Types of residency for foreign citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
1. Visa residency. Applies to the stay of a foreigner in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the period specified in the visa.
2. Visa-free residence. Applies to the stay of a foreigner in Bosnia and Herzegovina who arrived from countries that have a visa-free regime with Bosnia and Herzegovina (period less than 90 days).
3. Temporary residence. Allows you to stay in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for a period not exceeding one year, unless otherwise stated in the residence permit.
4. Permanent residence. Allows you to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina indefinitely.
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Grounds for the issuance of a temporary residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
1. A temporary residence permit can be issued to a foreigner that has an intention to remain or is already on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina due to the following reasons:
- Family reunification;
- Education;
- Humanitarian reasons;
- Employment with a work permit;
- Employment without a work permit, or
- Other valid reasons.
2. A temporary residence permit in special cases can be issued on the grounds of property rights to real estate.
A temporary residence permit can be issued for a period of less than one year.
A temporary residence permit for humanitarian reasons (treatment, rehabilitation, etc.) – for a period less than six months.
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General requirements for an issuance of a temporary residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A temporary residence permit can be issued for a foreign citizen under the condition that they will provide:
- Proof of adequate reasons for an issuance of a permit;
- A passport valid for at least three months after the planned period of stay in the country;
- Proof of sufficient funds, so that the foreigner would not become a recipient of social care during their stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- Proof of medical insurance;
- A medical certificate, issued not more than three months before application, which states that the foreigner does not suffer from illnesses that may present danger to the health of citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- A certificate of the absence of a criminal record in the country of origin of the foreigner.
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Acquisition of a temporary residence permit on the basis of family reunification
A temporary residence permit for the purpose of family reunification may be issued to family members of:
- A citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina residing in Bosnia and Herzegovina;
- A foreigner who has a permanent residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina; a foreigner with an approved temporary residence there on the basis of the Blue Card; a foreigner with temporary residence for one year or longer, having a well-founded chance of obtaining permanent residence in Bosnia and Herzegovina; or a foreigner with recognized refugee status.
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Acquisition of a temporary residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis of education
Temporary residence for educational purposes can be provided in the case of:
- Primary and secondary education;
- Higher education;
- Free internship;
- Volunteer work.
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Acquisition of a temporary residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina for seasonal workers
Temporary residence may be granted to a seasonal foreign worker for activities depending on the season, according to a service contract concluded directly between a foreigner and an employer from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Temporary accommodation for seasonal workers is approved for a period of 90 to 180 days for 12 months. At the end of this period, the foreigner must leave Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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Requirements for the acquisition of a temporary residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina for seasonal workers:
- Have a work permit;
- Have a service contract or job offer for employment as a seasonal worker in Bosnia and Herzegovina with the following: 1) place and type of work, 2) duration of work, 3) salary, 4) working hours (week or month), 5) the amount of paid leave (if any), 6) the date of commencement of work, and other working conditions.
- Provide evidence that the employer assumes responsibility for the foreigner at the time of their stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which includes living expenses, accommodation, meals, health insurance and returns, and that living expenses will not be automatically deducted from their salary.
Requirements for the issuance of a permanent residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
A permanent residence permit may be issued to foreigners provided that they:
a) Continuously reside on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina with a temporary residence permit for at least 5 years prior to applying for a permanent residence permit;
b) Have a valid passport;
c) Have sufficient and regular funds to cover the costs of living;
d) Have a relevant accommodation;
e) Issued health insurance,
f) Speaks one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
g) Provide a certificate of the absence of a criminal record from the competent authority of the country of origin, not earlier than six months from the date of application for a permanent residence permit,
h) Provide a certificate of the absence of a criminal record from the competent authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, not earlier than six months from the date of application for a permanent residence permit.
It is considered that a foreigner resides continuously in Bosnia and Herzegovina, even if they have repeatedly left Bosnia and Herzegovina for a total period of up to 10 months or up to six months at a time for five years.
Is dual/second citizenship allowed in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Yes, dual/second citizenship is allowed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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How to obtain citizenship in Bosnia and Herzegovina
In order to obtain Bosnian citizenship you need to stay on the territory of the country for five years with a temporary residence permit and five more years with a permanent one.
Also citizenship is obtained on the basis of:
- Origin;
- Birth right (if you were born in Bosnia and Herzegovina);
- Adoption (if you were adopted by a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina);
- Naturalization;
- International agreement.
You can find more detailed information about citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the link.
Residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina when buying real estate
The Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina supports various investments in the countries. When buying real estate, investors can get a residence permit. Details:
Name of investment – Foreign direct investment.
The minimum investment amount – 100,000 euros.
Qualifying investments
According to the Law on Foreign Direct Investment Policy of Bosnia and Herzegovina, foreign investors can own a legal entity and have the right to freely invest in the following sectors, creating jobs. Foreign investors are also free to own real estate.
- Metalworking industry
- Service sector
- Real estate
- Textiles
- Oil and energy
- Electronics
- Tourism
- Research and innovation.
Type of visa that can be obtained when buying real estate – Short-term visa C / long-term visa D / residence permit.
Application processing time – 1 month.
Permanent residence permit – Issued after 5 years of age.
Citizenship of Bosnia and Herzegovina – After 8 years of age.
Who is covered by temporary protection?
Temporary protection applies primarily to three categories of individuals:
- The first is Ukrainian citizens who lived on its territory as of February 24 and were forced to leave their homes due to the invasion of russian troops.
- The second is individuals who have a political asylum in Ukraine.
- The third is family members of the first two categories.
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What rights does temporary protection give to Ukrainians?
In addition to being able to stay in the EU for the duration of the directive, temporary protection also gives a number of other rights to people from Ukraine who have fled the war. These are the right to housing, access to the labor market, social and medical assistance. Access to labor market means not only the opportunity to work, but also to engage in entrepreneurship and attend refresher courses or gain a new profession. Children who arrive without parents or other relatives are entitled to a guardian and access to schooling.
On April 20, 2022, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina decided to grant Ukrainian citizens temporary residence permits for humanitarian reasons.
It is noted that the citizens of Ukraine have the right to stay in the territory of BiH for up to six months, provided that the temporary stay can be extended for humanitarian reasons. The procedure for granting temporary residence permits to citizens of Ukraine is carried out by the Service for Foreigners: http://www.sps.gov.ba/?lang=en
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Information on assistance to Ukrainians during the war can be found on the UNHCR website in Bosnia and Herzegovina:
https://help.unhcr.org/bosniaandherzegovina/.
Information on the situation in Ukraine: https://help.unhcr.org/bosniaandherzegovina/information-on-the-situation-in-ukraine/.
Where to ask for help in Bosnia and Herzegovina: https://help.unhcr.org/bosniaandherzegovina/where-to-seek-help/.
How to apply for a shelter in Bosnia and Herzegovina: https://help.unhcr.org/bosniaandherzegovina/applying-for-asylum/.
Bosnia & Herzegovina