Bosnia and Herzegovina Entry Requirements

Visa, immigration, and customs information

Bosnia and Herzegovina welcomes visitors with a straightforward entry process set against a backdrop of Ottoman-era bridges, alpine villages and Adriatic-hugging beaches. Immigration formalities are usually quick: EU, US, UK, Canadian and many other passport-holders may stay up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa, while travellers from a small number of countries must obtain a visa in advance from a Bosnian embassy or consulate. Land borders with Croatia, Montenegro and Serbia are open 24 h at major crossings, but allow extra time in summer when day-trippers head for the coast or Sarajevo’s café culture. Officials may ask for proof of accommodation, funds and onward travel, so keep confirmations on your phone or printed copy. The country uses the convertible mark (BAM) and remains largely cash-based, so bring some local currency for taxis or kafanas outside big towns. Roads are scenic but winding; if you plan to drive, carry your licence, green card insurance and vehicle registration. Although Bosnia and Herzegovina is safe for tourists, check your government’s travel advisory for any regional updates and register with your embassy if staying long-term. Finally, buy complete travel insurance—mountain rescue in the Dinaric Alps or medical evacuation from remote ski areas is expensive without cover.

Visa Requirements

Entry permissions vary by nationality. Find your category below.

Bosnia and Herzegovina applies a liberal visa regime modelled on the EU Schengen list: most holiday-makers receive 90 visa-free days, while nationals of roughly 75 countries need either an e-visa or an embassy-issued sticker.

Visa-Free Entry

90 days within any 180-day period

Tourist and business visits for leisure, family or short study. Work is not permitted.

Includes

United States United Kingdom Canada Australia New Zealand Japan South Korea All EU & Schengen states Israel Malaysia Singapore UAE Brazil Argentina Chile Mexico Serbia Montenegro North Macedonia Albania (biometric passports only) Moldova (biometric passports only) Georgia (biometric passports only) Serbia Turkey Brunei

Passport must be valid ≥ 3 months beyond intended departure; day-count is cumulative across all visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina within 180 days.

Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA/eVisa)

30 days

Single-entry e-visa introduced 2023 for citizens who previously required embassy visas.

Includes

Russia Ukraine Belarus Kazakhstan Azerbaijan Armenia Kuwait Bahrain Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia China India South Africa Thailand Philippines Indonesia Morocco Tunisia Algeria Egypt Ghana Kenya Nigeria Pakistan Bangladesh Sri Lanka Nepal Vietnam Cuba Peru Colombia Venezuela

How to Apply: Apply online at https://www.mvp.gov.ba (English & local languages). Upload passport bio-page, photo, accommodation proof and return ticket. Processing 3–5 working days; urgent 24 h available.
Cost: €35 standard / €60 urgent

e-Visa is single-entry; exit & re-entry requires a new visa. You may still apply at an embassy if you prefer a multiple-entry sticker.

Visa Required

Up to 90 days single- or multiple-entry

Stick-on visa issued by diplomatic missions for tourism, business or transit.

How to Apply: Apply in person or by post at the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Submit passport, photo, completed form, travel health insurance, accommodation proof, funds proof (≈ €150 per day) and paid fee receipt.

Processing 5–15 days; first-time applicants may be interviewed. Holders of valid multiple-entry Schengen C, US or UK visas may enter Bosnia for max 30 days without a Bosnian visa provided the other visa remains valid.

Arrival Process

Arrivals by air land at Sarajevo (SJJ), Mostar (OMO), Tuzla (TZL) or Banja Luka (BNX); small cruise ports at Neum (Adriatic) handle seasonal ferries. Expect EU-style passport control, followed by baggage reclaim and a red/green customs channel.

Primary Passport Control

Join ‘Other passports’ or ‘EU/BIH’ lane. Officer scans passport, may stamp, and hands back with entry date.

Baggage Collection & Customs Choice

Collect bags, then choose green (nothing to declare) or red (goods to declare) channel. Random X-ray checks occur.

