VISA AND RESIDENCE INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina

Students coming on exchange programs (e.g., one semester under programs such as Erasmus+), as well as international students enrolling in studies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, need to understand how the visa regime and residence procedures function in BiH. Entry regulations are determined by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Visa Regime

Does a student need a visa before arrival?

This depends on the student’s citizenship. There are countries whose citizens do not need to apply for a visa at the BiH embassy/consulate before arrival—they may enter BiH directly without a visa.

The complete and official list of countries with visa-free regime with BiH is available here: https://mvp.gov.ba/en/vize (Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH – visa-free regime)

Students from other countries, regardless of any existing visa-free regime for periods of up to 30 days (Russian Federation and Ukraine) or 90 days, require a Type D visa for exchanges lasting one semester.

Procedure for Issuing Type D Visa

Before a student submits an application for a Type D visa at the competent diplomatic-consular mission, the procedure for preparing and certifying the invitation letter must be completed.

The invitation letter form for legal entities (available here) and the application form for certification of the invitation letter (available here) are completed by the international cooperation coordinator and secretary based on documentation provided by the student. The invitation letter must be filled out completely without any technical errors; otherwise, it may be returned for reprocessing.

Both documents must be printed double-sided, and the signatory on behalf of organizational units is the dean.

Along with the completed invitation letter, signed and certified by the dean, the following documentation must be attached:

  1. Application for certification of the invitation letter addressed to the Service for Foreigners Affairs – Field Center Banja Luka;
  2. Certified photocopy of the court registration decision of the legal entity issuing the invitation letter with an appendix showing who is authorized to represent the legal entity;
  3. Proof of solvency of the invitation letter issuer, certified by a commercial bank, not older than 90 days;
  4. Tax Administration certificate of settled tax obligations and assigned unique tax identification number (JIB), not older than 90 days;
  5. Indirect Taxation Administration certificate of settled indirect tax obligations, not older than 90 days;
  6. Proof of payment of 50 BAM for certification of the invitation letter – administrative fee paid in accordance with the Regulation on payment accounts for administrative fees in proceedings with foreigners (Official Gazette of BiH, No. 30/23 of April 28, 2023);
  7. Tax identification number (JIB) of the legal entity (University member institution to which the student is coming for exchange);
  8. Photocopy of the travel document of the student coming on exchange (does not need to be certified);
  9. Letter of acceptance of the student on exchange issued by the appropriate member institution of Slobomir P University Banja Luka.

Documents under items 2), 3), 4), 5) may be either originals or photocopies certified by the competent service of the Banja Luka City Administration.

All documentation must be submitted separately for each exchange student.

The complete documentation is personally delivered to the Field Center Banja Luka of the Service for Foreigners Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

After the invitation letter is certified by the Field Center, the member institution sends the invitation letter, along with any accompanying documentation, to the student via express mail (DHL recommended).

The procedure for issuing Type D visa is prescribed by the Rulebook on issuing visas for long-term stay (Type D visa) at diplomatic-consular missions of Bosnia and Herzegovina (available at http://www.sluzbenenovine.ba/page/akt/53Nfhjgztz5k76kjn45hzaPc=).

Based on the submitted certified invitation letter, the student schedules an appointment for visa issuance at the appropriate diplomatic-consular mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to their place of residence.

The application for Type D visa is submitted in person no earlier than three (3) months and no later than one (1) month before the intended travel date.

When submitting the application, the foreigner must:

  1. Complete the application form for Type D visa on the appropriate form and sign it personally (available at the diplomatic-consular mission and here);
  2. Present a valid travel document;
  3. Present one color photograph, scanned or taken at the time of application submission, size 35×45 mm, accurately depicting the travel document holder;
  4. Allow the collection of biometric data if applicable (photograph, fingerprints, signature);
  5. Pay the prescribed consular fee (verify the amount at the competent BiH diplomatic-consular mission);
  6. Attach documentation proving:
    • Purpose and conditions of intended stay (proven by invitation letter, student acceptance letter issued by the appropriate University member institution, and learning agreement);
    • Secured accommodation or proof of sufficient funds to cover accommodation costs (proven by invitation letter);
    • Secured funds for living expenses in BiH and for return to the country of habitual residence, or proof of ability to lawfully obtain them, including funds for healthcare;
    • Secured travel funds and intention to return (proven by return ticket);
    • Medical certificate proving absence of communicable diseases;
    • Proof of paid travel health insurance valid for BiH territory covering the planned stay period.

