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Source: IATA

27.05.2022


COVID-19 entry regulations lifted on 27 May 2022


Source: https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/world.php

Source: Bosnia and Herzegovina Border Police

09.08.2021

COVID-19


In order to prevent and suppress the spread of the SARS-COV-2 virus, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted a DECISION ON PRESCRIBING ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR THE ENTRY OF FOREIGNERS INTO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (‘Official Gazette of BiH’, 57/20, 58/20 and 36/21).


CONDITIONS FOR THE ENTRY INTO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

FOREIGNERS

The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina has adopted a Decision on declaring a natural or other disaster on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina (‘Official Gazette of BiH’, 18/20), due to the danger of an epidemic of infectious disease caused by new coronavirus (COVID-19), in order to reduce the risk of accelerated spread of infection in Bosnia and Herzegovina and enable the engagement of additional resources to respond to this public health threat.

In order to prevent and suppress the spread of the SARS-COV-2 virus, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina also adopted a DECISION ON PRESCRIBING ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR THE ENTRY OF FOREIGNERS INTO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, as well as DECISION ON AMENDMENT OF THE DECISION ON PRESCRIBING ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS FOR THE ENTRY OF FOREIGNERS INTO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA (‘Official Gazette of BiH', 36/21’).


CONDITIONS FOR ENTRY TO BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

 

(Article 2)

A foreigner who meets conditions for entry to BiH prescribed by Law on Aliens, may enter BiH if he/she at the BiH Border Crossing Points presents any of the following:

  • negative PCR test or rapid antigen test on SARS-CoV-2, not older than 48 hours if he/she comes from an European country, and if he/she comes from another country, not older than 72 hours until arrival at the border crossing point ofBosnia and Herzegovina,

  • certificate that a person has received the second dose of vaccine for COVID-19 before more than 14 days before the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH or has received one dose before 14 days and more before the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH, if it is a single dose vaccine,

  • certificate issued by doctor showing that he/she has recovered from COVID-19 in the previous period from 14 to 180 days until the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH.

(Article 3)

Exemptions from Article 2 of the Decision, foreigners who may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without presenting a negative test result or certificates are:

    • citizens of Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia, when they enter Bosnia and Herzegovina directly from the country of which they are citizens, as well as their minor children and spouses who are citizens of other countries,

    • the crew and cabin crew of the aircraft whose final destination is Bosnia and Herzegovina,

    • drivers and co-drivers of freight vehicles when performing international transport of goods by road, provided that their stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina does not last longer than 12 hours,

    • crews of freight trains and ships in international traffic,

    • diplomatic and consular staff and staff of international organizations in the performance of their official duties, who must have and present an appropriate valid passport upon entering Bosnia and Herzegovina,

    • civil protection services and teams when their entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina is urgent and cannot be postponed,

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

    • heads of states and governments and members of their delegations whose arrival and departure from Bosnia and Herzegovina have been announced to Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina, through diplomatic channels or through protocols of the competent authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

    • foreigners transiting through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the purpose of returning to the country of usual residence, without staying in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

    • a minor foreigner whose parent is a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as a foreigner who is the spouse of a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina,

    • children under the age of seven travelling with parents or guardians, if their parents or guardians possess negative PCR or rapid antigen test on SARS-CoV-2, or certificate on vaccination or certificate showing that he/she has recovered from COVID-19,

    • foreigners authorised to stay in Bosnia and Herzegovina temporarily or permanently, if they are returning to Bosnia and Herzegovina after exit and stay only in Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia and/or the Republic of Serbia, provided that total duration of their stay in the above countries has not been longer than 48 hours since they left the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which could be proved by exiting stamp, i.e. entering stamp in a travel document ofthe foreigner,

    • foreigners – citizens of the Republic of Turkey crossing the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina daily due to construction of the bridge Rača in the framework of realization of the Project motorway/expressway Sarajevo-Beograd-Sarajevo. Ministry of Communication and Transport of BiH shall submit to the BiH Border Police a certified list of nationals of the Republic of Turkey Border Police hired as workers for construction of the Rača Bridge within the above mentioned Project, including their names, surnames and number of travel document they use for crossing of the BiH border; as well as certificate that the Project is implemented according to signed Agreement on Cooperation regarding realisation of the Project motorway/expressway road Sarajevo-Beograd-Sarajevo (“Official Gazette BiH – International Agreements”, no. 13/20).


By the Decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into BiH, it is not prescribed what kind/type of PCR or antigen tests, i.e. form of tests or certificates is required to present at the border crossing points during intended entry to BiH, and it is possible to present them in printed or electronic form.

 

Remarks: Currently, when entering Bosnia and Herzegovina, no quarantine or self-isolation measures are prescribed, while upon entering Bosnia and Herzegovina, all persons are obliged to follow the instructions and respect all orders of the competent epidemiological and health authorities (social distance, protective masks, hand disinfection, etc.).


