Croatia is set to introduce more relaxed rules for immigrants and returnees from the diaspora, making it easier for them to obtain Croatian citizenship. The government is amending the Act on Relations with Croats Outside Croatia, and if approved by Parliament, returnees will be eligible for a citizenship certificate. This move builds on initiatives from five years ago that simplified the process of acquiring Croatian citizenship, particularly for individuals of Croatian descent wishing to return to the country.
As the number of applicants for Croatian citizenship has risen in recent years, the country is seeing a growing interest from the millions of Croatians living abroad, with estimates suggesting that around 3.2 million Croatians and their descendants reside worldwide. When discussing the motivations behind this trend, Milas stated that he does not believe these individuals are driven by ulterior motives. He disagrees with the notion that they are seeking Croatian citizenship primarily to exploit it for easier movement within the EU.
