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Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Bosnia and Herzegovina has many bilateral and multilateral agreements with many countries around the world that eliminate visa processes regarding entries to Bosnia and Herzegovina. Citizens of these countries are allowed to stay in Albania for 90 days within a 180 days period starting from the date of first entry, given that they do not take up employment. These countries are listed below.
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*Russia and Ukraine nationals are allowed to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina up to 30 days without a
Countries that are not listed above have to apply for a visa beforehand to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina through its embassies.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Types
We covered Bosnia and Herzegovina visa types that vary depending on the duration and purpose of the stay.
C Type (Short-Term) Visas
Depending on your purpose of the visit that is limited to 90 days or less in a 180 days period to Bosnia and Herzegovina; it is possible for you to obtain one of the following visa types.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Touristic Visa
A Bosnia and Herzegovina tourist visa is issued for international tourists who are planning to visit the country for sightseeing purposes and is the most issued type of visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is possible to obtain a Bosnia and Herzegovina tourist visa through consulates, authorized visa companies, or authorized travel agencies.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Business or Fair Participation Visa
A Bosnia and Herzegovina business visa is a type of short-term visa that is required for individuals or groups who are going to attend meetings, trainings, or business-related fairs without labor or gainful employment. Obtaining a business or fair participation visa to Bosnia and Herzegovina requires more documents than other category C visas, including but not limited to proof of trip financing, employee certificate, and an invitation letter from a Bosnia and Herzegovina-based company.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Family, Relative or Friend Visit Visa
If you are planning to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina to visit a family member or a friend residing in the country, you need to obtain a Bosnia and Herzegovina family, relative, or friend visit visa. In order to get the visa, it is important to have an invitation letter from the person whom you are visiting while applying.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Cultural, Sports or Conference Visit Visa
A Bosnia and Herzegovina cultural, sports, or conference visit visa enables individuals or groups to be able to enter the country for a number of purposes including cultural activities, sport competitions or trainings, or filmmaking. It is required to include a letter from both sending and receiving associations while applying for a Bosnia and Herzegovina cultural, sports, or conference visit visa.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Short-Term Education or Internship Visa
A Bosnia and Herzegovina short-term education or internship visa is issued for international students who wish to study in Bosnia and Herzegovina for university projects or special occasions for less than three months. The applicant has to include documents of sufficient means of subsistence, proof of accommodation, and admission letter from the receiving institution.
D Type (Long-Term) Visa
Bosnia and Herzegovina category D visas are required for stays that exceed a three month period with varying purposes in Bosnia and Herzegovina even if the applicant’s nationality is on the visa-free list. It is possible for you to apply for a long-term visa to Bosnia and Herzegovina if you are one of the following:
- A student planning to study at a higher education institution, have a language course, or long-term internship
- An employee going to work for a Bosnia and Herzegovina business
- An academic, researcher or scientist to work in a Bosnia and Herzegovina research center
- An individual whose family member is a Bosnia and Herzegovina citizen
- A patient going to receive medical treatment in a Bosnia and Herzegovina medical institution
- A private entrepreneur who is a founder of a legal or physical entity that will provide economic benefit to Bosnia and Herzegovina
- An athlete or sportsman or who is going to participate in sport tournaments, trainings, or events
Bosnia and Herzegovina Transit Visa
A Bosnia and Herzegovina transit visa is asked from individuals whose nationality is not eligible to transit another destination from Bosnia and Herzegovina. A Bosnia and Herzegovina transit visa authorizes the individual to travel a third country from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for up to five days. A Bosnia and Herzegovina transit visa can also be issued on the border regarding special circumstances such as humanitarian reasons, medical emergencies, security or personal reasons.
General Requirements to Apply for Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa
In order to successfully obtain a Bosnia and Herzegovina visa it is important to be prepared and gather all the necessary information regarding your nationality and purpose of the visit beforehand. There are certain stages to obtain a Bosnia and Herzegovina visa:
Complete the Online Application Form
A Bosnia and Herzegovina touristic visa is issued through an online application form. In the application form, it is vital to include the planned duration of the stay with exact dates. The applicant will be informed if about the result of the visa application after processing time.
Visit the Responsible Consulate
Most visa applications require an interview at the responsible consulate. It is important to bring the required documents as well as the original travel document after the confirmation of the online application.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Applications
You are required to present the following documents if your nationality is not eligible for a visa-free entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina:
- Application form in PDF link filled in block letters
- Original and one copy of the passport
- A passport-sized photo
- Visa fee receipt
- A copy of the round-trip flight or another return ticket
There are additionally required or supporting documents from certain applicants:
Employed:
- Employment contract
- A letter from the company that states your absence, duration of the stay, and confirms returning to current job
- Bank statement of the last six months
Student:
- Proof of enrollment and no objection certificate from the registered school
- Sponsorship documents if the applicant cannot support himself/herself financially during the period of the stay
Self-Employed:
- Copy of business license
- Company bank statement of last six months
What is Visa Sponsorship for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
A visa sponsorship is required in Bosnia and Herzegovina if the applicant cannot cover his/her expenses for educational or touristic purposes by own in the duration of the stay. A sponsor could be a parent, sibling, other relatives, or a friend. However, it would increase chances to obtain a visa if the sponsor is a first-degree relative or has a permanent residence permit or citizenship in Bosnia and Herzegovina or a Schengen state. The required documents from the sponsor are:
- A confirmation letter clearly states the relationship with the applicant, how and what expenses are going to be covered by the sponsor, and contact details of both the applicant and sponsor
- An invitation letter with accommodation details if the sponsor is a resident or citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- A scanned copy of ID or passport of both the applicant and the sponsor
- Proof of sufficient funds such as bank statements or paychecks
- Proof of estate or business ownership if applicable
A visa sponsorship for Bosnia and Herzegovina can also be granted for long-term or short-term stays regarding business, legal, or cultural purposes by legal entities, businesses, or individuals. You can check our website for more details.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Rules
There are many countries across the globe can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa. If your country is not eligible for visa-free entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you need to obtain a Bosnia and Herzegovina visa and take consideration of the following visa rules:
- People who are under the age of 18 years are asked for a birth certificate.
- The passport should not be older than ten years.
- The travel document should be valid for more than three months from the expected day of arrival to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Requirements
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Requirements for Schengen Countries
Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the process of being an EU member state and the citizens of Schengen area countries, as well as Balkan countries, should not encounter any problems while entering Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Requirements for US, UK, and Canada
Bosnia and Herzegovina does not mandate a visa for the citizens of the US, UK, and Canada and they can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina with their passports that are valid for more than three months from the expected time of arrival to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Bosnia and Herzegovina Visa Fees
Bosnia and Herzegovina touristic short-stay visa types listed below exclusively include the visa fee. Keep in mind that there might be additional payments expected from the applicant such as consular fees, service fees of the outsourced companies, or application form fees.
The current Bosnia and Herzegovina visa fees valid as of March 2020 are as follows:
| Touristic Visa Single Entry | 39 USD |
| Touristic Visa Multiple Entry | 70 USD |
NOTE: This article was prepared in March 2020. Please check up-to-date information published by official sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
