, or the paperwork only?

There are two situations we work in. In the first, we are your planners and organise everything as usual: the location, the partners and every detail of your day, together with the documentation. In the second, you organise the day yourselves, often including the location, and we take care of the paperwork alone. Besides complete planning of civil ceremonies, we also work exclusively on collecting the documentation.

Ready to start?

Tell us your date and whether you would like full planning or only the paperwork. Read more about civil weddings and legal paperwork, or get in touch and we will get back to you personally.