Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

1. How to submit an initiative for the conferment of decorations or awards?

Pursuant to Article 28 of the Act on Decorations and Awards of the Republic of Croatia (official gazette “Narodne novine” no. 20/95, 57/06, 141/06 and 118/19) and further to Article 3 of the Ordinance on Decorations and Awards (“Narodne novine” no. 106/09 and 14/20), the initiative for the conferment of decorations or awards may be given by the Croatian Parliament, the Government of the Republic of Croatia, diplomatic missions, consular offices and other missions of the Republic of Croatia abroad, ministries and other government bodies, political parties, religious communities, civil associations and other corporate bodies. The initiative may also be given by individual citizens of the Republic of Croatia, in which case the mentioned bodies act as intermediaries.

The initiative is submitted in written form to the State Commission for Decorations and Awards of the Republic of Croatia, Pantovčak 241, 10000 Zagreb. The initiative should be submitted on a standardised form for the conferment of decorations or awards of the Republic of Croatia. The State Commission for Decorations and Awards of the Republic of Croatia will not consider any incomplete, unclear initiative lacking legal foundation.

2. How to submit a request for a pardon?

A request for a pardon must be submitted to the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Croatia, in accordance with Article 6 of the Pardon Act (the official gazette “Narodne novine” no. 175/03). A person convicted of a crime who is serving a prison sentence addresses a request for a pardon to the Ministry of Justice through the penitentiary or prison in which the sentence is being served. In accordance with Article 11 of the Pardon Act, the Ministry of Justice then submits the request accompanied by all relevant reports and information to the President of the Republic of Croatia. On the basis of the said request, the President of the Republic shall decide on the pardon, taking into account the opinion of the Commission for Pardons of the President of the Republic.

3. How to request the patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia?

Patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia has an exclusively honorary character and does not include the sponsorship of an event or mediation in raising funds for the organisation of such event. A request for Presidential patronage should be submitted to the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia preferably sixty (60), and no less than thirty (30) days prior to the event. The request must contain information on the organisers, participants, venue of the event and other information that is relevant in order to make a decision on patronage of the event. Timely submitted requests for patronage are considered by the President of the Republic who makes the final decision, based on the prior opinion and criteria set by the Council of Advisers to the President of the Republic.

4. How to invite the President of the Republic of Croatia to participate at a social event?

Invitations for the participation of the President of the Republic at a social event must be sent to the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia preferably thirty (30), and no later than fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the event. This time limit does not apply to events that have been granted patronage of the President of the Republic. In the event the President of the Republic is otherwise engaged, the President of the Republic may appoint an envoy to attend the said event in his place.

5. How to submit a petition or complaint?

Citizens may submit their petitions or complaints to the Section for General Public Enquiries in the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia. Based on the received petition or complaint, the Section for General Public Enquiries obtains relevant information from the competent authorities, and informs the submitter of same. In processing such petition or complaint the Section for General Public Enquiries may receive the submitter if necessary, in order to obtain additional pertinent information.

6. How to submit a request for a photo taken with the President of the Republic of Croatia?

Participants in a programme of the President of the Republic of Croatia may submit a request for a photo from the programme event to the Public Relations Office of the President of the Republic via e-mail: informiranje@predsjednik.hr. Photos are forwarded exclusively via electronic mail or media carriers in the proper format and may be used for private purposes, while prior approval is mandatory for photos intended for public disclosure.

7. How to arrange a meeting with the competent Adviser to the President of the Republic of Croatia?

Interested citizens and organisations may arrange a meeting with the competent adviser to the President of the Republic of Croatia when there is a need for information on specific issues within the realm of his/her competency. Requests for a meeting shall be addressed to the intended competent adviser in the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia via e-mail: ured@predsjednik.hr.

8. Other questions

We hope that you have found the answers to your questions. However, should you have any further queries that have not been addressed here, please send them to the Office of the President of the Republic of Croatia via e-mail: ured@predsjednik.hr.