4. Upon Arrival in Banja Luka

Residence Registration (White Card)

International students are required to register their residence with the Field Center Banja Luka of the Service for Foreigners Affairs within 48 hours of arrival in Banja Luka.

If the student will be accommodated at the “Nikola Tesla” Student Center or at a hotel/hostel (or other legal or natural persons providing accommodation services within their registered activities), the accommodation provider is obligated to register the student’s residence.

If students reside in private accommodation, the students themselves must personally (or accompanied by the person with whom they reside) register their residence at the Field Center Banja Luka.

For residence registration in this case, the following documents are required:

  • Certified photocopy of passport;
  • Certified photocopy of landlord’s identity card;
  • Proof of payment of administrative fee for white card in the amount of 10 BAM (fee must be paid via payment slip, instructions available here);
  • Proof of accommodation (certified lease agreement (example) or certified landlord’s statement (example) – certification is performed by a notary or the competent service of the City Administration).

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE BASED ON HIGHER EDUCATION

All students are required to regulate temporary residence based on higher education within a maximum of 75 days after arrival in Banja Luka, with the recommendation to begin this procedure as soon as possible after arrival. If the visa is granted for a period shorter than 3 months, the application for temporary residence permit must be submitted no later than 15 days before the expiration of that period.

Documentation required for regulating temporary residence:

  1. Application for issuance of temporary residence permit in BiH (form available at Field Center Banja Luka or here – must be printed double-sided);
  2. Proof of payment of administrative fee for temporary residence permit in the amount of 150 BAM (payment instructions);
  3. Two recent photographs, size 35×45 mm;
  4. Certified photocopy of passport with validity period at least three months longer than the period for which the temporary residence permit is requested (page with personal data, last entry to BiH, Type D visa for BiH, if required);
  5. Photocopy of foreigner’s residence registration form (white card);
  6. Proof that the foreigner is enrolled in a higher education institution for the current academic year (original and photocopy – issued by the competent Student Affairs Office);
  7. Proof that the foreigner is coming under a student exchange program (learning agreement, inter-institutional agreement);
  8. Proof of secured funds necessary for living expenses for the current academic year in the amount of 400.00 BAM per month in an account opened in BiH (or in the case of Erasmus+ exchange, grant agreement);
  9. Medical certificate showing that the foreigner does not suffer from diseases posing a threat to public health in BiH (original or certified photocopy), not older than 90 days – authorized health institutions for medical examination include: Family Medicine Clinic at the student campus, “Preventiva Medical” Health Institution, “Dr. Marjanović” Health Center, “Mediccare” Health Institution, Institute for Occupational and Sports Medicine, Health Center, Euromedik, Deamedika, Intermedik, and other health institutions capable of performing the required examinations;
  10. Certificate confirming that no criminal proceedings are being conducted against the foreigner and certificate that the foreigner has not been convicted of a criminal offense, issued by the competent authority of the country where the foreigner has habitual residence (original or certified photocopy), not older than 6 months (certificate must be certified with apostille stamp for member states of the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (at https://www.hcch.net/en/instruments/conventions/status-table/?cid=41), or authenticated at the appropriate BiH diplomatic-consular mission for non-member states);
  11. Proof of secured accommodation in BiH (certified lease agreement (example – Lease Agreement) or certified landlord’s statement (example – Landlord’s Statement) with proof of residential property ownership – certification performed by notary or competent service of City Administration);
  12. Proof of secured health insurance in BiH (health insurance policy, photocopy of health booklet, proof of registration with the Health Fund, proof of paid travel health insurance, or other proof).

All foreign documents must be translated into one of the official languages of BiH.

OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT

Opening an account with a domestic bank (for students not coming under the Erasmus+ exchange program, i.e., who do not have a secured scholarship) is mandatory.

Documentation required for opening an account at one of the domestic banks:

  • Signed application for account opening (available at banks);
  • Certificate of residence registration in BiH (white card);
  • Passport, copy certified by the competent service of City Administration and translated into one of the official languages of BiH and certified by a court translator;
  • Personal tax identification number (JIB) from the Tax Administration of Republika Srpska.

Registration of Foreigners with the Tax Administration of Republika Srpska for Obtaining JIB

The form is available here.

Instructions for completing the form are available here (English translation available here).