BIH CITIZENS

BiH citizens may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina with a valid travel document, i.e. 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 that may be used to cross the state border and is recognized by an international agreement to which BiH is a contracting party, while in the case of entry into BiH without a valid travel document of BiH, they are subject to misdemeanour proceedings.

Please note that, at the entrance to BiH, citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina are not required to have a PCR or antigen test for SARS-COV-2 virus, or a certificate of vaccination or disease recovery.

Citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina may use a valid BiH identity card as a travel document when crossing the common state border with the Republic of Serbia and Montenegro, since BiH has signed an international agreement with them.

The BiH identity card may not be used as a valid travel document when traveling to or from the EU Member States, the Schengen area countries or other countries with which Bosnia and Herzegovina has not signed an international agreement.

COVID-19

Frequently asked questions


I am a citizen of a member state of the European Union, what do I need to enter BiH given the COVID-19 pandemic?

A Foreigner, citizens of EU member states, the Schengen area and other countries, who meets the conditions for entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina prescribed by the Law on Foreigners, may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina upon presentation any of the following at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

  • negative PCR test or rapid antigen test on SARS-CoV-2, not older than 48 hours if he/she comes from an European country, and if he/she comes from another country, not older than 72 hours before arrival at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
  • certificate that a person has received the second dose of vaccine for COVID-19 before more than 14 days previous to the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH or has received one dose before 14 days and more previous to the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH, if it is a single dose vaccine,
  • certificate issued by doctor showing that he/she has recovered from COVID-19 in the previous period from 14 to 180 days until the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I am a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, my wife and minor son are foreigners, do my wife and son have to take a negative test or certificate on vaccination or recovering from the disease, given the COVID-19 pandemic when entering BiH?

When entering Bosnia and Herzegovina, you must meet the conditions prescribed by the Law on Foreigners, while the Decision on Prescribing Additional Conditions for Entry of Foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates that citizens of Montenegro, the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Serbia, as well as their minor children and spouses who are citizens of other countries may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without presenting a negative test or certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision, when they enter Bosnia and Herzegovina directly from the country of which they are citizens.

We note that, when crossing the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this case, it is necessary to have indisputable proof of parental or marital status.

I am a foreigner, I need to come to Bosnia and Herzegovina as an official of an international organization (OSCE, UNDP, etc.), given the COVID-19 pandemic, what do I need when entering your country?

When entering Bosnia and Herzegovina, you must meet the conditions prescribed by the Law on Foreigners, while the Decision on Prescribing Additional Conditions for Entry of Foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates that personnel of international organizations in the performance of their official duties may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without presenting a negative test or certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision, but they must have and present an appropriate valid passport upon entering Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I am a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, my wife and minor son are foreigners, do my wife and son have to take a negative test given the COVID-19 pandemic when entering BiH?

When entering Bosnia and Herzegovina, they must meet the conditions prescribed by the Law on Foreigners, while the Decision on Prescribing Additional Conditions for Foreigners Entering Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates that a minor foreigner whose parent is a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as an foreigner who is the spouse of a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without presenting a negative test or certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision.

We note that, when crossing the state border of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this case, it is necessary to have indisputable proof of parental or marital status.

I am a foreigner with a valid BiH visa, what do I need when entering Bosnia and Herzegovina given the COVID-19 pandemic?

A foreigner who meets the conditions for entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina prescribed by the Law on Foreigners may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina upon presentation any of the following at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

  • negative PCR test or rapid antigen test on SARS-CoV-2, not older than 48 hours if he/she comes from an European country, and if he/she comes from another country, not older than 72 hours before arrival at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
  • certificate that a person has received the second dose of vaccine for COVID-19 before more than 14 days previous to the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH or has received one dose before 14 days and more previous to the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH, if it is a single dose vaccine,
  • certificate issued by doctor showing that he/she has recovered from COVID-19 in the previous period from 14 to 180 days until the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

I am a foreigner from a country with a visa regime with BiH, I do not have a BiH visa but I have a valid Schengen visa, may I enter BiH given the COVID-19 pandemic?

A foreigner who meets the conditions for entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina prescribed by the Law on Foreigners may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina upon presentation any of the following at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

  • negative PCR test or rapid antigen test on SARS-CoV-2, not older than 48 hours if he/she comes from an European country, and if he/she comes from another country, not older than 72 hours before arrival at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
  • certificate that a person has received the second dose of vaccine for COVID-19 before more than 14 days previous to the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH or has received one dose before 14 days and more previous to the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH, if it is a single dose vaccine,
  • certificate issued by doctor showing that he/she has recovered from COVID-19 in the previous period from 14 to 180 days until the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Also, the Decision on Visas stipulates that citizens of countries with which Bosnia and Herzegovina has a visa regime, may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina with a valid passport, without the obligation to obtain a visa for entry, exit, transit and stay in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, if they have a valid multiple-entry visa or residence permit issued in Schengen countries, European Union member states or the United States of America.

