Croatia will not issue calls for compulsory military service to Croatian citizens with dual citizenship residing in other countries, such as Serbia, Montenegro or Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will not initiate criminal proceedings against them if they fail to perform their military service, the Croatian Ministry of Defence told Beta.

The Croatian ministry said that calls for basic military training will be issued exclusively to citizens who live in Croatia or who have registered residence in that country.

"In accordance with the Law on Defence, which the Croatian Parliament voted on 24 October, persons with dual citizenship may perform their military service in the Republic of Croatia according to Croatian law or in the country where they live according to the laws of the country where they live. We invite Croatians living abroad to report to a diplomatic or consular mission and thus regularise their military service," the Croatian Ministry of Defence told Beta.

"If any of them want to come to the Republic of Croatia, they are more than welcome," the ministry said, adding that "if Croatians with dual citizenship have arranged their military service in the country where they live, then they do not have this obligation in the Republic of Croatia."

The Croatian Parliament recently approved amendments to the law that allow for the reinstatement of compulsory military service from the beginning of 2026. On this occasion, the issue of the obligations of Croatian citizens with dual citizenship and residence outside Croatia has been raised in public, especially in terms of possible punishment.

"If someone does not respond to the summons, a misdemeanor procedure is carried out, but exclusively on the territory of the Republic of Croatia, because the Republic of Croatia cannot implement its legislation outside the borders of its state," the Croatian Ministry of Justice responded to Beta.

If a Croatian with dual citizenship decides to live in Croatia and retain the citizenship of another country, he, as noted, will have to regulate his military service according to the laws of the Republic of Croatia.

Following the changes to the law, it is expected that the first invitations for military training will begin arriving at the end of this year, and Defense Minister Ivan Anusic is expecting the first soldiers in the new year.

Compulsory military service will last two months and will be mandatory for young males in the calendar year in which they turn 19, starting in 2007, with the possibility of postponing it, for certain reasons, until the age of 30. Those who respond to military training will be paid 1,100 euros net per month for this, and their military service will be carried out in barracks in Knin, Pozhega and Slunj.

The possibility of civil service is also provided for those who will appeal conscientious objection for religious or moral reasons.

The civil service will last three or four months, but it is not yet known whether and how much compensation will be paid for it.

Women are exempt from compulsory military service, but can register voluntarily.

In 2008, Croatia suspended military service, and since then it has been served only voluntarily, but with little interest.