Permanent Residence in Bosnia and Herzegovina
One documented route of this kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with its conditions, documents, official government fees and process.
Permanent Residence (Stalni boravak)
Available after 5 years of uninterrupted temporary residence (continuity preserved if absences total no more than 10 months over 5 years, or a single absence no more than 6 months). Requires sufficient income, adequate accommodation, health insurance, knowledge of one official language and alphabet, and a clean criminal record. Administrative fee is 200 BAM. Certain prior grounds (protection, diplomatic status, humanitarian, medical, volunteer work, family reunification with ineligible sponsors) do not qualify.
- Processing time
- Not published by SPS
- Validity
- Indefinite
- Language requirement
- Knowledge of one official BiH language and its alphabet
- Permanent residence
- Granted after 5 years of continuous qualifying temporary residence
- Citizenship
- Approximately 8 years of permanent residence before ordinary naturalisation
Requirements
- 5 years of uninterrupted temporary residence (absences no more than 10 months total over 5 years, or a single absence no more than 6 months)
- Regular sufficient income
- Adequate accommodation
- Health insurance
- Knowledge of one official language and alphabet
- No criminal proceedings or conviction (certificate within 6 months)
- Prior grounds of international/temporary protection, diplomatic status, humanitarian, medical treatment, volunteer work, or family reunification with an ineligible sponsor are excluded
Required Documents
- Proof of 5 years continuous temporary residence required
- Proof of regular sufficient income required
- Proof of adequate accommodation required
- Health insurance required
- Certificate of knowledge of an official language and alphabet required
- Criminal-record certificate within 6 months required
Official fees
- Administrative fee 200 BAM
Process Steps
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1
Confirm 5-year continuity
Confirm 5 years of uninterrupted qualifying temporary residence.
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2
Gather supporting documents
Assemble proof of income, accommodation, insurance, language certificate, and a criminal-record certificate within 6 months.
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3
Submit with fee
Submit the application to the competent SPS unit with the 200 BAM administrative fee.
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4
Receive indefinite card
On a positive decision, receive the indefinite residence card.