I am a foreigner, I intend to transit through Bosnia and Herzegovina, given the COVID-19 pandemic, do I have to have a negative test or certificate on vaccination or recovery from the disease when entering Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The Decision on Prescribing Additional Conditions for the Entry of Foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates that foreigners transiting through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina to return to their country of normal residence may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without presenting a negative test or certificates prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision.

I am a citizen of Serbia and I would like to enter BiH from Montenegro to return to Serbia. I wonder if I need a negative test or certificate on vaccination or recovery from the disease.

No, because foreigners who transit through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina for the purpose of returning to the country of usual residence, without staying on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, are exempted from this obligation.

I am a citizen of Montenegro and I would like to travel from Serbia to BiH through Croatia. I wonder if I need a negative test or certificate on vaccination or recovery from the disease.

For transit through the territory of BiH for the purpose of going to third countries, it is necessary to present a negative test result or certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision.

The exemption to the obligation to have a negative test result or certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision does not apply to citizens of Montenegro, the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia if they do not enter BiH directly from the territory of these countries.

I am a citizen of a neighbouring country and I am interested in whether I need a PCR test if I do not enter BiH from my country?

Yes, because the exception to the obligation to have a negative test result or certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision applies to citizens of Montenegro, the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia if they enter BiH directly from the territory of these countries.

I am a citizen of a member state of the European Union / Schengen, may I transit through the Neum Corridor given the COVID-19 pandemic?

In accordance with the Agreement on Free Transit through the territory of the Republic of Croatia to and from the port of Ploče and through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Neum, if there are no other legal obstacles, transit through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina is allowed only through the Neum Corridor, i.e. road communication between border crossing points Neum I - Klek and Neum II - Zaton Doli, without detaining and leaving the mentioned road communication.

Please note that when transiting through the Neum Corridor, since you are not allowed to stop or to leave the mentioned road communication, you are not required to have a negative test results nor certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision.

Considering that I am currently not able to obtain a BiH visa, given the COVID- 19 pandemic, may I transit through the Neum Corridor?

Persons who need a visa to enter, stay and transit through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, may transit through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina without a visa, exclusively through the Neum Corridor, or by road communication between the border crossing points Neum I - Klek and Neum II - Zaton Doli, without detaining and leaving the said road communication.

Please note that when transiting through the Neum Corridor, since you are not allowed to stop or to leave the mentioned road communication, you are not required to have a negative test results nor certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision.

We are foreigners, we plan to visit Bosnia and Herzegovina, do my minor children aged 3 and 5 need a negative test upon entry due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Foreigners' children under the age of seven are exempt of obligation to possess test or certificate if they travel with parents or guardians who are obliged to present negative test results or certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision.

May I, during the entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina at the border crossing point, present a test reult or certificate on vaccination or COVID 19 recovery certificate, in electronic form ( on mobile phone, tablet etc.)?

By the Decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into BiH, it is not prescribed what form of tests and certificates is required to present at the border crossing points during intended entry to BiH, and it is possible to present them in printed or electronic form.


I am a citizen of BiH and would like to visit relatives in Germany (or any other foreign country). May I travel unhindered given the pandemic restrictions?

Border Police of BiH is not competent to interpret regulations and measures related to entry, stay and transit through the territory of another country, and we suggest that you contact the embassy or diplomatic-consular mission of the country you are transiting or intending to travel to, in order to obtain the necessary information.

Is the validity of the PCR test when crossing the BiH border counted from the time of testing or issuing the results?

The Decision of the Council of Ministers of BiH on Prescribing Additional Conditions for the Entry of Foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates that it is necessary to present a negative PCR or antigen test result for SARS-COV-2 virus that is not older than 48 hours if a foreigner coming from European countries, and if he is coming from other countries, not older than 72 hours until arrival to a Border Crossing Point of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and considering that there is no provision regarding validity since samples taking the total time period of 48 hours has been counted.


I am a foreigner, I am an adult, my father is a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, may I enter BiH without a negative test results or certificate on vaccination or recovery from the COVID-19?

The exemption from obligation to present negative test result or certificate prescribed by Article 2 of the Decision applies only to a minor foreigners whose parent is citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina, so this exemption does not apply to you.

I am a foreigner and I wonder if there is a certain time period for transit due to COVID-19, given that I intend to return home via Bosnia and Herzegovina?

The Decision on Prescribing Additional Conditions for the Entry of Foreigners into Bosnia and Herzegovina stipulates that foreigners transiting through the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina to return to their country of normal residence, without staying on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina without presenting a negative PCR or antigen test for the SARS-COV-2 virus or certificate stipulated by Article 2 of the Decision.

