Croatia to Facilitate Citizenship Rules for Croatian Returnees

Immigrants and returnees from the diaspora to Croatia will have a better chance of obtaining citizenship, as the government could soon introduce more relaxed rules.

The Act on Relations with Croats Outside Croatia is being amended and, if voted by the Parliament, returnees from the diaspora will be allowed a citizenship certificate, Schengen.News reports.

This initiative would add up to successful initiatives that happened five years ago, which facilitated Croatian citizenship acquisition, especially for people with Croatian origins who want to return to Croatia. 

Is Tax Relief One of the Leading Motives for Croatian Returnees? 
The number of applicants for Croatian citizenship has increased in recent years, as there are millions of Croatians living abroad. It is estimated that almost 3.2 million Croatians and their descendants live around the world.

Speaking for the motifs that encourage Croatians to obtain citizenship, Milas does not believe those could be ill intentions. He disagrees that these individuals want to obtain Croatian citizenship for reasons such as taking advantage of their citizenship and moving elsewhere in the EU.

However, there are some concerns that people want to return to Croatia and obtain citizenship for tax benefits. As of January 2025, Croatians who return to the country, in addition to descendants of Croatian emigrants, are not required to pay their taxes for up to five years if they live abroad for more than two consecutive years. 

As Milas noted, the number of Croatians returning to the country is on the rise, especially since the pandemic. According to him, the way Croatian authorities managed the situation during the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the minds of many Croatians living abroad, especially from Australia, Canada and the US.

Source: https://schengen.news/croatia-to-facilitate-citizenship-rules-for-croatian-returnees/