Bosnia and Herzegovina
Last update 30 October 2023Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 2: Increased attention (please be informed in detail about the current situation in the country)
2
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Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo
Address: Sarajevo 71000, ul. Radnička 30, BiH
Telephone: +387 33 879 955/956;
Fax: +387 33 879 958
Out-of-hours hotline: +387603210397
Working hours: 08:30 – 16:30 (09:30 – 17:30 Bulgarian time)
E-mail: [email protected]
Consular Office:
Telephone: +387 33 879 957
Fax: +387 33 879 958
Opening hours: 10:30 – 12:30 (local time)
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.mfa.bg/embassies/bosniaherzegovina
Embassy of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sofia
Address: 1 Al. Zhendov St., 1113 Sofia
Telephone: +359 2 973 37 75
Fax: +359 2 973 37 29
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
Security level:
Due to the presence of a significant number of unregistered weapons, avoid conflicts with local persons. It is recommended that personal vehicles and trucks are not left unattended, including in paid parking lots.
Healthcare:
Bulgarian citizens are required to have travel and medical insurance in the amount of not less than EUR 30,000, valid for the period of travel in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The level of medical care in large cities is good. Small towns and villages often cannot provide adequate medical care or hospital stay.
Customs requirements:
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, non-commercial goods, gifts and souvenirs up to the value of 200 convertible stamps may be imported duty-free in personal luggage.
Duty-free imports also include 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of tobacco, as well as alcoholic beverages — 2 litres of wine or 1 litre of hard liquor.
For more detailed customs requirements, travellers can check HERE.
Customs requirements for Bosnia and Herzegovina can be downloaded from HERE.
Road traffic:
Throughout the year, it is mandatory to drive with low beams on. For the period 01 October – 15 April vehicles must have winter equipment: winter tyres, chains, etc.
Practical advice:
When travelling to Bosnia and Herzegovina, you are subject to the laws of the country. It is forbidden to photograph military sites or sites of particular importance for national security, such as airports, bridges, checkpoints and military units. Sexual abuse of children or the use and/or distribution of child pornography are considered criminal offences. Persons violating the laws of Bosnia and Herzegovina, even out of ignorance, can be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Bosnia and Herzegovina imposes severe penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs, including long prison sentences and substantial fines.
There are still about 220,000 deactivated landmines in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is extremely important not to walk on soft surfaces, in unchecked areas and abandoned buildings, and not to ignore areas fenced off with yellow tape marked ‘МИНЕ/MINE’. Avoid stopping on the road, bushwhacking, staying out of designated parking areas and resting, walking and hiking areas.
When visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgarian citizens should pay special attention to their personal belongings, which should not be left unattended due to the increased theft of personal documents, mainly of tourist groups. When staying in hotels, guest houses, etc., passports and identity cards should not be left at reception or given to third parties.
Police carry out frequent checks on vehicles with foreign registration. Along with driving documents, the green card of the vehicle is also checked.
The Embassy advises that if a problem arises on the road, travellers should call 112. Strict compliance with the speed limits on the roads is mandatory.
There has been an increase in the number of beggars and thieves in places frequented by tourists, so it is recommended that when moving in a tourist group, special attention is paid to the protection of personal belongings.
Breaking into apartments and stealing property from them is common, especially if foreigners are known to live there.
When imposing sanctions for violation of traffic rules.
In the case of minor offences, traffic police officers issue a document (mandatnakazna) with which the offender goes to the nearest bank or post office where he can pay the fine;
The more serious offences and accidents are within the jurisdiction of the cantonal and municipal courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Local currency:
Bosnian Convertible Mark (BAM)
BAM 1.95583 = EUR 1
Travel papers and visas
Valid identity card or international passport.
Bulgarian citizens may enter the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina repeatedly without a visa for a total period of up to 90 days within 180 days.
Requirements for travelling children under 18 years of age, accompanied and unaccompanied.
Persons under 14 years of age may not travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina unaccompanied;
Persons 4—18 years of age may travel alone and in addition to a valid identity document (identity card and/or passport), they must have a bilingual notarized declaration (in Bulgarian and English/Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian) of parental consent;
— When the accompanying person is one of the parents of a person under 14 years of age — a valid identity document and a bilingual notarized declaration (in Bulgarian and English/Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian) of consent from the other parent;
— When the accompanying parent of a person under 14 years of age is not a parent — a valid identity document of the child and a notarized bilingual declaration (in Bulgarian and English/Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian) of consent from both parents.
Requirements for those travelling in a car registered to a person other than the driver — in addition to a valid driving license and a green card for the car, a bilingual power of attorney (in Bulgarian and English), certified before a notary, is required.
When imposing sanctions for violation of traffic rules.
In the case of minor offenses, traffic police officers issue a document (mandatnakazna) with which the offender goes to the nearest bank or post office where he can pay the fine;
The more serious offenses and accidents are within the jurisdiction of the cantonal and municipal courts in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Competitive service
Bulgarian identity documents
The Consular Office with the Embassy in Sarajevo has been equipped with the biometric data equipment and therefore accepts applications for all types of Bulgarian identity documents — passports, identity cards, driving licences and Emergency Travel Documents.
Legalizations and Certifications
By virtue of the fact that Bosnia and Herzegovina is the legal successor of the former FRY Yugoslavia, with which there is a signed agreement on legal assistance, acts/documents drawn up in each of the two countries do not need further legalization in order to serve before the institutions of the other country.