Visa and residence
Visa D and residence permit for students in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Who needs a visa, which documents the field centre wants and how to plan the weeks between admission and your first lecture.
Visa-free nationals enter and apply for a residence permit inside the country. Visa-required nationals first get a visa D. Every degree student needs the residence permit.
Student visa Bosnia and Herzegovina: the short answer
A student visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina is a long-stay visa D issued by a Bosnian embassy, followed by a temporary residence permit on the basis of study issued inside the country by the Service for Foreigners' Affairs. Your passport decides if you need the visa. The residence permit everyone needs, because a degree lasts longer than 90 days.
So the process has two steps:
- Visa D (only if your nationality needs a visa): applied for at the Bosnian embassy responsible for your country, before you travel.
- Temporary residence permit for study (everyone outside the visa-free 90 days): applied for at the field centre of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs in your university city, after you arrive.
Between the two: register your address within 48 hours of entry.
We run this process every autumn for students at the University of Sarajevo, the University of Banja Luka and the University of East Sarajevo in Foča. The rules are national, but each field centre wants slightly different paperwork; where something depends on your nationality or the field office, we say so.
Who needs a student visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Citizens of visa-free countries can enter Bosnia and Herzegovina for up to 90 days within any 180-day period and apply for the residence permit from inside the country. Everyone else applies for a visa D first. The table shows the pattern we see in our student intake in 2026.
| Region | Typical nationalities | Entry for study | What you do |
|---|---|---|---|
| European Union / EEA, Switzerland | Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Sweden, Poland, Croatia | Visa-free | Enter with passport or ID card, register address within 48 hours, apply for residence permit in the first weeks |
| Rest of Europe | UK, Norway, Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Turkey | Visa-free | Same as EU citizens; bring a passport for the residence permit |
| North America and Oceania | USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand | Visa-free | Enter visa-free, then residence permit inside the country |
| Gulf states | UAE, Qatar, Kuwait | Visa-free | Enter visa-free, then residence permit inside the country |
| Gulf states (seasonal waiver) | Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman | Visa D advised | Recent visa-free periods were limited to the summer tourist season; for a degree we plan with a visa D |
| East Asia | China, Japan, South Korea | Visa-free | Enter visa-free, then residence permit inside the country |
| South Asia | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal | Visa D | Certified invitation letter, then visa D at the embassy, then residence permit |
| North Africa and Middle East | Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq | Visa D | Certified invitation letter, then visa D, then residence permit |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Ethiopia | Visa D | Visa D, often at an embassy in a neighbouring country |
Visa rules change by government decision; some nationalities have shorter visa-free periods. We check your passport against the list valid on the day you apply.
The long-stay visa D for study
The visa D is a multiple-entry long-stay visa that lets you live in Bosnia and Herzegovina for up to 180 days within one year, long enough to arrive, enrol and apply for the residence permit. You apply in person at the Bosnian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, usually no earlier than three months and no later than one month before you travel.
The key document is an invitation letter from your university that has been certified by the field centre of the Service for Foreigners' Affairs. The university prepares it; the certification costs 50 KM (about €26), and many faculties pay this fee themselves.
Visa D document checklistWhat the embassy usually asks for. Exact list depends on the embassy.+
- Visa application form, completed and signed
- Passport valid at least three months beyond the stay you request, with free pages
- One colour photo, 35 × 45 mm
- Invitation letter from the university, certified by the Service for Foreigners' Affairs
- Admission or acceptance letter from the faculty
- Proof of accommodation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (often already stated in the invitation letter)
- Proof of funds for living costs and the return journey
- Travel health insurance valid in Bosnia and Herzegovina, commonly with cover of at least €30,000
- Police clearance certificate, no older than six months, with apostille or embassy legalisation
- Return or onward ticket reservation (some embassies insist, others do not)
- Payment of the consular fee
Fee and processing timeRanges, because each embassy sets its own practice+
- Consular fee
- Typically about €95; some embassies charge the equivalent in local currency
- Invitation letter certification
- 50 KM (about €26), often paid by the faculty
- Processing
- Usually two to six weeks after a complete file; longer in peak season
- Validity
- Up to 180 days within one year, multiple entry
If your country has no Bosnian embassy, you apply at the one accredited for it, which can mean a trip abroad.
