Bosnia and Herzegovina:Visa Requirements

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Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Requirements Map

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • The traveler must possess a valid passport or another travel document recognized by Bosnia and Herzegovina. The document must be valid for at least three months after the end of the planned stay and must have been issued within the last ten years. Travel documents with indefinite validity are also acceptable. Entry may be made with a photo-bearing national identity card where explicitly permitted by an international agreement.
  • The number of blank pages required in the passport for visa-free entry is not precisely specified in the central official source. There is no central requirement applicable to all travelers concerning whether the passport must be biometric or machine-readable. Entry is not permitted with an invalid, counterfeit, falsified, or travel document belonging to another person.
  • The traveler must be able to present documents or information to the border officer when required, explaining the purpose of travel and the planned conditions of stay. A hotel reservation, proof of paid accommodation, an organized tour document, an invitation letter, a business or event invitation, and a travel itinerary may be used for this purpose.
  • Possession of sufficient means to depart from Bosnia and Herzegovina may be evidenced by a return or onward ticket or by a private vehicle used legally. If a visa or other authorization is required for entry into the next country, that document must also be valid.
  • At the request of the border officer, financial means of 150 BAM or equivalent convertible foreign currency must be demonstrated for each planned day of stay. Financial sufficiency may be evidenced by cash, non-cash means of payment accepted in the banking system of Bosnia and Herzegovina, bank instruments allowing withdrawal, a guarantee from a bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina, an approved invitation letter, paid accommodation, or an organized travel document. The period that bank account statements must cover and any specific minimum balance required in the bank account are not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • Travel health insurance is not stated as a general and mandatory document for all travelers for visa-free entry. However, the traveler must have sufficient financial means to cover health expenses. Paid travel health insurance may be accepted as evidence of such means. The minimum coverage amount of the insurance is not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • A traveler arriving from an area where there is an outbreak of an infectious disease may be required to present a valid vaccination certificate. A single vaccination or general health report requirement applicable to all travelers is not specified in the central official source.
  • A child under fourteen years of age may travel with their own travel document accompanied by one or both parents, legal representative, or guardian. If the child is traveling with another adult, an authorization signed and certified by the parent, legal representative, or guardian must be available. An unaccompanied child must carry a notarized consent from their parent, legal representative, or guardian. The Border Police may conduct additional checks on travelers under eighteen years of age during entry and exit controls.
  • The general maximum limit for visa-free stay is a total of 90 days within any 180-day period, unless an applicable international agreement or a specific decision provides for a different duration.
  • Commercial accommodation facilities notify the competent authority of the stay of foreign guests. If an hotel or another registered accommodation service is not used and the stay exceeds three days, the foreigner or the host must submit a temporary address notification within 48 hours of entry.
  • Visa exemption does not provide an unconditional right of entry. General entry conditions related to travel document, financial sufficiency, purpose of travel, accommodation, possibility of return, health, and security may be reassessed at the border.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • Visa applications are as a rule submitted before travel to the competent embassy or consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The applicant may be required to submit the application in person and attend an interview. In cases where Bosnia and Herzegovina has an agreement, the application may also be accepted by the diplomatic representation of another country.
  • The passport used for the application must be valid for at least three months after the last planned day of stay, must have been issued within the last ten years, and must contain at least two blank pages. For urgent, humanitarian, security, serious professional, or personal reasons, an exceptional assessment regarding passport validity may be made.
  • The application form must be completed with correct and complete information and signed. The official form requires the use of capital letters. For an applicant who is a minor or lacks legal capacity, the form is signed by the legal representative or guardian.
  • On the form, personal information, birth and citizenship details, marital status, type and validity of travel document, country of residence, occupation, employer or educational institution, type of visa requested, number of entries, duration of stay, previous visas, purpose of travel, dates of arrival and departure, first border crossing point or transit route, means of transport, information on the hotel, host or institution in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the person bearing travel costs, and financial means are declared.
  • Which pages of the applicant's passport are to be submitted as copies is not precisely specified in the central official source. The representation applied to may request copies of the biographical information page and previous visas.
  • The number, size, background color, date of taking, file format, and other technical specifications of the photograph are not precisely specified in the central official source. The official central form contains a space for a photograph. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi requests one passport photograph measuring 35 × 45 mm for applications within its jurisdiction.
  • The visa applicant must provide biometric data including signature, photograph, and fingerprints of ten fingers. Fingerprints are not taken from children under twelve years of age. An exception may apply to persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible and to certain official visitors specified in the legislation.
