Are you interested in obtaining a work and temporary residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Great. I’m here to provide you with summarized information on the procedure and documents needed, as well as my legal assistance if you wish to apply for the permits.
A. Work Permit
Issuance procedure
Work permits are issued at the entity level by the competent employment agency in either the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H) or the Republic of Srpska (RS). The employer (natural or legal person) applies for the work permit for the foreigner it wishes to hire.
Work permits are issued in accordance with the adopted annual quota of the approved number of work permits. For the employer’s directors, a work permit can be issued regardless of the annual quota.
Work permit is normally issued within 30 days or more from the submission of a complete request. The permit corresponds to the position for which the foreigner is being hired. Its maximum validity period is one year, and it can be extended for successive periods of one year.
Documents needed:
1. request on a prescribed form (applicable for both FB&H and RS);
2. passport (FB&H and RS);
3. translation of a school degree – diploma of the foreigner in one of the official languages of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) with nostrification (applicable for FB&H only);
4. relevant excerpt or resolution on entry of the employer (FB&H and RS);
5. employer’s ID & statistics certificate (FB&H only);
6. solvency certificate for the employer (FB&H only);
7. certificate on paid taxes and contributions for all employees (FB&H only);
8. arguments justifying employment of the foreigner (FB&H and RS);
9. proof of paid administrative fees;
10. working capacity certificate of the foreigner (RS only);
11. other documents, if requested.
B. Temporary Residence Permit
Issuance procedure
Residence permits are issued at the state level by the Service for Foreigners. The application for a temporary residence permit is submitted personally by the foreigner requesting the permit.
The issuance of the temporary residence permit may take up to 60 days or longer in exceptional cases. The foreigner to whom the permit is issued needs to take over the resolution on the approved temporary residence together with the passport approval sticker from the Service for Foreigners in person.
The maximum validity period of residence permit is one year, and it can be extended for successive periods of one year.
Documents needed:
1. request on a prescribed form;
2. photograph;
3. passport, with the page containing a stamp of the last entry in B&H and the page with the long stay visa (VISA D), if required;
4. proof of registration of foreigner’s stay (white card);
5. work permit;
6. confirmations on paid taxes and indirect taxes;
7. resolution on entry of the employer in the official registry;
8. medical certificate;
9. confirmation that the foreigner is not prosecuted or sentenced for any criminal offence;
10. proof of provided housing in B&H;
11. proof of paid administrative fee;
12. other documents, if requested.
After obtaining both the work and temporary residence permits, the employer may conclude an employment agreement with the foreigner.