Bosnia and Herzegovina visas
Bosnia and Herzegovina administers foreigner stay through the Service for Foreigners' Affairs. The public route framework includes visa residence, visa-free stay for eligible nationals, temporary residence for work, family, education, real-estate ownership and other legally listed grounds, plus permanent residence after qualifying temporary residence. The official English guidance also highlights residence registration duties and original/certified document and translation rules.
7 routes · 5 without a sponsor · 5 lead to settlement
Official portal
Primary source
Stay of aliens in BiH ↗ · Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Link last verified:
Regulators of immigration advice
- Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina (MoJ BiH) — State-level justice ministry and legal-system portal. Immigration status is administered by the Service for Foreigners' Affairs; there is no separate immigration-adviser regulator identified in the public route guidance.
Visa routes (7)
Visa-Free Stay
Short stay for nationals covered by Bosnia and Herzegovina visa-free arrangements.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 13 July 2026
Temporary Residence for Employment with Work Permit
Temporary residence route for employment specified in an issued Bosnia and Herzegovina work permit.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 13 July 2026
Temporary Residence for Work without Work Permit
Temporary residence basis for listed work categories that may apply without a separate work permit.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 13 July 2026
Temporary Residence for Family Reunification
Temporary residence route for marriage to a Bosnia and Herzegovina citizen, extramarital community with a citizen or family reunification.
Sponsor required · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 13 July 2026
Temporary Residence for Education
Temporary residence route for education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 13 July 2026
Temporary Residence Based on Real Estate Ownership
Temporary residence ground for ownership of real estate in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 13 July 2026
Permanent Residence Permit
Indefinite residence after at least five years of qualifying temporary residence and other statutory conditions.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 13 July 2026
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Bosnia and Herzegovina have?+
We cover 7 Bosnia and Herzegovina visa routes in these categories: visitor and short business, sponsored work, unsponsored work, family, study, and general residence. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Bosnia and Herzegovina visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
5 of the 7 Bosnia and Herzegovina routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 2 are employer-sponsored.
Which Bosnia and Herzegovina visas lead to permanent residence?+
5 of the 7 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Bosnia and Herzegovina