Bosnia and Herzegovina · residence general · Leads to settlement
Permanent Residence Permit
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Indefinite residence after at least five years of qualifying temporary residence and other statutory conditions.
- 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
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
- ✓The applicant has resided in Bosnia and Herzegovina on a temporary residence permit for at least five uninterrupted years before applying.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- ✓The applicant has sufficient and regular funds for support.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- ✓The applicant has confirmed adequate accommodation and confirmed health insurance.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- ✓The applicant knows one of the languages and alphabets in official use and is not subject to criminal proceedings or convicted of a criminal offence.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
Common blockers
- !Less than five uninterrupted years of qualifying temporary residence before filing.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- !Absences exceed the continuity allowance of several absences totalling up to 10 months or one absence up to 6 months.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- !Residence history is in an excluded category, such as temporary protection, some humanitarian grounds, medical treatment, some work-without-permit bases or certain family-reunification cases.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- !Filing while temporary residence is based on education, which the official guidance says cannot be the basis for a permanent residence application.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Temporary residence history showing at least five uninterrupted qualifying years.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- ·Evidence of sufficient and regular funds, adequate accommodation and health insurance.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- ·Language and alphabet evidence where required by the competent authority.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
- ·Criminal-record or proceedings certificate from the competent authority of the country of habitual residence, not older than six months from filing.Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Audit the temporary residence history, absences and route basis before applying.
Build the evidence pack
Prepare Form no. 13 and evidence of funds, accommodation, health insurance, language knowledge and criminal-record position.
Submit through the official channel
Submit original or certified-copy documents with translations where needed and pay the listed administrative fee.
After approval
Keep evidence of permanent residence approval and update registration details as required after approval.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
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.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse 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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Temporary Residence for Family Reunification
Temporary residence route for marriage to a Bosnia and Herzegovina citizen, extramarital community with a citizen or family reunification.
Temporary Residence for Education
Temporary residence route for education in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
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.
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