What kind/type of PCR test should I have when entering Bosnia and Herzegovina?

A foreigner who meets the conditions for entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina prescribed by the Law on Foreigners may enter Bosnia and Herzegovina upon presentation any of the following at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina:

  • negative PCR test or rapid antigen test on SARS-CoV-2, not older than 48 hours if he/she comes from an European country, and if he/she comes from another country, not older than 72 hours before arrival at the border crossing point of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
  • certificate that a person has received the second dose of vaccine for COVID-19 before more than 14 days previous to the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH or has received one dose before 14 days and more previous to the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of BiH, if it is a single dose vaccine,

certificate issued by doctor showing that he/she has recovered from COVID-19 in the previous period from 14 to 180 days until the arrival to a Border Crossing Point of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The kind/type of PCR or antigen test is not prescribed by Decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners to BiH.

May a foreigner who is the spouse of a BiH citizen enter BiH, except without presenting a negative PCR or antigen test result, or certificate on vaccination or recovery from the disease, also without the presence of the spouse?

The Decision on prescribing additional conditions for the entry of foreigners into BiH does not explicitly stipulate that a spouse who is a citizen of Bosnia and Herzegovina must be present when a foreigner enters, but it is necessary for the foreigner to have appropriate evidence from which it can be indisputably established that he is the spouse of the BiH citizen.


Further information: http://www.granpol.gov.ba/Content/Read/74?title=Covid-19

WCO/Customs administration of Bosnia and Herzegovina

25.03.2020

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) declared a state of natural or other disaster in its territory on
17 March 2020.
The Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina adopted a formal document addressing
the response of the institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the threat to the lives and
health of employees as caused by the presence of the COVID-19 virus.
In order to act in accordance with the afore-mentioned document of the BIH Council of
Ministers, the Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA) has organised the work of its employees in the
way that ensures the discharge of those operational activities that allow for business
processes to be carried out with engagement of a minimum number of staff at the ITA
premises.
Those employees who can carry out the tasks specified in their job descriptions from home
have been performing such tasks electronically.
ITA staff have been ordered to act with ultimate responsibility and conscientiousness upon
any instructions issued by the competent authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina with regard
to taking precautionary measures to protect their personal health and the health of persons
they collaborate with (co-workers and clients) and to minimise their mutual interactions by
means of communicating electronically and by phone.
The ITA has invested a maximum effort during the state of emergency caused by COVID-19
to preserve the functioning of the indirect taxation system in line with the relevant legislation
and to maintain the established tax discipline, in addition to observing any measures adopted
by the competent institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the purpose of safeguarding the
public health and the economic and financial stability.
The ITA has activated its Base of Operations at the Central Office as well as four bases of
operations at each Regional centre (Sarajevo, Banja Luka, Mostar and Tuzla), they are on
constant duty, 24 hours a day, and are used to communicate field information and any
problems that ITA officers face in their line of work to the ITA management in order to be
able to provide a response where needed.
In order to protect the health of the staff, and in accordance with instructions by the
competent authorities of BIH, it is mandatory to use personal protection equipment such as
gloves and masks, in all public areas. The ITA's business premises have been disinfected,
and heightened sanitary measures have been put in place as well.
Any staff members who have returned from abroad have been placed in isolation for 14
days.
All customs offices in Bosnia and Herzegovina are working full-time, and any import and
export procedures are completed in the shortest possible time while observing the relevant
legislation, whereby priority is given to processing any shipments relating to the fight against
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Article 43 of the Decision on the requirements and procedure for exercising the right to
exemption from payment of import and export duties (Official Gazette of BIH 24/18)
stipulates exemption from payment of import duties for instruments and appliances intended
for medical research, medical diagnostics or treatments which are donated to medical
institutions, hospital wards and medical research facilities by charity or non-profit
organizations or natural persons, or which have been purchased by such medical institutions,
hospitals or medical research facilities using funds that have been entirely provided by a
charity or humanitarian organization or with the help of voluntary contributions, as well as for
their spare parts and components or accessories and tools used for their maintenance, tests,
calibration or repair.


The Federation of BiH issued an order on restriction of movement of citizens in its territory from 6 PM to 5 AM, which came into force on Sunday, 22 March 2020.

The Republic of Srpska issued an order on restriction of movement of citizens in its territory from 8 PM to 5 AM, which came into force on Sunday, 22 March 2020.

18 March.

In case of international transit by road, cargo crew cannot stay more than 12 hours on the territory of BiH.

17March.

Rail Border Crossing Point “Mali Zvornik” and IBCP Brasina – railway station (on SRB territory) are temporarily closed.





Remarks from the International Road Transport Union

Forthcoming

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UNECE Sustainable Transport Division