May BiH citizens cross the state border of BiH during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic?

BiH citizens may cross the state border with valid travel documents.

A travel document is a valid passport or other identification document issued by the competent authority of BiH and a valid identity card and other identification document with a photograph, which may be used to cross the state border and is recognized by an international agreement to which BiH is a party.

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security of BiH, passed a new Decision on amendments to the Decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina, dated 21 May 2020.

Provisions on entry ban referred to in Article 2 of this Decision shall not apply to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who have dual citizenship, and they may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina with an identity card issued by the competent authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of the method of entry into the other state from which they return.

NOTE:

All these individuals are obliged to adhere to and comply with all instructions and orders of the competent authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (epidemiological and health services), whereas the competent health and epidemiological services no longer determine self-isolation measures upon entering Bosnia and Herzegovina at border crossing points..

May foreigners cross the state border of BiH during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic?

The decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina temporarily prohibits the entry of foreigners into BiH.

These measures do not apply to citizens of the Republic of Croatia transiting through the Neum Corridor, drivers and co-drivers of freight vehicles when performing international transport of goods by road, as well as the crew and cabin crew of aircraft whose final destination is Bosnia and Herzegovina. In the case of international transit of goods by road, the stay of the freight vehicle crew in Bosnia and Herzegovina shall be limited to a maximum of 12 hours.

The Decision does not apply to diplomatic and consular staff accredited (resident) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that it is mandatory to adhere to and comply with all instructions and orders of the competent authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (epidemiological and health services). When entering the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, beside the diplomatic card of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina (type "D", "MO", "K", "S", "PO", "PK", "PP"), it is necessary to possess and present an appropriate valid passport, while exiting BiH is allowed.

Moreover, the decision does not apply to:

a)    health workers who come to Bosnia and Herzegovina for engagement in the profession,

b)    individuals requiring emergency medical treatment,

c)    minor foreigners accompanied by a parent or a guardian – a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina,,

d)    civil protection services and teams,

e)    members of the military forces of member states of North Atlantic Treaty and other countries participating in the Partnership for Peace, and members of NATO and EUFOR Headquarters in Bosnia and Herzegovina,

f)     foreigners who have been granted permanent or temporary stay in BiH,

g)    drivers and escorts in cases of transfer of remains,

h)    crews of cargo trains and ships in international traffic,

i)     heads of states and members of their delegations whose arrival and departure was announced to BP BiH through diplomatic channels or protocols of the competent body of BiH,

j)     transit of foreigners for return to the country of usual residence, without staying in the territory BiH,

k)    foreigners who have a special permit for entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina, stay or transit through Bosnia and Herzegovina issued by the Council of Ministers of BiH,

l)     a foreigner whose spouse is a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina

m)  foreigners - members of the immediate family (spouse, parents, children, siblings) of the deceased, who for the purpose of attending the burial of the deceased may stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a maximum of 72 hours from the moment of entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina, not counting any period of isolation, provided that they have evidence of death and kinship with the deceased,

n)    a foreigner who enters Bosnia and Herzegovina due to business obligations, provided that he has an invitation from a legal entity from Bosnia and Herzegovina that hires him in Bosnia and Herzegovina and has a certificate of negative test for SARS-CoV-2 virus, not older than 48 hours from the moment of entry.

The Decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH on changes and Amendments to the Decision on Prescribing Additional Conditions for the Entry of Foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina, dated 28 May 2020, enables entry into BiH for citizens of neighbouring countries, namely Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia. This decision entered into force on the day of its adoption.

By amending the Decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH of 2 June 2020, minor foreigners who are accompanied by a parent or guardian - a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as a foreigner who is the spouse of a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are allowed to enter BiH.

Decision amending the decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina, which entered into force on 16 July 2020, stipulates that the provisions on entry bans referred to in Article 2 of this Decision shall not apply to nationals of Member States of the European Union and Member States of the Schengen Agreement, as well as to all foreigners holding multiple Schengen visas or EU visas, or appropriate residence permits of the European Union and the Schengen area countries, if they have a certificate of negative test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, not older than 48 hours until the moment of entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina.

NOTE:

All these individuals are obliged to adhere to and comply with all instructions and orders of the competent authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (epidemiological and health services), whereas the competent health and epidemiological services no longer determine self-isolation measures upon entering Bosnia and Herzegovina at border crossing points.

May individuals with dual citizenship (BiH and another) cross the state border of BiH during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic?

The holder of a valid foreign travel document who has the citizenship of BiH, when being subjected to border control, needs to identify himself/herself as a citizen of BiH, in order to be approved to cross the state border. If that individual, as a citizen of BiH, does not have a valid BiH travel document when crossing the state border, police officers of Border Police of BiH will take appropriate measures and actions, in accordance with their legal powers, and possibly determine misdemeanour liability for non-possessing a valid travel document.

The Council of Ministers of BiH, at the proposal of the Ministry of Security of BiH, passed a new Decision on amendments to the Decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina, dated 21 May 2020.

Provisions on entry ban referred to in Article 2 of this Decision shall not apply to citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina who have dual citizenship, and they may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina with an identity card issued by the competent authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, regardless of the method of entry into the other state from which they return.

NOTE:

All these individuals are obliged to adhere to and comply with all instructions and orders of the competent authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina (epidemiological and health services), whereas the competent health and epidemiological services no longer determine self-isolation measures upon entering Bosnia and Herzegovina at border crossing points.

The holder of a travel document - a BiH citizen under the age of 14, i.e. an incapacitated person, does not need a power of attorney/consent to travel abroad accompanied by one or both parents or a legal representative or guardian.

A BiH citizen under the age of 14 must have the consent of both parents or a legal representative or guardian, certified by the competent authority, if he/she is accompanied by another person.

After the accession of the Republic of Croatia to the European Union, the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina must have a valid travel document (passport) for entry and visa-free stay for up to 90 days in the territory of the Republic of Croatia.

With a valid identity card proving identity and citizenship, citizens of the European Union Member States, Schengen countries, Albania, Andorra, Montenegro, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Monaco, San Marino, Serbia, the Holy See and the Swiss Confederation may enter, exit, transit and stay in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for 90 days in any period of 180 days, which includes taking into account the period of 180 days preceding each day of stay.

The Agreement between the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Ministers of Serbia and Montenegro on the travel conditions of citizens of the two states stipulates that citizens of the contracting parties may enter the territory of the other contracting party with an identity card or travel document, without a visa, at all border crossing points open for international traffic, and stay there for up to 90 days from the date of entry.