Bosnia and Herzegovina business visa

Visa-exempt nationals travel for business on their passport and may stay up to 90 days in any 180 days. Nationals who need a visa apply for a Visa C, which the Law on Aliens lists for business, training and similar purposes. Frequent business travellers who have used earlier visas lawfully can ask for a multiple-entry Visa C valid for up to five years, which requires the prior consent of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs.

Neither the visa nor the visa-free stay gives a right to employment. Founding and registering a company in BiH is expressly not treated as work, so a foreign investor can sign documents and deal with the court register during a business visit.

The Law on Aliens lets foreigners staying on a visa, visa-free or on temporary residence work without a work permit for up to 90 days in a calendar year in a closed list of roles: senior managers and key experts of a company, invited university lecturers and scientists, artists and technical crews, cultural heritage, library and archive experts, trainers sent by a foreign employer, trainees at missions or companies, staff delivering, installing or servicing machinery, conference lecturers, exhibitors at fairs, circus and amusement park staff, invited doctors, athletes at sports events and certain seasonal workers.

Except for athletes at sports events, these people must first obtain a certificate of work registration from the Service's field office. The April 2026 fee table lists BAM 100 for the certificate, and BAM 5 for artists and for cultural heritage, library and archive experts. Work beyond 90 days in a calendar year requires a work permit and temporary residence on that basis.

An invitation letter may be issued by a BiH citizen, a foreigner with permanent residence or a legal entity registered in BiH. On the official form the inviter undertakes to cover accommodation, medical costs, subsistence and, if needed, the costs of removal. The Service for Foreigners' Affairs certifies the letter in the inviter's town after checks, and the certified letter is valid for 180 days.

A company applying for certification for a Visa C submits the signed request, a certified extract from the court register with proof of who represents the company, a bank solvency certificate, certificates from the tax administration and the Indirect Taxation Authority that taxes and contributions are paid (each not older than 90 days, or an instalment agreement), an uncertified copy of the visitor's passport and the fee receipt. The fee table of April 2026 lists BAM 50 for a letter from a legal entity and BAM 20 for one from a private person.

With the certified original invitation letter, the traveller applies in person at a BiH embassy or consulate between 90 and 7 days before the trip, with a passport valid at least three months beyond the visa, the form, a 35 x 45 mm photo, travel health insurance, proof of travel means and professional status, and the fee receipt; the fee cannot be paid in cash. Missions may request more documents or an interview. If the Service's consent is needed it replies within 7 days, and a refusal can be appealed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the mission within 15 days.

Hotels register guests within 12 hours. A business visitor staying privately for more than three days must be reported to the Service or the police within 48 hours of entry. Border police can ask for the invitation letter, a return ticket and BAM 150 per day of stay; the certified invitation letter counts as proof of means.