Please be advised that the asylum procedure and obtaining international protection in Bosnia and Herzegovina ARE FREE OF CHARGE. You should never be asked for any form of compensation (financial or else) in exchange for assistance. Any request for compensation (financial or else) should be reported.
The following information was available when this page was last updated. Please consult the websites of the relevant institutions for further information.
The role of UNHCR in Bosnia and Herzegovina does not include receiving and/or processing asylum applications. This is the responsibility of the authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Nevertheless, UNHCR and Vaša Prava BiH (UNHCR’s free legal aid partner) can inform you of how and where to apply for asylum with the relevant authorities of Bosnia and Herzegovina and assist you during the procedure.
Official information for asylum-seekers in Bosnia-Herzegovina is provided in
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the asylum process is administered by the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs and the Sector for Asylum of the Ministry of Security. Once a final decision has been made on your application for asylum and you have been granted international protection, the Ministry of Human Rights and Refugees will be the competent authority.
If you are in need of international protection, you first need to express your intent to seek asylum to the Border Police or the Service for Foreigners’ Affairs. In case you express your intent to seek asylum to the Border Police you will be referred to the nearest field office of the Service for Foreigners Affairs where you will get an attestation on your expressed intent to seek asylum. This is the first step in asylum procedure, and you will need to approach to the Ministry of Security – Sector for Asylum to apply for asylum and get registered as an asylum-seeker. Ask for more information from the Service for Foreigners Affairs or look at the information brochure for asylum seekers in Bosnia and Herzegovina about steps in the asylum procedure, your rights and obligations as an asylum seeker.