Croatia orders dual citizens abroad to serve or pay

Croatia will require all citizens with dual nationality to fulfill mandatory military duty regardless of where they currently reside, according to defense officials. Military analyst Marinko Ogorec confirmed that anyone holding Croatian citizenship must report for service if they have not already completed comparable training in another nation. The announcement has generated concern among diaspora communities in Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and elsewhere.

The recently amended Defense Act establishes service requirements for Croatians between the ages of 18 and 30. Citizens living overseas must register at their nearest embassy or consulate to join the military rolls or face fines ranging from 250 to 1,320 euros. Training programs will begin in 2026 at facilities in Knin, Slunj and Pozega, with each session lasting two months. Participants will receive payment plus coverage for meals, travel and leave periods.

Exemptions apply to individuals who completed military obligations in other countries where they hold citizenship. Police cadets, clergy and people deemed medically unfit also qualify for waivers. Defense ministry representatives have not explained enforcement mechanisms for tracking citizens who have lived abroad for extended periods or never resided in Croatia. Completing service will count as employment history and provide a preference for government jobs.