  • If the applicant resides in a country other than their country of nationality, a valid residence permit or similar legal residence document authorizing return to the country of residence may be required. The type of document varies depending on the representation applied to.
  • For a short-stay C visa, documents proving the purpose of travel and conditions of stay must be submitted. Such evidence may include an approved invitation letter, a court summons or other official invitation, a paid tour document including accommodation and transport, organized travel or paid accommodation proof, a certificate of admission to an educational or vocational training institution, or another document confirming the purpose of travel.
  • A C visa may be used for business, education, vocational training, tourism, private visit, political, scientific, cultural, sporting, religious, or other short-term travel purposes. The visa may be issued for single or multiple entries. The total stay may not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period. The general validity period is a maximum of one year. If a need for regular travel and proper use of previous visas is proven, a multiple-entry C visa valid for up to five years may be issued upon necessary approval.
  • A long-stay D visa permits a stay of up to 180 days within a one-year period and allows the holder to apply for a temporary residence permit. It may be issued for single or multiple entries and is generally valid for a maximum of one year. Longer validity may be granted in exceptional cases required by the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A D visa requires prior approval from the Service for Foreigners' Affairs.
  • If the purpose of the D visa is employment, family reunification, education, or another long-term reason for stay, the applicant is required to present documents directly proving the relevant purpose. For applications for the purpose of employment, an employer or company invitation, a work permit, or a professional document issued by the relevant authority may be requested; for applications for education, an admission or enrollment document; for family reunification, documents showing the family tie and the status of the inviting person. The exact list varies depending on the purpose of the application and the representation.
  • For a C visa application, travel health insurance covering possible expenses in case of repatriation for health reasons, urgent medical assistance, emergency treatment, or death must be presented. The same basic condition applies to D visa applications. An exception may exist for holders of diplomatic passports and for certain groups who have their own professional insurance. The minimum coverage amount of the insurance is not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • The applicant must demonstrate financial means sufficient to cover the costs of stay and departure from the country. Cash, accepted bank instruments, bank guarantee, paid accommodation, organized tour, or an approved invitation letter may be used as proof of financial sufficiency. In case of doubt, evidence of real estate ownership, regular income, employment status, educational enrollment, or other proof indicating that the applicant will leave the country at the end of the legal stay may be requested.
  • The number of months that bank account statements must cover and the visa-specific minimum amount that must be present in the bank account are not precisely specified in the central official source. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi, for tourist C visa applications within its jurisdiction, requests bank account statements for the last three months.
  • A round-trip ticket, flight itinerary, or onward travel reservation may be requested from the applicant. For tourist applications, a paid hotel or other accommodation document, a tour operator voucher, or organized travel proof may be requested.
  • An invitation letter issued by a natural person or company must indicate the specific purpose and period of the visit. The inviting person declares to provide accommodation to the applicant, to cover maintenance and treatment costs, and to assume costs related to supervision, voluntary return, forced removal, and departure from the country, if necessary. The invitation letter is approved by the Service for Foreigners' Affairs at the place of residence or company headquarters of the inviting person and is valid for 180 days from the date of approval.
  • Supporting documents used for the approval of the invitation letter must be submitted as originals or certified copies. Documents in a foreign language must be translated into one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A universal notarization, apostille, or legalization rule applicable to all visa documents is not precisely specified in the central official source. These procedures may vary depending on the type of document and the representation applied to.
  • A separate application must be made for children. A birth certificate, proof of parenthood or custody, and a notarized parental consent when necessary may be requested. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi requests a birth certificate from applicants under eighteen years of age within its jurisdiction.
  • The competent consular officer may request additional documents, information, or explanations and may interview the applicant. Submission of complete documents does not guarantee that the visa will be issued.
  • The application is foreseen to be made no earlier than three months before the planned visit. Representations may require that the appointment be made a certain period before travel. The official processing time is not precisely specified in the central official source. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi states the standard processing time as up to 30 days and requests that the appointment not be left within the 30-day period preceding the departure date.
  • The application fee is not precisely specified in the central official source. The fee, currency, and method of payment may vary depending on the representation applied to. At the Embassy in Abu Dhabi, for a C visa, whether single or multiple entry, 60 euros or 238 AED is collected; for a D visa, 95 euros or 376 AED is collected. For applications from the United Arab Emirates, payment is accepted by Visa or Mastercard, and cash is not accepted. For applications from Bahrain, bank transfer is used.
  • Issuance of a visa does not grant an unconditional right of entry. The border officer may request the re-submission of the invitation, accommodation, travel, insurance, and financial sufficiency documents used in the issuance of the visa. A visa alone does not confer the right to work.

