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Bosnia and Herzegovina · residence general · Leads to settlement

Permanent Residence Permit

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 9 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Indefinite residence after at least five years of qualifying temporary residence and other statutory conditions.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyIndefinite permanent residence, once approved.
Processing time
No fixed public decision-time standard is listed. The file is assessed against the permanent residence conditions and current Form no. 13 requirements.
Government fees
The official page lists an administrative fee of 200.00 BAM for issuance of a permanent residence permit.
Typical duration
Indefinite permanent residence, once approved.
Sponsorship required
No
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗

In short

As of 13 July 2026, the Permanent Residence Permit for Bosnia and Herzegovina is an unsponsored Bosnia and Herzegovina immigration route. Sources: official Bosnia and Herzegovina government pages, reviewed 13 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/bosnia-and-herzegovina/permanent-residence-permit#answer

What is the Permanent Residence Permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Permanent Residence Permit is an unsponsored Bosnia and Herzegovina route. Indicative government fees are The official page lists an administrative fee of 200.00 BAM for issuance of a permanent residence permit; indicative processing time is No fixed public decision-time standard is listed. The file is assessed against the permanent residence conditions and current Form no. 13 requirements; typical duration is Indefinite permanent residence, once approved. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 27 June 2026.

Overview

Permanent residence in Bosnia and Herzegovina is residence for an indefinite period. The Service for Foreigners' Affairs says it is issued where the alien has resided in Bosnia and Herzegovina on temporary residence for at least five uninterrupted years before filing, has sufficient and regular funds, adequate accommodation, health insurance, knowledge of one official language and alphabet, and is not subject to criminal proceedings or convicted of a criminal offence. Continuity can survive absences totalling up to 10 months or one absence up to 6 months in the five-year period.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Audit the temporary residence history, absences and route basis before applying.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Prepare Form no. 13 and evidence of funds, accommodation, health insurance, language knowledge and criminal-record position.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Submit original or certified-copy documents with translations where needed and pay the listed administrative fee.

  4. After approval

    Keep evidence of permanent residence approval and update registration details as required after approval.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Permanent Residence Permit, use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.
Official Permanent Residence Permit instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use official Permanent Residence Permit route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Permanent Residence Permit.

    Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · verified

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Frequently asked questions

How long must I live in Bosnia and Herzegovina before permanent residence?+

The official page says the applicant must have resided on temporary residence for at least five uninterrupted years before submitting the permanent residence application.

What is the permanent residence fee listed by the Service for Foreigners?+

The official page lists an administrative fee of 200.00 BAM for issuance of a permanent residence permit.

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

How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Last checked: 27 June 2026

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