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Are there special conditions of entry and assistance for temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine who leave the country because of the war?
According to the decision of the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which entered into force on May 6, 2022, citizens of Ukraine who left Ukraine due to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation can enter BiH with a citizen’s passport for traveling abroad (including non-biometric and expired), internal passport, identity card, child’s birth certificate (children under the age of 18 accompanied by parents or guardians).
Information about assistance centers for temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine
- Vaša prava BiH SocietyVaša prava BiH (pravnapomoc.app)
- Foreigners Servicehttp://www.sps.gov.ba/? lang=en
- Representation of the International Organization for MigrationBosnia and Herzegovina
- Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Bosnia and HerzegovinaUNHCR – Bosnia and HerzegovinaUNHCR – Bosnia and Herzegovina
- BiH Red Cross SocietyDruštvo Crvenog krsta/križa BiH (rcsbh.org)
Social security of temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine
Social security for temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine who left Ukraine due to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation is not provided for.
Social security is provided to a person by the Bosnia and Herzegovina side only after the foreigner is registered as a refugee at the Service for Foreigners.
Medical care
Medical care for temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine who left Ukraine due to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation is not provided for. Any foreigners, including temporarily displaced citizens of Ukraine, can apply for medical services on a paid basis.
Medical care is provided to a person by the Bosnia-Herzegovina side only after the foreigner is registered as a refugee at the Service for Foreigners.
The possibility of extending short-term stay and visas for citizens of Ukraine
Registration and extension of short-term stay for citizens of Ukraine
There is a visa-free regime between Ukraine and BiH. According to the provisions of the bilateral agreement, citizens of Ukraine can stay in BiH for 30 days during a period of 60 days.
According to the decision of the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which entered into force on May 6, 2022, citizens of Ukraine who left Ukraine due to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, the Service for Foreigners may be granted a permit for a temporary stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina for a period of up to 6 months for humanitarian reasons in case they can support themselves during such stay (funds to cover food, accommodation, probable medical expenses). Cash funds in convertible currency, bank cards that allow you to receive funds through the BiH banking system, or individuals or legal entities registered in BiH that undertake to cover the specified costs can be a guarantee for such expenses.
Citizens of Ukraine, staying in BiH for tourist purposes, are obliged to register with the Service for Foreigners (https://cutt.ly/nA5k6N9) or to the appropriate territorial unit of the police within 48 hours from the moment of crossing the border.
A temporary residence permit in Bosnia and Herzegovina can also be granted subject to compliance with general conditions. The most important general condition for granting a temporary residence permit is the presence of grounds, namely:
- Family Reunification,
- Education,
- Working with a work permit,
- Working without a work permit,
- Other valid reasons or
- The right of ownership of real estate in the presence of an active connection with BiH.
The extension of the period of temporary stay is carried out nand on the same grounds on which permission was granted.
The first application for obtaining a temporary residence permit on general grounds is submitted through the competent embassy or consulate of BiH. As an exception, the first application can be submitted in BiH to the relevant territorial unit of the Foreigners Service at least 15 days before the expiration of the D visa or the right to a visa-free stay. The same rule applies in case of extension of stay.
Citizens of Ukraine who left Ukraine due to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation are exempted from the obligation to present documents at the state border of BiH, the absence of which limits the possibility of entering the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic (certificates of a negative test result for COVID-19, confirmation about vaccination or recovery from illness).
Crossing the border without a biometric international passport – yes or no?
According to the decision of the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which entered into force on May 6, 2022, citizens of Ukraine who left Ukraine due to the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation can enter BiH with a citizen’s passport for traveling abroad (including non-biometric and expired), internal passport, identity card, child’s birth certificate (children under the age of 18 accompanied by parents or guardians).
What to do if the validity period of the foreign passport expires?
In accordance with Resolution of the CMU 170 of February 28, 2022, from March 1, 2022, the validity period of biometric passports of Ukrainian citizens for traveling abroad may be extended for a period of up to 5 years! The extension of the validity period of passports is carried out by territorial bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, embassies and consular institutions of Ukraine. In case of expiration of the validity period of the passport for traveling abroad, such period may be extended up to five years based on the application of the person or his legal representative. Information on the extension of its validity period is entered in the passport for travel abroad free of charge on the day of application by the person in whose name the passport is issued or his legal representative.
What to do if you have a child without a foreign passport?
If you have a child with you without a foreign passport, at the Embassy of Ukraine in Bosnia and Herzegovina, you can enter personal information about the child and paste its photo into the foreign passport of the parents (one of the parents), another legal representative of the child. In this way, the identity of the child and his citizenship of Ukraine are certified. Information about the child is entered free of charge on the day of the application by the legal representative.
Border crossing with pets
In order to import domestic animals into Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is necessary to present medical certificates of origin and vaccination of domestic animals issued in the country of origin of the animal when crossing the border. Detailed information is available at the link:
Pets non commercial movement to Bosnia and Herzegovina | Veterinary Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Contacts of the Embassy of Ukraine in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Address: Fra Anđela Zviždovića 1, UNITIC tower B, 6th floor, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Phone: +38733295156, +38733295126
Hotline: +38733295126
Email: emb_ba@mfa.gov. ua
