Bosnia and Herzegovina · Work
Bosnia and Herzegovina Researcher permit
First stay: 1 yr
Temporary residence for scientific research (Law on Foreigners Art. 76)
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Researcher permit is a work route for Bosnia and Herzegovina. You can work locally. Checked 2026-10-11 against the official source.
- Processing
- Up to 90 days
- First stay
- 1 yr
Time and long term
RenewalRenewable
Granted for the project period, up to one year, and extendable if the project lasts longer.
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
A permanent residence permit can be granted after 5 years of uninterrupted approved temporary residence, with income, housing, health insurance and a test of one of the official languages.
ProcessingUp to 90 days
A decision is due within 90 days if filed through a BiH diplomatic mission, and within 60 days if filed directly with the Service for Foreigners' Affairs.
Where to applyAbroad or in-country
Applications can be filed through a BiH diplomatic or consular mission or directly with the Service for Foreigners' Affairs in BiH.
Presence rulesAbsence limits
Absences of up to 6 months at a time and 10 months in total over the five years do not break continuity (18 and 12 months for Blue Card holders).
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Needs a job offer from an employer in Bosnia and Herzegovina
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- Applicant holds a doctorate or a qualification giving access to doctoral programmes, and has experience relevant to the project.
- The research organisation has signed a hosting agreement before the application and takes responsibility for the researcher's costs.
Documents6
- Hosting agreement stating the research period, and proof that the organisation covers stay, accommodation, food, health insurance and return.
- Passport valid at least three months beyond the requested stay.
- Proof of accommodation and of health insurance in BiH.
- Medical certificate issued not more than three months before the application.
- Certificate from the country of origin, not older than six months, that no criminal case is pending and there is no conviction.
- Proof of payment of the administrative tax.
After you arrive1
- Residence runs for the project, at most one year, and is extended if the project lasts longer.
What happens at day 183
How Bosnia and Herzegovina decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
Up to 1 year at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a tax period (Federation of BiH)Staying 183 or more days in the Federation, continuously or with breaks, in any tax period makes a person resident.
- At least 183 days in 12 months starting or ending in the tax year (Republika Srpska)Staying 183 or more days in Republika Srpska in a 12-month period starting or ending in the tax year makes a person resident.
- Foreign-source income
Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
All tax rules for Bosnia and Herzegovina Tax records checked
What you need to arrange
- Health insurance
Hosting agreement stating the research period, and proof that the organisation covers stay, accommodation, food, health insurance and return
- Accommodation
Hosting agreement stating the research period, and proof that the organisation covers stay, accommodation, food, health insurance and return
Taken from this route's requirements above. The authority's own list is the one that counts.
Full official text
Residence for researchers with a doctorate or equivalent who have a hosting agreement with a research organisation, for the project length up to one year, extendable. 1 2 3 4
Requirements
- Applicant holds a doctorate or a qualification giving access to doctoral programmes, and has experience relevant to the project. 1 2
- The research organisation has signed a hosting agreement before the application and takes responsibility for the researcher's costs. 1 2
- Hosting agreement stating the research period, and proof that the organisation covers stay, accommodation, food, health insurance and return. 1 2
- Passport valid at least three months beyond the requested stay. 1 4
- Proof of accommodation and of health insurance in BiH. 1 2
- Medical certificate issued not more than three months before the application. 1 4
- Certificate from the country of origin, not older than six months, that no criminal case is pending and there is no conviction. 1 4
- Proof of payment of the administrative tax. 1 4
- Residence runs for the project, at most one year, and is extended if the project lasts longer. 1
Stay
- Residence for the project period, up to one year, and extendable if the project lasts longer.
- 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
Research under the hosting agreement without a separate work permit.
Family
Close family can apply for family reunification even when the researcher's permit is shorter than one year.
Official sources
- 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
- 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
- Administrative tax amounts (Annex 1) · Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · checked 2026-10-11 · published 2026-04
- Stay of foreigners in BiH · Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · checked 2026-10-11
Researcher permit and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Researcher permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | Yes |
| Blue Card | – | 2 yr, renewable | With a permit |
| Seasonal work permit | – | 6 mo, renewable | – |
| Intra-company transfer | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Work permit | – | 1 yr, renewable | Limited |
Questions people ask
How long can I stay on the Researcher permit?
Residence for the project period, up to one year, and extendable if the project lasts longer.
How long does the Researcher permit take to process?
A decision is due within 90 days if filed through a BiH diplomatic mission, and within 60 days if filed directly with the Service for Foreigners' Affairs.
Can I work on the Researcher permit?
Yes. Research under the hosting agreement without a separate work permit.
Can I bring my family on the Researcher permit?
Close family can apply for family reunification even when the researcher's permit is shorter than one year.
Does the Researcher permit lead to permanent residence in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Time on the Researcher permit counts toward permanent residence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence.
How are Researcher permit holders taxed in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
No special regime in our records is tied to the Researcher permit. The standard rules apply: Income tax in Bosnia and Herzegovina is set by the entities: the Federation taxes income at 10% after a KM 3,600 a year basic deduction, and Republika Srpska taxes employment pay at 8% after a KM 1,000 a month deduction; employee contributions are 31% of gross pay in both entities, deductible from taxable pay in the Federation but not in Republika Srpska. Residents are taxed on worldwide income.
More in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Work visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-11 against 4 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- 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
- 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
- Administrative tax amounts (Annex 1) · Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · checked 2026-10-11
- Stay of foreigners in BiH · Service for Foreigners' Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.