How to book an appointment at the Croatian Consulate in Belgrade

One rule applies to all business at the Consular Section of the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Belgrade (in everyday speech, "the consulate in Belgrade"): visitors are received exclusively by prior appointment. That is what the Embassy's official page says. Appointments are reserved online, on the Croatian Consular Portal (konzularniportal.mvep.hr). Here is what has been officially published about it and how to prepare.

Where to book

Appointments are reserved on the consular portal (konzularniportal.mvep.hr) of the Croatian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MVEP). The Embassy states on its page that visitors are received "exclusively by prior appointment" reserved through that portal, and that "in urgent cases" they may contact the section by phone on 011 3679 140 or by e-mail at crocons.beograd@mvep.hr.

Important: hrvatskodrzavljanstvo.info is not the consular portal and cannot book an appointment for you. You book it yourself, on the consular portal (konzularniportal.mvep.hr).

What the procedure looks like

The portal itself describes its purpose: there you can find out which consular services Croatian embassies and consulates offer, find information about those services, and book an appointment at the embassy or consular office of your choice. The exact screens and steps change, so follow the instructions on the portal itself. What the portal expressly states:

1. You choose whether you are a Croatian or a foreign citizen. The portal distinguishes two groups of users: Croatian citizens (travel documents, certifications, residence, civil registry matters…) and foreign citizens, who "may apply for citizenship, a visa, residence and the like". Until you acquire Croatian citizenship you are in the second group; for a passport, after the decision, in the first.
2. You choose the service. Citizenship, passport and certifications are different services — choose the one you are coming for.
3. You check your documents and which office is competent. The portal warns: "Before booking an appointment you need to check whether you have all the documentation required for the particular consular service and which embassy or consulate is competent for your place of residence." In Serbia there are the Consular Section of the Embassy in Belgrade and the Consulate General of Croatia in Subotica (Maksima Gorkog 6). The portal is how you book for Belgrade; Subotica books by phone — see the separate section below.
4. You choose a slot and keep the confirmation. Save the appointment confirmation and bring it with you.

"No slots available" — now what?

It has not been officially published when or how often new slots are released, so we cannot tell you that. What you can do:

• Check the portal regularly and book as soon as you know you will be filing.
• Get to know the portal before your documents are ready — so you know how far ahead you need to look for a slot.
• If you are also filing for a child or for several people, check on the portal or with the consular office whether each person needs a separate appointment.
• In urgent cases contact the consular section by phone or e-mail, as the Embassy states.

On the day of the appointment

• Address and hours: Kneza Miloša 82, 1st floor, Belgrade. Hours for visitors: Monday–Thursday 9:00–13:00. Phone +381 11 3679 140. Arrive a little early.
• Bring the appointment confirmation, a valid identity document and your complete documents — check the list on the Documents page and on the portal.
• Payment: confirm the payment method with the consular office before you come. For a passport, the portal states that "payment in cash is not possible". For a citizenship application filed abroad, the consular fee is, according to the Croatian Ministry of the Interior (MUP), paid on filing; confirm the amount with the consulate. An overview of costs is on the Costs page.
• If you cannot come, cancel the appointment if the portal allows it or notify the consular section — that frees the slot for someone else.

Consulate General in Subotica: appointments are booked by phone

Everything described above concerns the Consular Section in Belgrade. The Consulate General of Croatia in Subotica books appointments differently. According to its official page, visitors are received strictly in the order in which they booked, and booking is done every working day from 12:00 to 13:00 by phone on +381 24 656 900.

• Booking: by phone on +381 24 656 900, on working days between 12:00 and 13:00.
• Hours for visitors: Monday–Friday 9:00–13:00.
• Address: Maksima Gorkog 6, Subotica.
• Phones: +381 24 656 906 and +381 24 656 900 (office of the Consul General).
• E-mail: gkrh.subotica@mvep.hr.

The booking method and hours may change, so check them before you call on the page of the Consulate General in Subotica (mvep.gov.hr).

The most common mistakes

• Booking the wrong service (for example certification instead of citizenship).
• Arriving without the appointment confirmation or with incomplete documents — the portal expressly asks you to check your documentation before booking.
• Booking at an office that is not competent for your place of residence.

What follows after filing is covered in how long the MUP decision takes and how to check the status of your application; for the passport appointment see your first Croatian passport after the decision. The whole procedure is on the Process page.

Sources

• MVEP — Croatian Embassy in Belgrade, contact and working hours
• Croatian Consular Portal — Passport
• MUP — Procedure instructions: acquiring Croatian citizenship
• MVEP — Consulate General in Subotica, contact and working hours

Note: this website is an unofficial information guide. The portal's appearance, working hours and the organisation of appointments may change — the authoritative information is on the consular portal (konzularniportal.mvep.hr) and on the pages of the Embassy and the Consulate General.