Bosnia-Herzegovina

We found no evidence of any official restrictions on entry to Bosnia and Herzegovina based on HIV status.

According to UNAIDS and the US Department of State, Bosnia and Herzegovina does not have any HIV-related entry restrictions.

It is unclear whether Bosnia and Herzegovina imposes restrictions on short-term stay of people living with HIV.

UNAIDS reports that HIV testing is required for work and study permits.

Detailed documentation required for each visa type is available in the Service for Foreign Affairs website. Work and study visas generally require a ‘medical attestation issued no latter than three months prior to the date of submitted application indicating that the alien does not suffer from a disease presenting a threat to public health in BiH’. It is not clear if this would include HIV testing and disclosure.

It is unclear whether Bosnia and Herzegovina imposes restrictions on long-term stay of people living with HIV.

According to UNAIDS, Bosnia and Herzegovina requires HIV testing for work and study permits. HIV testing is also required for residency permits (longer than 90 days), and permits are denied on the basis of HIV status.

Detailed documentation required for each visa type is available in the Service for Foreign Affairs website. Work and study visas generally require a ‘medical attestation issued no latter than three months prior to the date of submitted application indicating that the alien does not suffer from a disease presenting a threat to public health in BiH’. It is not clear if this would include HIV testing and disclosure.

According to the Rulebook on the issuance of long stay visas (Visa D) and the procedure of issuing these visas, ‘a medical certificate proving that the alien does not suffer from a contagious disease if coming from the territory on which there is an epidemic of a contagious disease.’

The following summarises available information on access to healthcare for people living with HIV in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, it is not clear whether non-nationals are able to access this treatment in the same way as nationals.

Residents with valid permits can access Bosnia’s public healthcare services, which are organised at the entity level: the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Republika Srpska, each with its own health administration. Public healthcare covers basic and emergency care, general consultations, maternity services, and preventive care.

Contributions to the national health insurance scheme are mandatory and may be arranged through employment or paid voluntarily, depending on one’s resident status.

Once registered with health insurance, residents receive a healthcare card, which grants access to state-run hospitals and clinics for a variety of services, though additional fees may apply for certain treatments or specialist care.

General practitioners (GPs) provide primary care and can refer patients to specialised services.

For EU residents or those visiting from countries with reciprocal health agreements, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) may cover emergency services during short-term stays in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

A full list of HIV testing centres in the country is available here.

• UNAIDS
• US Department of State
• Service for Foreign Affairs
• Ministry for Foreign Affairs
• HIV Testiranje