The temporary residence permit for study
The temporary residence permit on the basis of study is the document that lets you live in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the academic year. It is issued by the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, usually for one year at a time, and it is renewed every year while you study.
You apply at the field centre that covers your address, for example in Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar or Tuzla. Apply in your first month. The latest point is 15 days before your visa D or your 90 visa-free days run out, and some field centres expect the file within 60 days of arrival.
Step one on arrival: the white card
Anyone staying outside a hotel, hostel or hall of residence must register the address within 48 hours of crossing the border. The slip is called the white card and needs a passport copy, the landlord's proof of accommodation and a 10 KM fee (about €5). Fines for late registration run from 100 to 500 KM (about €51 to €256), and without the white card the residence application cannot be filed.
Residence permit document checklist (first application)All foreign documents translated into Bosnian, Croatian or Serbian by a court translator+
- Application form for temporary residence, printed double-sided on one sheet and signed
- Payment slip for the 150 KM fee (about €77), paid at a bank or post office, not at the counter
- One or two photos, 35 × 45 mm
- Certified copies of your passport: data page, last entry stamp and visa D if you have one
- Copy of the white card
- Certificate of enrolment for the current academic year from your faculty
- Proof of funds: 400 KM (about €205) per month of stay, usually as a statement from a bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina, or a scholarship certificate, or a certified guarantee from a resident sponsor
- Medical certificate from an authorised health institution, no older than 90 days
- Proof of health insurance valid in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the whole period
- Police clearance from your country of nationality, no older than six months, original with apostille or legalisation, plus certified translation
- Proof of accommodation: rental contract or landlord statement with proof of ownership, certified copies
Field centres differ in details, for example on passport copies and whether home-country insurance is accepted. We check the current list before you arrive.
Fees, validity and processingWhat to expect after you hand in the file+
- Administrative fee
- 150 KM (about €77) plus a small bank or post office charge
- Validity
- Usually one year, tied to the academic year
- Official processing
- About one to two months
- In practice
- From two weeks to several months, depending on the field centre and the season
- Proof while waiting
- A confirmation that the application has been filed; keep it with your passport
We follow up after four to six weeks, since notifications are not always sent.
Renewal every yearSubmit between 60 and 15 days before the permit expires+
- Copy of the previous permit or the sticker
- New certificate of enrolment for the next academic year
- Certificate or transcript of passed exams
- Certificate from a court in Bosnia and Herzegovina that no criminal proceedings are pending, no older than six months
- Updated proof of funds, insurance and accommodation
- New fee payment of 150 KM
A new medical certificate is usually not needed for renewal, though this depends on the field office. If you are abroad when the renewal is due, you can submit through a Bosnian embassy.
Can students work on a study residence permit?
A residence permit for study does not by itself allow you to take a job. Paid work needs a separate work permit, issued by the employment service of the entity where the employer sits, and the rules differ between the Federation, Republika Srpska and Brčko District. Medicine timetables at Mostar or Foča leave little room anyway, so budget without local income.
Bringing a partner or children
Family members can apply for their own temporary residence on the basis of family reunification. Each person needs their own funds, insurance and police clearance, and visa-required nationals their own visa D. Decisions are case by case; allow two to three extra months.
Timeline: from admission letter to first day of class
Visa-required students should plan ten to fourteen weeks from admission letter to first lecture; visa-free students need far less.
Order your police clearance and apostille the same week; they take longest.
Prepared by the university, certified by the field centre: two to four weeks.
Apply one to three months before travel; processing takes two to six weeks.
Register your address within 48 hours of crossing the border, or check that your hall of residence has done it.
Enrolment certificate, medical, insurance, bank account and funds. Weeks one to three.
File in your first month, at the latest 15 days before your visa or visa-free days end.
Collect the permit when the field centre calls.
Submit between 60 and 15 days before expiry, with your passed exams.