Exit to Landside

Taxi desks, car-hire kiosks and ATM machines are immediately outside. Bus 200E connects Sarajevo airport to the centre every 30 min.

Documents to Have Ready

Passport

Must be valid ≥ 3 months beyond departure and issued within last 10 years.

Return/onward ticket

Bus, train or flight confirmation proving you will leave within 90 days.

Accommodation confirmation

Hotel voucher, Airbnb receipt or invitation letter; digital copy accepted.

Travel health insurance certificate

Not always asked, but compulsory for e-visa holders and useful if medical treatment is needed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Driver’s licence & green card

Only if you will drive; rental contracts if applicable.

Tips for Smooth Entry

Print or save offline copies of bookings—free Wi-Fi at the airport can be slow.

Carry some convertible marks (BAM) for the taxi meter; drivers rarely accept euros at the official rate.

If you cross an internal Schengen border immediately before Bosnia, ensure your passport is stamped exiting Schengen to avoid overstay confusion later.

Customs & Duty-Free

Bosnia and Herzegovina follows EU duty-free levels but enforces strict limits on meat, dairy and cash. Declare anything above allowance to avoid fines.

Alcohol

1 L spirits > 22 % vol OR 2 L spirits < 22 % vol + 4 L still wine + 16 L beer

Minimum age 18 years.

Tobacco

200 cigarettes OR 100 cigarillos OR 50 cigars OR 250 g smoking tobacco

Minimum age 18 years.

Currency

Declaration required ≥ €10 000 or equivalent in any currency

Form available at border; failure to declare may lead to seizure.

Gifts/Goods

Total value ≤ €300 per adult (€150 for under 15s)

Personal-use electronics, sports gear and souvenirs are normally waved through; commercial quantities are taxed.

Prohibited Items

Fresh meat & dairy from non-EU countries—BSE restrictions
Illegal drugs—zero tolerance, heavy jail terms
Endangered species trophies—CITES rules apply
Propaganda or hate literature—can be confiscated

Restricted Items

Firearms & ammunition—police permit needed in advance
Medication containing narcotics—carry doctor’s letter translated
Plants & seeds—phytosanitary certificate required
Pets—see special-situations section

Health Requirements

No extraordinary vaccinations are demanded, but routine immunisations should be up to date before enjoying Bosnia and Herzegovina’s mountain trails or spa resorts.

Recommended Vaccinations

Hepatitis A (food & water)
Hepatitis B (health & adventure sports)
Tetanus-diphtheria (every 10 years)
Tick-borne encephalitis if hiking in spring-summer
Rabies pre-exposure for long-stay rural volunteers

Health Insurance

Not mandatory for visa-free visitors, but hospitals in Sarajevo expect cash payment or guarantee; evacuation to Vienna or Zagreb is costly.

Current Health Requirements: COVID-19 entry restrictions lifted in May 2023; rules can be re-imposed quickly—check https://www.kriznistab-bih.ba before departure.

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Important Contacts

Essential resources for your trip.

Embassy/Consulate

Find your country's embassy or consulate

Check your government's travel advisory website

Immigration Authority

Official immigration website

For visa applications and official information

Emergency

Emergency services number

Police, ambulance, fire – dial 124 (ambulance), 122 (fire), 123 (police)

Special Situations

Additional requirements for specific circumstances.

Traveling with Children

Minors need own passport; if accompanied by one parent or non-parent, carry notarised consent letter (in English or Bosnian) plus copy of the other parent’s passport. Border guards check for child-trafficking compliance.

Traveling with Pets

Dogs & cats need microchip, rabies shot ≥ 21 days before entry, EU-style pet passport or third-country veterinary certificate, and tape-worm treatment for dogs entering from Neum coast ferries. Maximum 5 animals per person.

Extended Stays

Apply for temporary residence (work, study, family reunion) at the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs before the 90-day tourist period expires; overstaying incurs fines of up to €450 and re-entry bans.

Know what to pack

Climate-specific clothing, travel documents, electronics, and gear — with shopping links for every item.

View Bosnia and Herzegovina Packing List →