Visa on Arrival Requirements

  • A visa on arrival is not a regular application system open to all eligible travelers. It may be assessed exceptionally by the Border Police only when there are national security, humanitarian reasons, or serious and compelling professional or personal grounds.
  • The applicant must meet the general entry conditions, prove that it was not possible to apply for a visa before travel, and present one or more documents showing unforeseeable, compelling reasons for entry. An assurance showing that the applicant will return to their own country or country of habitual residence is also required.
  • A short-stay C visa issued at the border may only be for single entry and may be granted for a stay of a maximum of 15 days. An airport transit visa type A issued at the border may be used for a transit of a maximum of one day.
  • The passport must be valid for at least three months after the last planned day of stay, must have been issued within the last ten years, and must contain at least two blank pages. An exceptional assessment regarding passport validity may be made due to urgent or humanitarian reasons.
  • The applicant must be able to present evidence of sufficient financial means, purpose of travel, accommodation, ability to cover health expenses, and return or onward travel. Financial means of 150 BAM or equivalent per planned day of stay may be required.
  • An administrative fee of 100 BAM is charged for a border visa. The accepted method of payment is not precisely specified in the central official source. The official processing time is not precisely specified in the central official source.
  • A visa at the border may only be issued at the airports of Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Tuzla, and Mostar, and at the land border crossings of Izačić, Bosanska Gradiška, Bosanski Brod, Orašje, Pavlović Most, Karakaj, Hum, Klobuk, Gorica, and Doljani. These border crossings are authorized 24 hours a day for visa issuance procedures.
  • The existence of exceptional reasons does not guarantee issuance of a visa. The Border Police may refuse the application or request additional documents and biometric data.

Transit Visa Requirements

  • An airport transit visa type A permits the traveler to pass through the international transit area of a Bosnia and Herzegovina airport without actually entering the country. Travelers who do not leave the international transit area or the part of the aircraft they are in do not generally need to obtain a transit visa. However, the transit visa requirement may apply depending on nationality and the travel document used.
  • An airport transit visa type A may be issued for one, two, or multiple airport transits. On the central Service for Foreigners' Affairs page, the validity of the A visa is stated as a maximum of three months.
  • Land or domestic transits involving actual entry into the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered under the short-stay C visa. There is no separate type B transit visa in the current central legislation.
  • A transit visa application must be made before travel to the competent embassy or consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina. On the application form, the transit route, first border crossing point, means of transport, dates of arrival and departure, final destination country, and entry authorization into that country are declared.
  • The passport must be valid for at least three months after the planned transit or last day of stay, must have been issued within the last ten years, and must contain at least two blank pages.
  • The applicant must be able to present a confirmed onward ticket or travel itinerary and the visa, residence permit, or other acceptance document necessary for entry into the final destination country.
  • The photo dimensions, bank statement period, financial sufficiency amount, insurance coverage, consular fee, payment method, and official processing time specific to a transit visa are not precisely specified in the central official source. The exact list of documents may vary depending on nationality, transit route, and the representation applied to.
  • In the event of national security, humanitarian, or compelling personal or professional reasons, an airport transit visa type A of a maximum of one day may be issued at the border crossing point, provided it is proven that it could not be applied for in advance.
Population
3,114,242(2026 est.)
Official language
Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian
Government type
Parliamentary republic with a rotating tripartite presidency
Continent
Europe
Capital
Sarajevo
Currency
Bosnia-Herzegovina convertible marks
Area
51,197 km²
Phone code
+387

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Key Destinations

Sarajevo is the capital and primary gateway, with an international airport connecting to major European hubs. Most travelers begin their journey in Sarajevo or the historic city of Mostar.

The country offers a blend of Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian heritage, with UNESCO-listed sites such as Mostar's Old Bridge and the Mehmed Paša Sokolović Bridge. The Adriatic coastline near Neum provides a small seaside escape, while the Dinaric Alps attract hikers and nature enthusiasts.

Many visitors travel between Sarajevo and Mostar by road or rail, often including a stop at the pilgrimage site of Medjugorje. Regional buses and rental cars are common for exploring the diverse landscapes, from the Una National Park to the ski resorts of Jahorina and Bjelašnica.