How long can a foreigner stay in BiH based on the visa-free regime?
Visa-free stay is the right to stay in BiH for foreigners coming from visa-free countries for a total duration of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, which includes taking into account the 180-day period preceding each day of stay, unless otherwise provided for by an international agreement to which BiH is a contracting party.
Is a foreigner who wishes to reside in BiH on the basis of a visa-free regime obliged to register their residence in BiH?
A foreigner who does not use the accommodation services of legal and natural persons providing accommodation services, or a natural person with whom a foreigner is visiting, is obliged to report the foreigner’s stay in BiH to the competent organizational unit of the Service or the police within 48 hours of the foreigner’s entry into BiH if the foreigner will stay in BiH for longer than three days.
What are the obligations of foreign citizens who want/intend to work in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
If a foreigner intends to reside in BiH for the purpose of paid work, he or she must have a work permit issued by the authority responsible for employment of foreigners, unless this Law or an international agreement stipulates that a work permit is not required for certain types of work. Upon obtaining a work permit, the foreigner submits an application for temporary residence in BiH, without which he or she cannot work in BiH.
What is the procedure for obtaining a work permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
The procedure for obtaining a work permit is as follows:
- A foreigner finds a job or is invited to work.
- The employer obtains a work permit for a foreign citizen from the Employment Agency, and the foreign citizen enters Bosnia and Herzegovina only after obtaining a work permit.
- A foreigner, on the basis of the issued work permit, submits an application for a residence permit in BiH to the Service for Foreigners. Outside BiH, the application is submitted to the Service through the diplomatic and consular mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and in BiH directly to the competent organizational unit of the Service. As a rule, a foreigner must submit an application for a first temporary residence permit outside BiH through the diplomatic mission of BiH, and in person. On the territory of BiH, a foreigner may submit an application for a first temporary residence permit only if he entered BiH with a long-term residence visa (Visa D) or if he is a citizen of a country with a visa-free regime.
When can a foreigner start working?
A foreigner may not start working in BiH on the basis of a work permit before he has been granted temporary residence, unless otherwise provided by this Law. A foreigner may work in BiH only on the basis of the work permit on the basis of which he has been granted temporary residence. On the basis of a work permit, a foreigner may work in BiH only in the workplace or in the type of work for which the work permit was issued, and on the basis of which the foreigner has been granted temporary residence in BiH.
Temporary residence on the basis of a work permit is granted for the period of validity of the work permit plus an additional 30 days, but not longer than one year.
How long is the temporary residence permit in BiH valid?
A temporary residence permit may be issued for a maximum period of one year, provided that the person entered BiH legally and meets the general requirements for a residence permit.
Staying in Bosnia and Herzegovina without a residence permit - consequences?
Every foreign citizen without a regulated residence permit in accordance with the laws of BiH is considered an illegal migrant who ultimately faces deportation from Bosnia and Herzegovina with a ban on entry into BiH for a minimum of one to five years. A fine of 300 KM to 1,500 KM will be imposed on a foreigner who stays in BiH longer than the period specified in the visa or temporary residence permit, or longer than the period of validity of the visa-free stay.
What are the conditions for granting permanent residence to foreign citizens?
A permanent residence permit for foreign nationals can be granted to a foreigner under the following conditions:
- that on the basis of a temporary residence permit, he resides continuously in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for at least five years before submitting an application for a permanent residence permit. It is considered that a foreigner has continuously resided in Bosnia and Herzegovina if, within a period of five years, he has been absent from Bosnia and Herzegovina several times for up to 10 months in total or once for six months.
- At the time of submitting the application and deciding on the application for approval of permanent residence, the foreigner must have an approved temporary residence in BiH.
In addition to the above conditions, it is necessary for the foreigner to meet other conditions for granting permanent residence prescribed by Article 79 of the Law on Foreigners (“Official Gazette of BiH”, No. 88/15) and Article 73 of the Rules on Entry and Stay of Foreigners (“Official Gazette of BiH”, No. 25/16).