Bosnia and Herzegovina Work permit

Temporary residence tied to a work permit issued by the entity or Brčko employment authority for one job and one employer, within an annual quota. ^{1 2 3 4}

Requirements

• Applicant has a work permit issued by the employment authority of the Federation of BiH, Republika Srpska or Brčko District for the employer's seat. ¹
• The work permit falls within the Council of Ministers' annual quota, unless an exception applies, such as key staff of a business. ¹
• A foreigner who entered BiH without a prior work permit cannot be granted this permit while in BiH. ¹
• A work permit holder is taken to meet the means-of-support and health-insurance conditions. ¹
• The work permit and, for a company founded by a foreigner, court registration and tax-settlement proof not older than 90 days. ²
• Passport valid at least three months beyond the requested stay. ^{1 3}
• Proof of accommodation and of health insurance in BiH. ^{1 2}
• Medical certificate issued not more than three months before the application. ^{1 3}
• Certificate from the country of origin, not older than six months, that no criminal case is pending and there is no conviction. ^{1 3}
• Proof of payment of the administrative tax. ^{1 3}
• The first application is filed in person through a BiH mission abroad, or in BiH with the Service if the applicant holds a long-stay visa (D) or is visa-exempt. ^{1 3}
• The Service decides within 90 days if filed through a mission, or 60 days if filed directly with the Service. ¹
• Residence is granted for the period of the work permit plus 30 days, up to one year, and ends 30 days after the work permit ends. ¹
• On a change of employer the holder keeps residence if a new work permit or proof of a pending application is delivered within 30 days. ^{1 2}

Stay

• Residence granted for the period of the work permit plus 30 days, up to one year, and extendable on the same basis.
• First stay: up to 12 months, decided case by case.
• Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.

Nationality

Open to foreigners generally; nationals who need a visa apply for a long-stay visa (D) with or before the first application.

Work

Work only in the job and for the employer named in the work permit, which is valid for at most one year.

Family

Close family can apply for family reunification if the holder has a residence of one year or longer with prospects of permanent residence.

Checked 2026-10-11

Official sources

1. Law on Foreigners, unofficial consolidated text (Official Gazette of BiH 88/15, 34/21, 63/23) · Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina · checked 2026-10-11
2. Rulebook on entry and stay of foreigners (Official Gazette of BiH 25/16) · Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2016-04-08
3. Stay of foreigners in BiH · Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · checked 2026-10-11
4. Administrative tax amounts (Annex 1) · Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-04