Getting Married in Croatia: What German and Austrian Couples Need to Know

Crystal-clear water, Mediterranean charm, historic old towns and spectacular sunsets over the Adriatic – Croatia has everything you could wish for in a destination wedding. For couples from Germany and Austria, it also has the advantage of being relatively easy to reach while offering an incredible variety of wedding venues.

However, couples who want their Croatian wedding to be legally binding rather than purely symbolic need to take care of a few administrative details before the big day.

Here is what German and Austrian couples should know when planning a legal wedding in Croatia.

Can German and Austrian couples legally marry in Croatia?

Yes. Foreign nationals can legally marry in Croatia under essentially the same conditions as Croatian citizens. The authority responsible for the marriage is the local Croatian Registry Office, called a “matični ured”, responsible for the area in which the wedding will take place.

A civil wedding does not necessarily have to take place inside a registry office. Ceremonies can also be arranged at other suitable locations, subject to the approval and availability of the registrar. Additional fees apply when a civil ceremony takes place outside official premises.

This is particularly relevant for couples dreaming of getting legally married at a seaside venue, private villa or terrace overlooking the Adriatic.

Which documents are required?

Foreign couples generally need to prove their identity, nationality, birth details and current marital status. Croatian authorities list documents such as a birth certificate or extract from the birth register, a certificate confirming that the person is free to marry, confirmation that there is no legal impediment to the marriage and that the marriage will be recognised in the person's country of citizenship, as well as identification and proof of nationality.

Couples who have previously been married may also need to provide documents such as a final divorce decree, previous marriage certificate or death certificate of a former spouse.

The exact requirements can vary depending on the couple's personal circumstances. The local Croatian registrar has the final say on which documents must be submitted, so it is essential to request an individual document checklist from the Registry Office responsible for your wedding location.

Do German and Austrian documents need an apostille?

This is one of the questions that causes the most confusion.

Germany, Austria and Croatia are all EU Member States. Under EU Regulation 2016/1191, many public documents issued in one EU country must be accepted as authentic in another EU country without an apostille. This applies to several categories relevant to weddings, including certain documents concerning birth, marriage and marital status.

For some documents, it is also possible to request a multilingual EU standard form from the issuing authority. The form acts as a translation aid and can often remove the need for a certified translation. Croatia accepts multilingual standard forms for a number of civil-status documents, including birth, marriage and unmarried-status certificates.

Nevertheless, couples should always ask their specific Croatian Registry Office which version of each document they require before ordering certificates or translations.

Special considerations for German couples

German nationals marrying in Croatia will generally require a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage – “Ehefähigkeitszeugnis.”

According to the German Embassy in Zagreb, German couples should generally expect to provide a valid passport, a recent international birth certificate and the Ehefähigkeitszeugnis. The Embassy notes that an apostille is no longer required for the Ehefähigkeitszeugnis under the relevant EU rules.

It is also a good idea to order an international Croatian marriage certificate when registering the wedding.

A marriage legally concluded in Croatia will generally also be valid in Germany provided the applicable legal requirements have been met. German citizens are not required to register their foreign marriage in the German marriage register, although they can apply for voluntary subsequent registration.

Special considerations for Austrian couples

Austrian citizens planning to marry abroad can obtain a Certificate of Marriageability – “Ehefähigkeitszeugnis” – from an Austrian Registry Office. This document confirms that there are no legal impediments to the marriage under Austrian law and is valid for a maximum of six months.

There is also an important difference compared with Germany: Austrian citizens are legally required to report a marriage concluded abroad to the Austrian authorities. This can be done through an Austrian Registry Office or via an Austrian diplomatic representation.

Austrian couples should also discuss their future married name with their Registry Office before the wedding, especially if either partner plans to change their surname.

Witnesses and interpreters

A legal civil wedding in Croatia takes place in the presence of the couple, the registrar and two witnesses. The witnesses must be adults with legal capacity.

Couples who do not speak Croatian should also discuss language requirements with the Registry Office well in advance. For German nationals, the German Embassy in Zagreb specifically advises that an authorised court interpreter must be present if one of the partners does not speak Croatian.

This is something worth organising early, especially during the busy summer wedding season.

When should you start the paperwork?

Destination wedding paperwork is all about timing.

It is advisable to contact the Croatian Registry Office responsible for your venue several months before the planned wedding. Ask them for an exact list of required documents, information about translations and the procedure for booking the registrar.

At the same time, do not order every document too far in advance. Some civil-status documents need to be relatively recent when submitted.

Working with a local wedding planner can make this part of the process considerably easier. A planner familiar with international weddings can assist with communication with the local Registry Office, translators and interpreters and help coordinate a registrar for an off-site ceremony.

An important note for same-sex couples

Under current Croatian law, marriage is defined as a union between a woman and a man. Same-sex couples can instead enter into a legally registered life partnership before a Croatian registrar. Foreign same-sex couples can also enter into a life partnership in Croatia.

German or Austrian same-sex couples planning a destination wedding in Croatia should therefore clarify in advance what legal status they would like to obtain and how a Croatian life partnership would be treated by the relevant authorities in their home country.

The bottom line

A legally recognised wedding in Croatia is absolutely possible for German and Austrian couples – it simply requires a little more preparation than a symbolic destination ceremony.

The most important rule is simple: contact the Croatian Registry Office first and order your documents afterwards. This helps prevent unpleasant surprises involving missing certificates, unnecessary apostilles, incorrect translations or documents that are already too old by the wedding date.

Once the paperwork is complete, you can focus on the part that really matters: saying “I do” surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean scenery and the people you love.

Please note: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements may change and can vary depending on personal circumstances and the Registry Office handling the wedding. Information checked in September 2026.