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Bosnia and Herzegovina · family · Leads to settlement

Temporary Residence for Family Reunification

By · Last reviewed:

Source check: all 6 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Temporary residence route for marriage to a Bosnia and Herzegovina citizen, extramarital community with a citizen or family reunification.

Requires sponsorshipLeads to permanent residencyTemporary residence may be issued for up to 1 year unless otherwise determined by the residence permit.
Processing time
No fixed public decision-time standard is listed. Timing depends on the competent office and the completeness of the family-residence evidence.
Government fees
The stay page does not publish a route-specific temporary residence fee. Confirm current fees before filing.
Typical duration
Temporary residence may be issued for up to 1 year unless otherwise determined by the residence permit.
Sponsorship required
Yes
Leads to permanent residency
Yes
Reviewed Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina ↗

In short

As of 13 July 2026, the Temporary Residence for Family Reunification for Bosnia and Herzegovina is a sponsor-led 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/temporary-residence-family-reunification#answer

What is the Temporary Residence for Family Reunification in Bosnia and Herzegovina?

Temporary Residence for Family Reunification is a sponsor-led Bosnia and Herzegovina route. Indicative government fees are The stay page does not publish a route-specific temporary residence fee. Confirm current fees before filing; indicative processing time is No fixed public decision-time standard is listed. Timing depends on the competent office and the completeness of the family-residence evidence; typical duration is Temporary residence may be issued for up to 1 year unless otherwise determined by the residence permit. This route can lead to permanent residence.

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

Overview

The Service for Foreigners' Affairs lists marriage to a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, extramarital community with a citizen, and family reunification as grounds for temporary residence. Temporary residence may be issued for up to one year unless the permit determines otherwise, and the applicant must submit evidence justifying the stay on the required basis.

Eligibility

Typical criteria

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. Check the route fit

    Confirm whether the family case is marriage, extramarital community or family reunification.

  2. Build the evidence pack

    Prepare relationship evidence, identity documents, certified copies and translations.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Submit through the correct Service or diplomatic-consular channel for first temporary residence or extension.

  4. After approval

    Renew before expiry and verify whether the family basis can support a later permanent residence application.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Temporary Residence for Family Reunification, 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 the conditions for your own permission, including work, and keep evidence of the qualifying relationship. The principal applicant’s conditions may differ.
  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 Temporary Residence for Family Reunification instructionsBuild my moving plan for this routeMoving to Bosnia and Herzegovina

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Bosnia and Herzegovina. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

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 + sponsor
    Use official Temporary Residence for Family Reunification route page ↗

    Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Temporary Residence for Family Reunification.

    Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · verified

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Frequently asked questions

Which family grounds are listed for Bosnia and Herzegovina temporary residence?+

The official page lists marriage to a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, extramarital community with a citizen, and family reunification.

Do foreign-language documents need translation?+

Yes. The official page says documents in a foreign language must be submitted with a translation into one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

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

See the full evidence trail and methodology

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