Planning a small wedding or elopement in Croatia is wonderfully simple — until someone mentions paperwork.

Flights are booked, the venue is secured, your registrar is pencilled in.

And then you realise there’s a 90-day legal window.

This guide walks you through it calmly and clearly.

Please note: While Croatia’s marriage laws are national, individual registrars (Matični ured) may interpret timelines slightly differently. Always confirm requirements directly with the municipality where you are marrying.

Before the 90-day clock begins, make sure your core documents are in order.

✔ Passport Validity

Passports should be valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates.

✔ Full Birth Certificates

- UK couples: You need the long-form version showing parents’ names.

- US couples: A certified copy issued by your State Registrar.

If you need a new UK birth certificate, you can order one via the General Register Office. A priority 24–48 hour service is available for a slightly higher fee — and in the context of a destination wedding, the added cost is minimal for the peace of mind it provides.

✔ Previous Marriages (If Applicable)

If either of you has been married before, you will need official proof that the marriage has legally ended:

- England & Wales: This is now called a Final Order (previously known as a Decree Absolute before April 2022).

- US: A certified Divorce Decree.

- If widowed, an original death certificate is required.

✔ Decide: Legal or Symbolic Ceremony

Now is the time to decide whether you want:

- A Legal Civil Ceremony in Croatia

- A Symbolic Ceremony in Croatia (with the legal registration completed at home)

Many of my intimate wedding couples choose a symbolic ceremony to remove administrative pressure during the final months — but both options are entirely possible.

In many Croatian municipalities, legal documents must be recently issued — often within 90 days of submission.

This is where timing matters.

🇬🇧 UK Couples

✔ Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) - Book an appointment at your local registry office. There is usually a 21-day notice period before the certificate is issued.

✔ Recently Issued Birth Certificates (if required) - Some registrars request certificates issued within the last 3–6 months.

🇺🇸 US Couples

✔ Affidavit of Freedom to Marry - This is typically completed by appointment at the U.S. Embassy Zagreb.

The Apostille — The “Golden Stamp”

All documents must be apostilled before Croatia will legally recognise them.

- UK couples: Documents are apostilled through the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

- US couples: Apostilles are issued by the Secretary of State in the state where the document originated.

Without the apostille stamp, your documents are not legally valid in Croatia.

This stage feels intense — but when started at the correct time, it runs very smoothly.

Your documents are now legally valid internationally — but they are still in English.

They must be officially translated.

✔ Court-Certified Translation

All documents must be translated into Croatian by a certified court interpreter.

✔ Submit to the Local Registrar

Your translated and apostilled documents must be submitted to the relevant Matični ured in the municipality where you are marrying.

Split, Hvar and Supetar generally follow very similar procedures. Dubrovnik can occasionally operate slightly differently, so confirming directly with the office there is particularly important.

✔ Interpreter for the Ceremony

If you are not fluent in Croatian, a certified interpreter must be present during the legal ceremony to translate the vows.

I’m always happy to recommend trusted translators in Split, Hvar or Brač who regularly work with small destination weddings.

By this point, the heavy lifting is done.

✔ Pre-Meeting with the Registrar

Usually 2–3 days before your wedding, you will meet in person to confirm final details and sign intent forms.

✔ Witness Documents

Two witnesses are required. Ensure passport copies are available.

This final stage is typically calm and straightforward — and suddenly, everything feels real.

As municipalities can interpret timelines slightly differently, it’s wise to confirm:

- How recently must birth certificates be issued?

- Is a CNI required, or is an affidavit sufficient?

- When must documents be physically received?

- Are originals required immediately, or will scans suffice initially?

- Will they provide an interpreter, or must you arrange one?

A quick email to your specific registrar early in the process prevents last-minute stress.

- Ordering a short UK birth certificate instead of the long form

- Confusing a Conditional Order with a Final Order

- Starting the 90-day documents too early

- Leaving apostille processing too late

- Not checking name consistency across passports and certificates

- Forgetting to book the embassy appointment early (US couples)

Avoid those, and the process is entirely manageable.

Most couples tell me this paperwork phase feels like the most stressful part of planning.

But once your documents are submitted, everything shifts.

The admin is complete, the legal side is secure and your focus returns to why you chose Dalmatia in the first place.

If you’re planning a small wedding or elopement in Split, Hvar, Brač or Dubrovnik and would like clarity on timelines — I’m always happy to point you in the right direction.