Relocating to Bosnia and Herzegovina: how to settle in
Bosnia and Herzegovina is an increasingly affordable base for a long stay: easy entry for citizens of many countries, low living costs, decent internet, a four-season climate, and growing expat and digital-nomad communities in Sarajevo and Mostar. This section is a practical guide to settling in on the ground.
We start with the non-regulatory things everyone needs: housing, connectivity, banking, transport, insurance. Documents, visas, and taxes are regulated by the state, and they change periodically - for those we give direct links to official sources and are preparing separate breakdowns.
Documents and taxes change - verify with the primary source
The rules for entry, residence permits, business registration, and taxes in Bosnia and Herzegovina are revised periodically. Don’t rely on retellings in chats and outdated articles - verify the terms as of the time of your move directly with the government bodies (links below).
That’s why we don’t fix specific deadlines, amounts, and requirements here as unchanging, but point you to the official sites - they always have the current version.
Where to start on the ground
Housing for your first weeks
For the first weeks it’s convenient to stay in a hotel, guesthouse, or apart-hotel, and look for a long-term rental on the ground, having seen the neighborhood in person. Listings turn up on local property portals and international booking sites; there are also many options through local chats and agencies.
SIM card and internet
A local SIM is sold with a passport at the airport and at the mobile operators’ shops; the main carriers cover the cities and main roads well. Mobile internet is inexpensive, and Wi-Fi is widespread in the cities - workable for remote work, with an eSIM handy for your first days.
Bank account
An account and a card are opened for foreigners by the major banks operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Requirements and check times are periodically tightened, so verify the document set and terms at a branch in advance.
Long-term rental
The lease is usually for 6-12 months, with a deposit most often equal to one month. Prices depend on the city and season: Sarajevo demand is steadier year-round, while Mostar and the south can rise in summer. Check the meters, the internet, and who pays for utilities.
Transport and getting around
In the cities - affordable public transport (Sarajevo has trams and buses); between cities - intercity buses and the scenic Sarajevo-Mostar train. For freedom of movement many rent a car - how that works is in our rental section.
Health and insurance
There are public and private clinics; the level of private medicine in the big cities is good. For the move and for trips, medical insurance with coverage abroad is convenient - options are in our insurance section.
Daily life and community
The money is the convertible mark (BAM/KM) - cash is useful in smaller towns, while in the cities cards are widely accepted. Euros are not legal tender, though some tourist businesses quote prices in euros. Sarajevo and Mostar have growing international communities, and in cafes and services you can often get by in English.
Detailed guides
In-depth, non-regulatory how-tos for settling in - updated as things change.
- Cost of Living in Bosnia What Bosnia costs for a longer stay: rent in Sarajevo and Mostar, groceries, transport, coworking and eSIM, with a rough monthly budget in KM and euros.
- Living in Sarajevo as a Digital Nomad Sarajevo for remote work: cheap, atmospheric, decent internet, but a small community and cold winters. Coworking, cafes, neighbourhoods and the visa rule.
Services for living in Bosnia and Herzegovina
What’s already on the site
Practical sections that come in handy when relocating:
Documents, visas, and taxes: official sources
For these topics we point you straight to government sites - they have the current rules, deadlines, and amounts. We prepare separate breakdowns relying on these same sources.
- Visa, visa-free entry, and length of stay Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Residence and foreigners’ affairs Service for Foreigners’ Affairs
- Border crossings and entry checks Border Police of Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Indirect taxes and VAT Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Nuances people ask about
- The languages are Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian (very close), written in both Latin and Cyrillic; in the cities you can usually get by with English.
- The money is the convertible mark (BAM/KM), pegged to the euro. We show the current rate on the home page in the live block.
- Internet is inexpensive and improving, which helps remote workers - though speeds vary outside the big cities.
- Housing in Sarajevo is in steady demand year-round; the south (Mostar, Trebinje) can get busier and pricier in the summer season - worth keeping in mind for a long-term rental.