To register a New Zealand-born child with Croatia, Croatia's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs asks for the child's original NZ birth certificate with an apostille and a certified Croatian translation, the parents' marriage certificate (with the marriage registered in Croatia first), proof of a parent's Croatian citizenship, and a consent from a non-Croatian parent signed before a NZ Notary Public and apostilled. Parents' names, dates and places of birth must match the Croatian registers. An apostille does not fix a mismatch.
The right order
Fix the records first. Everything after that is built on them. The dashed step is only needed if the details do not match.
- Compare NZ and Croatian recordsNames, surnames, dates and places of birth.
- Correct the NZ recordsThrough BDM, including the parent's surname at birth.
- Order new certificatesBirth and marriage, through BDM Online.
- Apostille each oneDIA, NZ$37 per certificate.
- Certified Croatian translationUsing the Croatian spelling, diacritics included.
- Lodge with CroatiaYou submit to the Croatian consulate or registry.
What each document costs, all in
Per document, returned in New Zealand. Translator fees depend on the document and are quoted before work starts.
Child's birth certificate
Ordered from BDM and apostilled
| Our BDM ordering | $15 |
| BDM certificate fee | $35 |
| Our apostille service | $79 |
| DIA apostille fee | $37 |
| DIA courier within NZ | $7 |
| Our courier handling | $25 |
| Total | $198 |
Parents' marriage certificate
Ordered from BDM and apostilled
| Our BDM ordering | $15 |
| BDM certificate fee | $35 |
| Our apostille service | $79 |
| DIA apostille fee | $37 |
| DIA courier within NZ | $7 |
| Our courier handling | $25 |
| Total | $198 |
Non-Croatian parent's consent
Signed before a NZ Notary Public, then apostilled
| Our notary appointment booking | $39 |
| Notary Public's own fee (typical) | $100–175 |
| Our apostille service | $79 |
| DIA apostille fee | $37 |
| DIA courier within NZ | $7 |
| Our courier handling | $25 |
| Total | $287–362 |
Croatian translation
Per document, certified
| Our translation coordination | $39 |
| Translator's fee | Quoted |
| Total | $39 + translator |
All amounts NZ$ incl. GST. Government fees as published by DIA and BDM, checked 2 October 2026; they can change. Your quote shows every amount before any work starts. See all prices.
What Croatia asks for
For a child born in New Zealand to a Croatian citizen, the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs lists:
| Document | What it needs from New Zealand |
|---|---|
| Child's birth certificate | Original NZ certificate, DIA apostille, certified translation into Croatian |
| Parents' marriage certificate | The marriage should be registered in Croatia before the children's births. That registration usually needs the NZ marriage certificate apostilled and translated as well |
| Parents' ID and proof of Croatian citizenship | Valid photo ID for both parents; proof of Croatian citizenship for at least one |
| Consent of a non-Croatian parent | A declaration signed before a NZ Notary Public, then apostilled |
| Form “Prijava djeteta” | Completed registration form |
From the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, checked 2 October 2026. Unmarried parents have extra steps. Confirm the current list with the Croatian consulate handling your registration.
Why the names have to match
The Ministry tells parents to make sure their details on the foreign documents match the Croatian registers: name, surname, date and place of birth, and their own parents' details. It notes that places of birth often do not match. A difference that seems trivial in New Zealand, such as a dropped “č” or an anglicised surname, can stop the registration.
When a parent's surname is spelled differently
A common example: a father's Croatian birth certificate and domovnica (citizenship certificate) show Skočević, but his NZ marriage certificate and his children's NZ birth certificates show an anglicised Skocevich. To the family it is the same name. To the registry it is two different people until the documents show otherwise.
The first question is how the difference happened:
- A formal name change in New Zealand. The NZ name change certificate links the two names. It can be apostilled and translated like any other certificate. Ask the Croatian consulate whether it will accept it as the link.
- No formal change, just a different spelling. Ask NZ Births, Deaths and Marriages to correct the entries on the children's birth registrations and the marriage registration. BDM decides on the evidence you provide.
A standard NZ birth certificate also prints each parent's surname at birth, when it was recorded on the birth registration. If a parent's current surname differs from the one in the Croatian records, having the surname at birth recorded on the children's registrations puts the link to the Croatian records on the certificate itself. If it was left blank, ask BDM to add it as part of the correction.
How a mismatch is usually resolved
- Correct the NZ registrations through BDM first
- Order new birth and marriage certificates showing the corrected details
- Have each new certificate apostilled by DIA
- Have each one translated into Croatian
- Register the marriage in Croatia, then the children's births
The BDM correction is usually the slowest part. Do it first: an apostille or translation done on the old certificate is wasted money, because both would have to be redone.
Translation: do not hide the difference
Give the translator the Croatian records showing the correct spelling, diacritics included, and any evidence explaining the difference. A translation must match the document it translates. It cannot quietly “fix” a surname the certificate spells differently.
Mistakes that cost months
- Apostilling certificates before checking names against the Croatian records
- Expecting the apostille or translation to correct a name
- Registering the children before the parents' marriage is registered in Croatia
- Getting a JP to witness the consent declaration instead of a NZ Notary Public
- Ordering new certificates before BDM has corrected the registration
We prepare and coordinate New Zealand documents. Citizenship eligibility, and whether documents are accepted, are decided by the Croatian authorities.
Frequently asked questions
What documents does Croatia need to register a child born in New Zealand?
The child's original NZ birth certificate with an apostille and certified Croatian translation, the parents' marriage certificate (marriage registered in Croatia first), parents' ID and proof of Croatian citizenship, a notarised and apostilled consent from a non-Croatian parent, and the Prijava djeteta form.
Can a different surname spelling cause problems?
Yes. Croatia asks that parents' details on foreign documents match the Croatian registers. A different spelling may need a correction or supporting evidence first. The Croatian authority decides what it accepts.
Does an apostille fix a name mismatch?
No. An apostille only confirms the signature or seal on the document. It does not change what the document says.
Can the translator just use the Croatian spelling?
No. A translation must match the document. Give the translator the Croatian records, but fix the NZ record itself if the spelling is wrong.
Does the NZ marriage certificate need an apostille for Croatia?
Usually, yes. The marriage should be registered in Croatia before the children's births, and that registration usually needs the NZ marriage certificate apostilled and translated. Confirm with the Croatian consulate.
Can you do this if we live outside Auckland or overseas?
Yes. We order the certificates through BDM Online, lodge the apostilles and arrange translation. A consent declaration signed in New Zealand needs a NZ Notary Public in person.
Sources
Official sources checked 2 October 2026:
NZ Document Assist Limited is an independent company, not a government agency. We are not a law firm, Notary Public or licensed immigration adviser and do not give legal or immigration advice.