Personal documentsEditorially reviewed 02/09/2026

First Croatian identity card

Find out who submits the application, when a child must be present and when a first identity card is free of charge.

Price from

€0.00

Usual time

Up to 30 days

Responsible institution

MUP

How to apply

This procedure has one application method.

Submit the application to the responsible institution according to its current instructions.

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35 × 45 mm colour photographThe photo must faithfully show the current appearance of the person receiving the card.
Previously issued public document with a photoFor example, a passport if the person already has one. A parent confirms the identity of a child without an identity document.Bring it only if it has already been issued.
Foreign birth-register extract or birth certificateA Croatian citizenship certificate and Croatian birth certificate are not required when the person's data are available in Croatian official records.Required only if the person is not registered in the Croatian birth register.
Proof of paymentIf you pay by online banking, print the proof and attach it to the application.Not required for the free regular procedure or if you pay by card when submitting the application.

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1
Check who submits the application
An adult applies in person; for a child, a parent, guardian or another legal representative applies.
2
Check whether the child must attend
A child under 12 does not have to be present. Plan an in-person visit for a child aged 12 or over.
3
Choose the production time
Choose the regular, accelerated or urgent procedure. Free issue for people under 18 applies only to the regular procedure with registered residence in Croatia.
4
Prepare the photo and documents
Prepare a photo, an existing public document if you have one, and proof of payment if the procedure is not free.
5
Submit the application
Submit the application at a police administration or station that handles administrative matters.
6
Sign the agreement and complete biometric steps
When applying, sign the certification-services agreement and, where applicable, provide fingerprints.
7
Collect the identity card
Collect the card and security envelope at the police administration or station where you applied.
8
Activate the electronic part
To use electronic functions, activate the eID card and change the initial password and PIN.

Procedure	Price	Deadline
Free regular procedure for people under 18 Applies only to a first identity card for a person under 18 with registered residence in Croatia, in the regular procedure.	€0.00	Up to 30 days
Regular procedure in other cases Applies when not all conditions for a free first card are met.	€13.27	Up to 30 days
Accelerated procedure The accelerated procedure is charged even when the applicant is under 18.	€25.88	Up to 10 days
Urgent procedure The urgent procedure is charged even when the applicant is under 18.	€66.36	Up to 3 working days

Free issue applies only to the first identity card of a person under 18 who has registered residence in Croatia and chooses the regular procedure.
A child under 12 does not need to be present when applying; plan an in-person visit for an older child.
If the person is not registered in the Croatian birth register, present a foreign birth-register extract or birth certificate for the first issue.
Proof of application is not an identity or travel document and cannot be used to cross a state border.
Collect the completed card no later than 90 days after the production deadline; otherwise it will be cancelled.

Assuming every first identity card is free without checking age, residence and procedure type.
Obtaining a Croatian citizenship certificate and birth certificate unnecessarily even though the data are already in Croatian official records.
Not bringing a child of the required age to submit the application.
Using the wrong personal identification number in the payment for the person receiving the card.
Not printing proof of payment by online banking.
Not collecting the completed identity card within the prescribed period.

Information was editorially reviewed on 02/09/2026. Before applying, check the latest information on official websites.

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