Costs overview for visa and residence permit
Expect roughly €300 to €600 in first-year costs, plus the proof of funds that stays in your account.
| Item | Amount | Approx. in EUR | Who pays / note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa D consular fee | varies by embassy | about €95 | Visa-required nationals only |
| Invitation letter certification | 50 KM | €26 | Often paid by the faculty |
| Police clearance and apostille | depends on your country | €20 to 100 | Order early, valid six months |
| Court translations in Bosnia and Herzegovina | 10 to 30 KM per page | €5 to 15 per page | Typical set €40 to 120 |
| White card (address registration) | 10 KM + slip charge | about €6 | Within 48 hours |
| Medical certificate | about 55 KM | €28 to 50 | Price depends on city and clinic |
| Local health insurance | varies | €30 to 100 per year | Some clinics sell a package with the medical |
| Temporary residence permit fee | 150 KM | €77 | Every year, also on renewal |
| Proof of funds (not a fee) | 400 KM per month | about €2,450 for 12 months | Stays your money, shown on a bank statement |
For tuition by university see our tuition fees guide; for rent and daily spending see cost of living in Sarajevo.
Common mistakes we see with Bosnia student visa requirements
Most delayed files fail on paperwork, not eligibility.
- Police clearance from the wrong country or too old. It must come from your country of nationality, not where you live, and be no older than six months on the day you file.
- Missing apostille. Or missing embassy legalisation for non-Hague countries.
- Translations done abroad. Field centres want a court translator in Bosnia and Herzegovina; a sworn translation from Delhi or Cairo is usually redone.
- Proof of funds in the wrong form. A stamped statement from a local bank is the safe route.
- Late white card. The 48 hours start at the border crossing, not on the day you sign the lease.
- Enrolling at a non-accredited institution. A residence permit for study needs a credible enrolment. Check the list in our article on non-accredited universities in Bosnia.
How Study in Bosnia handles your visa and residence permit
We take over the paperwork from admission to the sticker in your passport, for all 21 state-accredited universities in the country. In practice that means:
- Document plan: a checklist for your nationality and university city.
- Invitation letter: we coordinate with the faculty so the letter is certified on time.
- Embassy appointment: we prepare the visa D file with you.
- Translations and certified copies: done by court translators in Bosnia and Herzegovina before you arrive, so nothing is redone.
- Address registration: we arrange the white card with your landlord within 48 hours.
- Field centre visit: our team in Bosnia goes with you to the Service for Foreigners' Affairs, checks the file on the spot and follows up until the permit is issued.
Compare cities with our university finder or start with the complete guide to studying in Bosnia. English-taught options include International Burch University, International University of Sarajevo and Sarajevo School of Science and Technology. If you are aiming for medicine, our sister company covers the medical faculties in detail at Medschool Experts.
FAQ: student visa and residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Do I need a student visa for Bosnia and Herzegovina?
It depends on your nationality. Citizens of the EU, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Turkey, China and several Gulf states enter visa-free and apply for the residence permit inside the country. Citizens of India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Egypt, Morocco and many other countries first need a long-stay visa D from a Bosnian embassy.
What is the difference between the visa D and the residence permit?
The visa D lets you enter and stay for up to 180 days within a year. The temporary residence permit for study covers the academic year and is issued inside Bosnia and Herzegovina by the Service for Foreigners' Affairs. Every degree student needs the residence permit; only visa-required nationals need the visa D first.
How much does a residence permit for students in Bosnia cost?
The administrative fee is 150 KM, about €77, paid every year. With the white card, medical certificate, insurance, translations and certified copies, most students spend about €300 to €600 in the first year, plus the visa D fee if needed.
How much money do I need to show for the residence permit?
Field centres generally ask for 400 KM, about €205, per month of stay. For a full year that is around €2,450, usually shown on a statement from a bank in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A scholarship certificate or a certified sponsor guarantee can replace it.
How long does the temporary residence permit take?
Officially one to two months; in practice from two weeks to several months, depending on the field centre and season.
Can international students work in Bosnia and Herzegovina?
Not on the study permit alone. Paid work needs a separate work permit from the employment service of the entity where the employer is based.
What happens if I miss the 48-hour address registration?
You risk a fine of 100 to 500 KM, about €51 to €256, and your residence application cannot be filed without the white card.
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Last updated: 20 October 2026 · Study in Bosnia editorial team