Bosnia and Herzegovina

Temporary residence for business establishment or property ownership. Bosnia has no digital-nomad visa; the two realistic options are founding a local business or buying any property, either of which supports a renewable one-year temporary residence permit.

Free, with the law behind every answer

Temporary residence for business establishment or property ownership

A temporary residence permit for up to 12 months, renewable annually while the business or property basis continues.

Who qualifies

Establish a business in Bosnia and Herzegovina (a simple d.o.o. needs about €500 in minimum registered capital), or purchase real estate of any value with no minimum purchase price set by law, as the basis for the permit.
Law on Foreigners of Bosnia and Herzegovina, temporary residence grounds; Companies Law, minimum d.o.o. capital
Show sufficient funds to avoid needing social assistance, valid health insurance, a clean criminal record, and a medical certificate issued within 3 months.
Service for Foreigners’ Affairs, temporary residence requirements

You keep your U.S. citizenship.

It could fit.

Bosnia has no digital-nomad visa; the two realistic options are founding a local business or buying any property, either of which supports a renewable one-year temporary residence permit.

Every option that fits your family

Not legal advice.

What it takes.

Time: 1–3 months once the business or property purchase is in place.
Cost: About $500–2,000 depending on whether the option is company formation or a property purchase, beyond the property price or the roughly €500 company capital.
The hard part: The paperwork bar (medical certificate, criminal record certificate, proof of funds) is procedural rather than financial, but must be timed carefully since it must be filed at least 15 days before a prior visa or visa-free stay expires, and applicants must show a genuine, lasting connection to Bosnia, not just a nominal registration.

Citizens by 2036.

If your first permit is issued in 2027 and you keep living there, this is the road.

2027
First residence permit
1 year, renewable for 1 year at a time.
2028
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2029
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2030
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2031
Renew the permit
Filed before the old one lapses; renews for 1 year.
2032
Permanent residence
Five years in a row on temporary residence, with at most 10 months abroad in total or one trip of up to 6 months. You also need regular income, housing, health insurance, a clean record, and knowledge of one of the official languages and its alphabet.
2035
Apply for citizenship
With a language test.
2036
Citizenship

Language: Enough of the language and alphabet of one of the three constituent peoples (Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian).
Time away: At least 3 years holding approved permanent residence before applying, so about 8 years in the country in all. No separate count of days abroad was found for this step.
Two passports: It depends on the rules at the time and on your home country.

Permits last up to 1 year, so a family needs five unbroken renewals before permanent residence, then 3 more years before citizenship.
How long the decision takes isn’t published; we allow a year.
Whether you can keep your current citizenship depends on the rules at the time and your home country.

The law behind these dates

Living there.

Time you must spend there: No fixed day-count is set for holding the permit, but authorities expect a genuine, lasting connection to Bosnia, not just a registration on paper.
Tax: Tax residence follows presence of 183 days or more in a 12-month period.

We never file a tax return. We tell you what applies and brief the professional who does.

Start today.

Read the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs page on temporary residence.Open sps.gov.ba ↗
Gather these documents.
- The business plan, and the endorsement or approval it needs
- Request your FBI Identity History Summary
- Health insurance that meets the program’s rules

Postern can’t run this for you yet.

The official application forms, submission and recovery specification are not complete. Postern cannot run this application yet.

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